Amphibians and Reptiles Amphibians and Reptiles (B)(B)

Herpetology (C)Herpetology (C)

Science Olympiad 2008Science Olympiad 2008

Judy JonesJudy Jones

East Chapel Hill HighEast Chapel Hill High

You May Bring to the EventYou May Bring to the Event

Unaltered Official National List of Unaltered Official National List of Amphibians and Reptiles (posted on Amphibians and Reptiles (posted on NSO site)NSO site)

One published field One published field

guide which may beguide which may be

written in or tagged written in or tagged

with Post-its or with Post-its or

other tabs.other tabs.

(No electronics(No electronics

No printed labels)No printed labels)

Suggested Field GuidesSuggested Field Guides

1.1. A Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles A Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and and Amphibians: Eastern and Central NA by Roger Conant and Central NA by Roger Conant and Joseph T. Collins (1998)Joseph T. Collins (1998)

2.2. A Peterson Field Guide to Western A Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians by Robert Reptiles and Amphibians by Robert C Stebbins (2003)C Stebbins (2003)

Good WebsitesGood Websites http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/

herpcons.htmlherpcons.html http://www.cnah.org/http://www.cnah.org/ http://amphibiaweb.org/index.htmlhttp://amphibiaweb.org/index.html http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/

reptiles.htmlreptiles.html http://www.reptile-database.org/http://www.reptile-database.org/ http://www.naturesound.com/frogs/frogs.htmlhttp://www.naturesound.com/frogs/frogs.html http://www.state.tn.us/twra/tamp/frogs.htmlhttp://www.state.tn.us/twra/tamp/frogs.html http://www.leaps.ms/soundpage.htmhttp://www.leaps.ms/soundpage.htm

(Sounds on above three sites)(Sounds on above three sites)

The EventThe Event Work in teams of twoWork in teams of two Stations with numbered or lettered Stations with numbered or lettered

specimens with one or more questionsspecimens with one or more questions Specimens can be live, preserved, skeletal Specimens can be live, preserved, skeletal

recordings of songs, and slides or pictures.recordings of songs, and slides or pictures. No more than 50% will require common or No more than 50% will require common or

scientific names (class, order, genus)scientific names (class, order, genus) Official List is used for taxonomy questionsOfficial List is used for taxonomy questions

BalanceBalance““There will be a balance between There will be a balance between

amphibian, turtle, and reptile amphibian, turtle, and reptile questions with some questions on questions with some questions on crocodilians.”crocodilians.”

All questions restricted to specimens All questions restricted to specimens on Official National List:on Official National List:

http://www.soinc.orghttp://www.soinc.org

What do You Need to KnowWhat do You Need to Know Life historyLife history DistributionDistribution Anatomy and Anatomy and

physiologyphysiology ReproductionReproduction Habitat characteristicsHabitat characteristics EcologyEcology DietDiet BehaviorBehavior ConservationConservation BiogeogrphyBiogeogrphy

Sample Question OneSample Question OneA B

1. Give the common names of both snake A and snake B.

2. Give the family names for both snake A and snake B.

3. Which snake is venomous?

4. How can you tell?

5. What type of venom does this snake produce?

6. Where in North Carolina would you find Snake A? Snake B?

Answers to Question OneAnswers to Question One Snake A is a Scarlet King Snake (Colubridae)Snake A is a Scarlet King Snake (Colubridae) Snake B is a Coral Snake (Elaphidae)Snake B is a Coral Snake (Elaphidae) Snake B is venomous (neurotoxin)Snake B is venomous (neurotoxin) Colors are different – coral (red, yellow, black); Colors are different – coral (red, yellow, black);

king – (red, black, yellow)king – (red, black, yellow) Coral snake has grooved fangs in fixed position Coral snake has grooved fangs in fixed position

on front of upper jaw; scarlet king snake – on front of upper jaw; scarlet king snake – bands do not circle body; nose pointed and bands do not circle body; nose pointed and red. Etc.red. Etc.

NeurotoxinNeurotoxin Scarlet – all over NC; coral – SE NCScarlet – all over NC; coral – SE NC

Sample Question TwoSample Question Two1. What is the family

group of this specimen?

