Natural History of Idaho Natural History of Idaho Amphibians and ReptilesAmphibians and ReptilesWildlife Ecology, University of IdahoWildlife Ecology, University of Idaho

Fall 2005Fall 2005

Charles R. PetersonCharles R. PetersonHerpetology LaboratoryHerpetology Laboratory

Department of Biological Sciences,Department of Biological Sciences,Idaho Museum of Natural History Idaho Museum of Natural History

Idaho State UniversityIdaho State Universityhttp://www.isu.edu/~petecharhttp://www.isu.edu/~petechar

Objectives:Objectives:

•• Know how to find information on amphibians and reptiles.Know how to find information on amphibians and reptiles.

•• Have an appreciation for the diversity and importance of Have an appreciation for the diversity and importance of amphibians and reptiles.amphibians and reptiles.

•• Be able to find and identify Idaho amphibians and reptiles.Be able to find and identify Idaho amphibians and reptiles.

•• Know the basic natural history patterns of Idaho amphibians Know the basic natural history patterns of Idaho amphibians and reptiles.and reptiles.

•• Be aware of conservation problems and solutions.Be aware of conservation problems and solutions.

Outline: Outline: Idaho Amphibians and ReptilesIdaho Amphibians and Reptiles

•• Readings Readings –– Pough Pough –– Chapters 10, 12, & 13Chapters 10, 12, & 13–– Stuart et al. 2004.Stuart et al. 2004.–– Gibbons et al. 2000Gibbons et al. 2000

•• IntroductionIntroduction–– Sources of InformationSources of Information–– Types and Characteristics Types and Characteristics –– ImportanceImportance

•• Natural HistoryNatural History•• Identification (lab)Identification (lab)•• ConservationConservation

Sources of InformationSources of Information

•• Books and LeafletsBooks and Leaflets

•• Scientific JournalsScientific Journals

•• Web SitesWeb Sites

•• Scientific SocietiesScientific Societies

•• Conservation GroupsConservation Groups

•• CoursesCourses

Idaho Digital Atlas Website:Idaho Digital Atlas Website:http://www.http://www.imnhimnh..eduedu//digitalatlasdigitalatlas//

Types and Numbers of AmphibiansTypes and Numbers of Amphibians

Pough Pough et al. 1999et al. 1999

Taxon World U.S. IdahoCaecilians 165 0 0

Salamanders 415 ~200 5Anurans 3750 ~100 10

Total 4330 ~300 156.9% 0.3%

Characteristics of AmphibiansCharacteristics of Amphibians

•• Thin smooth, moist skinThin smooth, moist skin

•• Breathe via gills, skin, Breathe via gills, skin, and/or lungsand/or lungs

•• Gelatinous eggsGelatinous eggs

•• Complex Life CycleComplex Life Cycle

•• EctothermicEctothermic

Types of ReptilesTypes of Reptiles

•• TurtlesTurtles

•• Lizards Lizards

•• SnakesSnakes

•• CrocodiliansCrocodilians

•• TuataraTuatara

Numbers of Reptile SpeciesNumbers of Reptile Species

Source:Source: BehlerBehler and King, 1979and King, 1979PoughPough et al. 1999et al. 1999

Taxon World U.S. IdahoTurtles 260 48 1

Crocodilians 21 2 0Tuatara 2 0 0Lizards 3500 115 10Snakes 2500 115 11

Total 6283 280 224.5% 0.4%

Characteristics of ReptilesCharacteristics of Reptiles

•• Dry, scaly skinDry, scaly skin

•• Breathe via lungsBreathe via lungs

•• Amniotic eggsAmniotic eggs

•• Direct developmentDirect development•• EctothermicEctothermic

EctothermicEctothermic

•• Closely coupled to environmentClosely coupled to environment

•• low energetic requirementslow energetic requirements

•• low visibilitylow visibility

•• high conversion efficiencyhigh conversion efficiency

•• high biomasshigh biomass

Importance of Amphibians and ReptilesImportance of Amphibians and Reptiles

•• BiodiversityBiodiversity•• Functional Roles in EcosystemsFunctional Roles in Ecosystems•• BioindicatorsBioindicators

•• Economic ValueEconomic Value•• Model Systems for ResearchModel Systems for Research•• Biomedical ApplicationsBiomedical Applications•• Aesthetic AppreciationAesthetic Appreciation

Natural HistoryNatural History

•• Morphological CharacteristicsMorphological Characteristics•• Physiological CharacteristicsPhysiological Characteristics•• DistributionDistribution•• HabitatHabitat•• Activity PatternsActivity Patterns•• MovementsMovements•• FeedingFeeding•• DefenseDefense•• Reproduction and Life HistoryReproduction and Life History•• Status and ConservationStatus and Conservation

Morphological Characteristics: SizeMorphological Characteristics: Size

Idaho amphibians and reptiles are small to intermediate in size.Idaho amphibians and reptiles are small to intermediate in size.

Physiological Characteristics: Physiological Characteristics: Thermal BiologyThermal Biology

•• EctothermyEctothermy

•• Temperature tolerancesTemperature tolerances

•• Thermal DependencyThermal Dependency

Physiological Characteristics:Physiological Characteristics:Freeze ToleranceFreeze Tolerance

Physiological Characteristics:Physiological Characteristics:Water RelationshipsWater Relationships

Distribution:Distribution:

•• General PatternsGeneral Patterns–– Species RichnessSpecies Richness–– LatitudeLatitude–– ElevationElevation–– ComplementarityComplementarity

Species Species Richness of Richness of

Idaho Idaho AmphibiansAmphibians

Regional EndemicsRegional Endemics

Coeur d’Alene Coeur d’Alene SalamanderSalamander

Rocky Mountain Rocky Mountain SalamanderSalamander

Idaho Giant Idaho Giant SalamanderSalamander

Introduced SpeciesIntroduced Species

RoughskinnedRoughskinned NewtNewt

American BullfrogAmerican Bullfrog

ComplementarityComplementarity of Mole Salamander of Mole Salamander Distributions Distributions

Tailed FrogTailed Frog((AscaphidaeAscaphidae))

Great Basin Great Basin SpadefootSpadefoot((PelobatidaePelobatidae))

True Toad DistributionsTrue Toad Distributions ComplementarityComplementarity of Tree Frog of Tree Frog DistributionsDistributions

True Frog DistributionsTrue Frog Distributions Species Species Richness Richness of Idaho of Idaho ReptilesReptiles

Widespread Reptile Distribution PatternsWidespread Reptile Distribution Patterns

Rubber BoaRubber Boa RacerRacer Gopher SnakeGopher Snake

Terrestrial Garter SnakeTerrestrial Garter Snake Common Garter SnakeCommon Garter Snake Western RattlesnakeWestern Rattlesnake

Western SkinkWestern Skink

??

Northern Reptile Distribution PatternsNorthern Reptile Distribution Patterns

Introductions in southern IdahoIntroductions in southern Idaho

Northern Alligator LizardNorthern Alligator LizardPainted TurtlePainted Turtle

Southern Reptile DistributionsSouthern Reptile Distributions

Striped Striped WhipsnakeWhipsnake Longnosed Longnosed Leopard LizardLeopard Lizard

Tiger WhiptailTiger WhiptailCommon Common

Sagebrush LizardSagebrush Lizard

Western Fence Western Fence LizardLizard

Common SideCommon Side--blotched Lizardblotched Lizard

Pigmy ShortPigmy Short--horned Lizardhorned Lizard

Desert Horned Desert Horned LizardLizard

Limited Reptile Distribution PatternsLimited Reptile Distribution Patterns

Longnose Longnose SnakeSnake Ground SnakeGround Snake

Ringnecked Ringnecked SnakeSnake

Great Basin Collared LizardGreat Basin Collared Lizard

.Night SnakeNight Snake Prairie RattlesnakePrairie Rattlesnake

Elevational Elevational DistributionDistribution

Amphibian HabitatAmphibian Habitat

•• BreedingBreeding–– Pond (lentic)Pond (lentic)–– Stream (Stream (loticlotic))–– TerrestrialTerrestrial

•• ForagingForaging

•• OverwinteringOverwintering

Breeding SitesBreeding Sites Foraging SitesForaging Sites

OverOver--wintering Siteswintering Sites

Lentic HabitatLentic Habitat LoticLotic HabitatHabitat

Terrestrial HabitatTerrestrial Habitat Reptile HabitatReptile Habitat

•• Cover typesCover types–– shrublandsshrublands–– grasslandsgrasslands–– forestforest–– riparianriparian–– alpinealpine

•• Habitat elementsHabitat elements–– substratesubstrate–– slopeslope–– aspectaspect

Desertic Shrubland Desertic Shrubland -- southwestern Idaho southwestern Idaho Desertic Shrubland Desertic Shrubland -- southwestern Idahosouthwestern Idaho

Shrubland Shrubland -- southeastern Idahosoutheastern Idaho Riparian and Wetland Habitat:Riparian and Wetland Habitat:

Habitat: OverwinteringHabitat: Overwintering

“Going Down” Mark Kelso“Going Down” Mark Kelso

Activity Patterns and MovementsActivity Patterns and Movements

•• DailyDaily–– diurnaldiurnal–– nocturnalnocturnal–– crepuscularcrepuscular

•• Seasonal Seasonal –– overwinteringoverwintering–– breedingbreeding–– gestationgestation–– foragingforaging Breeding SitesBreeding Sites Foraging SitesForaging Sites