2. What are the red structures?

3. What is the function of the red structures?

4 How would the red structures vary in cold clear water versus warm, cloudy water? Explain the reason for your answer.

5. What kind of food does this creature eat?

Answers to Question TwoAnswers to Question Two1.1. (O) Caudata, (F) Proteidae(O) Caudata, (F) Proteidae (Necturus (Necturus

maculosus) (Mudpuppy)maculosus) (Mudpuppy)2.2. Gills Gills 3.3. Function of gills is to extract oxygen Function of gills is to extract oxygen

gas from the water.gas from the water.4.4. In cold, clear water, gills would be In cold, clear water, gills would be

shorter than in warm, muddy water shorter than in warm, muddy water because cold water can hold more because cold water can hold more oxygen, hence less need for gill oxygen, hence less need for gill surface area.surface area.

5.5. Worms, crayfish, insects, small fishWorms, crayfish, insects, small fish

Sample Question ThreeSample Question Three

1. What are the order, family, and genus of this specimen?2. What is the gender of the organism in this picture? 3. How can you tell?4. What is another way you could tell the gender?5. Members of this species mate rarely. Why are there so many of

them?

Answers to Question ThreeAnswers to Question Three

(O)Testudines, (F)Emydidae, (O)Testudines, (F)Emydidae, (G)Terrapene (Terrapene carolina) (G)Terrapene (Terrapene carolina)

MaleMale Red eyesRed eyes Depression in rear of plastronDepression in rear of plastron Female can store sperm from a Female can store sperm from a

single mating and still produce fertile single mating and still produce fertile eggs several years latereggs several years later

Sample Question FourSample Question Four

1. What is the common name of specimen A?2. What is the common name of specimen B?3. What are the most important differences between these two specimens?4. What suborder order does specimen A belong to?5. What suborder does specimen B belong to?6. How do the ranges of these two specimens vary?7. Which one of these can regenerate its tail?

A B

Answers to Question FourAnswers to Question Four

Eastern glass lizard (O)Squamata (SO) Eastern glass lizard (O)Squamata (SO) Lacertila (F) Anguidae (G) Ophisaurus Lacertila (F) Anguidae (G) Ophisaurus

Florida (common) kingsnake – (O) Squamata Florida (common) kingsnake – (O) Squamata (SO) Serpentes (F) Colubridae (G) (SO) Serpentes (F) Colubridae (G) LampropeltisLampropeltis

Glass lizard has external ear openings, Glass lizard has external ear openings, movable eyelids, flexible groove down sides movable eyelids, flexible groove down sides of body, and feel more stiff; snake does not.of body, and feel more stiff; snake does not.

Specimen A can regenerate its tail.Specimen A can regenerate its tail. Range of glass lizard is NC to FL to LARange of glass lizard is NC to FL to LA Range of snake is FL to GARange of snake is FL to GA

Sample Question FiveSample Question FiveA

B

1. What is the order for both of these specimens?

2. What is the common name of specimen A?

3. What is the common name of specimen B?

4. What features distinguish these two specimens?

5. Which of these species guards its nests?

6. How is specimen B important to the ecology of an area during droughts?

Answers to Question FiveAnswers to Question Five (O) Crocodylia for both (F) Crocodylidae and (O) Crocodylia for both (F) Crocodylidae and

AlligatoridaeAlligatoridae A is American crocodileA is American crocodile B is American alligatorB is American alligator A has long narrow snout, B has broadly A has long narrow snout, B has broadly

rounded snout; A has prominent tooth rounded snout; A has prominent tooth evident when jaw is closed, B does not; etc.evident when jaw is closed, B does not; etc.

Alligator females guard the nest.Alligator females guard the nest. Alligators dig deep holes (dens) which Alligators dig deep holes (dens) which

provide water for other wildlife.provide water for other wildlife.

Sample Question SixSample Question SixA B

1. What is the family of specimen A?2. What is the family of specimen B?3. Give at least three differences between the family of specimen A

and the family of specimen B.4. Which has irritating skin-gland secretions?5. What is the tympanum and how can it be used to tell gender in B?

Answers to Question SixAnswers to Question Six

(O) Anura A – (F) Bufonidae (O) Anura A – (F) Bufonidae

B – (F) RanidaeB – (F) Ranidae A – dry, warty skin, hopping, no webs on A – dry, warty skin, hopping, no webs on

hind feethind feet B – smooth moist skin, leaping, webbed B – smooth moist skin, leaping, webbed

hind feethind feet Tympanum is ear drum – larger than Tympanum is ear drum – larger than

eye in males, size of eye or smaller in eye in males, size of eye or smaller in females.females.

Sample Question SevenSample Question Seven1. What is the 1. What is the

order and order and family of this family of this specimen?specimen?

2. What is the 2. What is the diet of the diet of the young of this young of this species?species?

3. What is the 3. What is the diet of the diet of the adults?adults?

4. How long from 4. How long from egg to egg to hatchling?hatchling?

5. Why do 5. Why do humans kill humans kill these these organisms?organisms?

Answers to Question SevenAnswers to Question Seven

(O) Testudines (F) Chelydridae(O) Testudines (F) Chelydridae Snails, worms, leeches, insects, larvae, Snails, worms, leeches, insects, larvae,

small fish, water plants, organic waste small fish, water plants, organic waste Frogs, fish, newts, tadpoles, snakes, Frogs, fish, newts, tadpoles, snakes,

small turtles, small mammals, young small turtles, small mammals, young birds, and water plants (1/3 of diet!) birds, and water plants (1/3 of diet!)

80-90 days 80-90 days For food, killed by fishermenFor food, killed by fishermen

Sample Question Eight Sample Question Eight 1. Give Order, Sub-1. Give Order, Sub-order, family andorder, family andgenus of this species.genus of this species.

2. What is the2. What is theGeographic range ofGeographic range ofThese organisms?These organisms?

3. What is the 3. What is the function of the function of the dewlap?dewlap?

4. What are main threats to iguana populations?4. What are main threats to iguana populations?

5. How do iguanas protect their clutches of eggs?5. How do iguanas protect their clutches of eggs?

Answers to Question EightAnswers to Question Eight

(O) Squamata (SO) Lacertila (F) Iguanidae (O) Squamata (SO) Lacertila (F) Iguanidae (G) Iguana(G) Iguana

Mexico, Central and South AmericaMexico, Central and South America Males raise the dewlap to appear bigger (to Males raise the dewlap to appear bigger (to

intimidate redators or to impress females). intimidate redators or to impress females). Main threats are killing for food, habitat Main threats are killing for food, habitat

destruction, and pet trade.destruction, and pet trade. They dig pretend burrows to confuse They dig pretend burrows to confuse

predators. predators.

Sample Question NineSample Question NineA B

1. What are the order, suborder, family, subfamily and genus of specimen A?

2. What are the order, suborder, family, subfamily and genus of specimen B?

3. What are the common names of both?4. Describe the difference in the habitats of these two specimens.5. Which is more likely to give a “dry bite”?6. Describe the venom differences (in terms of danger) between these

two species.

Answers to Question NineAnswers to Question Nine For both: (O) Squamata (SO) Sperpentes For both: (O) Squamata (SO) Sperpentes

(F) Viperidae (SF) Viperinae (G) Agkistrodon(F) Viperidae (SF) Viperinae (G) Agkistrodon Copperhead and CottonmouthCopperhead and Cottonmouth Specimen B – near slow moving water – Specimen B – near slow moving water –

even the sea; Specimen A – forest, even the sea; Specimen A – forest, woodland, swampy areaswoodland, swampy areas

Copperhead will often bite with no venom.Copperhead will often bite with no venom. Copperhead venom more potent but much Copperhead venom more potent but much

less is released than from Cottonmouth.less is released than from Cottonmouth.

Sample Question TenSample Question Ten

1. Give the Order, Family and Genus of this specimen?1. Give the Order, Family and Genus of this specimen?

2. What is the common name of this specimen?2. What is the common name of this specimen?

3. What is the structure on the back foot used for?3. What is the structure on the back foot used for?

4. How does this specimen differ from the Bufonidae?4. How does this specimen differ from the Bufonidae?

5. How do they survive extreme drought?5. How do they survive extreme drought?

Answers to Question TenAnswers to Question Ten

(O) Anura (F) Pelobatidae (G) Scaphiopus(O) Anura (F) Pelobatidae (G) Scaphiopus spadefoot toadspadefoot toad Used to dig burrowsUsed to dig burrows spadefoots are soft bodied and have spadefoots are soft bodied and have

smoother skin; pupils are vertical, true smoother skin; pupils are vertical, true toads’ are horizontal, spadefoots lack toads’ are horizontal, spadefoots lack parotid glands, which are present on the parotid glands, which are present on the sides of the head in bufonid toads.sides of the head in bufonid toads.

Burrow into the earth; avoid reproduction Burrow into the earth; avoid reproduction