OverOver--wintering Siteswintering Sites

0 .5 1 Kilometers

Spotted Frog Movements in the Bighorn CragsSpotted Frog Movements in the Bighorn Crags

Fishless Lakes

MovementsMovements

•• Wide RangeWide Range–– territorial speciesterritorial species–– migrationsmigrations

North

2 km

Visualizing rattlesnake movements and habitat useVisualizing rattlesnake movements and habitat use Natural HistoryNatural History

•• Morphological CharacteristicsMorphological Characteristics•• Physiological CharacteristicsPhysiological Characteristics•• DistributionDistribution•• HabitatHabitat•• Activity PatternsActivity Patterns•• MovementsMovements•• FeedingFeeding•• DefenseDefense•• Reproduction and Life HistoryReproduction and Life History•• Status and ConservationStatus and Conservation

FeedingFeeding

•• DietDiet

•• Foraging modeForaging mode

•• Prey capturePrey capture

•• Energetic requirementsEnergetic requirements

Feeding: DietFeeding: Diet

•• SalamandersSalamanders

–– larvaelarvae

•• mostly carnivorousmostly carnivorous

•• some cannibalismsome cannibalism

–– adultsadults

•• mostly opportunistic mostly opportunistic carnivorescarnivores

Feeding: DietFeeding: Diet

AnuransAnurans

–– larvaelarvaegenerally herbivorousgenerally herbivoroussome scavengerssome scavengerssome carnivores some carnivores some cannibalismsome cannibalism

– adultsadultsmostly opportunistic carnivoresmostly opportunistic carnivoresmostly invertebratesmostly invertebratessome vertebratessome vertebrates

Feeding: DietsFeeding: Diets

•• Painted Turtle: Painted Turtle: omnivorousomnivorous

•• Lizards: Lizards: primarily carnivorous primarily carnivorous

•• Snakes: Snakes: exclusively carnivorousexclusively carnivorous

Feeding: Foraging ModeFeeding: Foraging Mode

•• Sit and wait vs. Active foragingSit and wait vs. Active foraging

Sagebrush LizardSagebrush Lizard Tiger WhiptailTiger Whiptail

Western RattlesnakeWestern Rattlesnake Striped Striped WhipsnakeWhipsnake

Feeding: Foraging Mode CorrelatesFeeding: Foraging Mode Correlates

Pough Pough et et al. 1999. al. 1999. Table 15Table 15--44

Feeding Feeding -- Prey CapturePrey Capture

ExamplesExamples

•• Gape and SuckGape and Suck

•• Grazing Grazing

•• Tongue projectionTongue projection

Feeding Feeding -- Prey CapturePrey Capture

ExamplesExamples

•• GraspingGrasping

•• ConstrictionConstriction

•• EnvenomationEnvenomation

Feeding: Energetic RequirementsFeeding: Energetic Requirements

Rubber Boa (Rubber Boa (Charina bottaeCharina bottae))

DefenseDefense

•• Hiding/Hiding/crypsiscrypsis

•• EvasionEvasion

Defense: Engagement Defense: Engagement Defense: Engagement Defense: Engagement

Natural HistoryNatural History

•• Morphological CharacteristicsMorphological Characteristics•• Physiological CharacteristicsPhysiological Characteristics•• DistributionDistribution•• HabitatHabitat•• Activity PatternsActivity Patterns•• MovementsMovements•• FeedingFeeding•• DefenseDefense•• Reproduction and Life HistoryReproduction and Life History•• Status and ConservationStatus and Conservation

Reproduction and Life HistoryReproduction and Life History

•• Reproductive Modes Reproductive Modes •• Reproductive SchedulesReproductive Schedules•• Mating SystemsMating Systems•• GestationGestation•• Sex DeterminationSex Determination•• Parental CareParental Care•• Age to sexual maturityAge to sexual maturity•• LongevityLongevity

Reproduction and Life History:Reproduction and Life History:LongevityLongevity

ExamplesExamples–– Boreal Chorus Frogs 2Boreal Chorus Frogs 2--3 years3 years–– Western Toads > 20 yearsWestern Toads > 20 years–– SideSide--blotched Lizards 2blotched Lizards 2--3 years3 years–– Rubber Boas > 30 yearsRubber Boas > 30 years–– Painted Turtles > 50 yearsPainted Turtles > 50 years

Status and Conservation Status and Conservation

•• See species checklistsSee species checklists•• Idaho Department of Fish and Game Idaho Department of Fish and Game –– Conservation Data Center:Conservation Data Center:

http://http://fishandgamefishandgame..idahoidaho..govgov/tech/CDC/heritage_ranks./tech/CDC/heritage_ranks.cfmcfm