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Amphibian Lab Practical
Scientific Names of Native Missouri Amphibians
65
Biology
Undergraduate 4
02/24/2013

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Cards

Term
Caecilians
Definition
Order Gymnophiona 
Term

Distribution: Tropical rainforests worldwide


Characteristics: Elongate, legless, nearly blind, and annulated (ringed)

Definition
Order Gymnophiona 
Term
Salamanders
Definition
Order Caudata 
Term

Giant Salamanders


Distribution: Eastern North America and Asia


Characteristics: Largest salamanders in world, primitive, external fertilizers

Definition
Family Cryptobranchidae 
Term

Hellbender

o   Description: Large (~2ft), loose folds of skin, no external gills

o   Distribution: Southern Missouri

o   Habitat: Rocky Streams and Rivers

Definition
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis[image]
Term

Asiatic Salamanders

Distribution: Mainly Asia (only salamander family not found in North America)

Characteristics: Primitive, external fertilizers

Definition
Family Hynobidae
Term

Sirens

Distribution: Eastern North America

Characteristics: Elongate, lack rear limbs, external gills, primitive, external fertilizers

Definition
Family Sirenidae
Term

Lesser Siren

o   DescriptionElongate, lack rear limbs, external gills, primitive, external fertilizers

 

o   Distribution: Mainly Bootheel

o   Habitat: Lowland swamps, sloughs, ditches, and wetlands

Definition
Siren intermedia[image]
Term

Amphiumas

Distribution: Eastern North America

Characteristics: Elongate, all four limbs small, no external gills

Definition
Family Amphiumidae
Term

Three-toed Amphiuma

o   DescriptionElongate, all four limbs small, no external gills

o   Distribution: Bootheel

o   Habitat: Cypress Swamps, oxbows, and sloughs

Definition
Amphiuma tridactylum[image]
Term

Torrent Salamanders

Distribution: Northwestern North America

Characteristics: Small, nearly lungless, squared off gland at vent

Definition
Family Rhyacotritonidae
Term

Mudpuppies and Waterdogs

Distribution: Eastern North America and Europe (Mediterranean)

Characteristics: Smooth skin, four limbs, external gills, paddle-liked tail

Definition
Family Proteidae
Term

 Mudpuppy

o   DescriptionSmooth skin, four limbs, external gills, paddle-liked tail

o   Distribution: Statewide except northwest

o   Habitat: Larger rivers, creeks, and lakes

Definition
Necturus maculosus[image]
Term

Newts and their kin

Distribution: North America and Eurasia

Characteristics: Toxic skin secretions and elaborate courtship displays

Definition
Family Salamandridae
Term

Eastern Newt

oDescription: olive-green dorsally with yellow belly (efts may be bright red)

oDistribution: Statewide except northwest

oHabitat: Ponds and other wetlands

 

Definition
Notophthalmus viridescens[image]
Term

Mole Salamanders

Distribution: North America

Characteristics: Stocky, often colorful

Definition
Family Ambystomatidae
Term

Ringed Salamander

o   Description: Black with bright yellow rings dorsally and a light gray venter

o   Distribution: Central and Southern Missouri (Ozarks)

o   Habitat: Dry, upland forests with semi-permanent ponds

Definition
Ambystoma annulatum[image]
Term

 Spotted Salamander

o   Description: Black with bright yellow spots dorsally, thatt are evenly spaced and a dark venter

o   Distribution: Central and Southern Missouri (Ozarks) and part of Bootheel

o   Habitat: Woodlands with ephemeral pools and ponds

Definition
Ambystoma maculatum[image]
Term

Marbled Salamander

o   Description: Black with silver saddles dorsally and a dark venter

o   Distribution: Central and Eastern Missouri (Ozarks and Bootheel)

o   Habitat: Woodlands with ephemeral pools and ponds

Definition
Ambystoma opacum[image]
Term

Mole Salamander

o   Description: Gray with a large head, short body, and short tail

o   Distribution: Bootheel

o   Habitat: Lowland Forest with ephemeral pools and ponds

Definition
Ambystoma talpoideum[image]
Term

Small-mouthed Salamander

o   Description: Gray with a small head, longer body and tail, very slender

o   Distribution: Statewide except Ozarks

o   Habitat: Flat woodlands and grasslands with ephemeral wetlands

Definition
Ambystoma texanum[image]
Term

Tiger Salamander

o   Description: Large and dark brown/black with irregular yellow blotches

o   Distribution: Statewide (spotty in Ozarks)

o   Habitat: Grasslands, prairies, and sparse woodlands with wetlands

Definition
Ambystoma tigrinum[image]
Term

Lungless Salamanders

Distribution: Americas and Eurasia (only family of salamanders to radiate into tropics)

Characteristics: Small, lungless

Definition
Family Plethodontidae
Term

  Long-tailed Salamander

o   Description: Yellow with dorsal black spots, and nasolabial groves 

o   Distribution: Central and Southern Missouri (Ozarks)

o   Habitat: Rocky streams, springs, and caves

Definition
Eurycea longicauda[image]
Term

Cave Salamander

o   Description: Orange with dorsal black spots (extending to all sides of tail) flattened body shape

o   Distribution: Central and Southern Missouri (Ozarks)

o   Habitat: Caves, springs, and small streams

Definition
Eurycea lucifuga[image]
Term

Grotto Salamander

o   Description: Colorless and Blind

o   Distribution: Central and Southern Missouri (Ozarks)

o   Habitat: Caves (troglodytic)

Definition
Eurycea spelaea[image]
Term

Oklahoma Salamander

o   Description: Paedomorphic (retains gills and remains aquatic) Gray, light dorsal stripe, light lateral white speckling

o   Distribution: Southwestern Missouri

o   Habitat: Gravel-bottomed streams

Definition
Eurycea tynerensis[image]
Term

Four-toed Salamander

o   Description: Golden-brown dorsally with a white underbelly with black spots, obvious constriction at the base of the tail, very small, squared off snout

o   Distribution: Central Missouri (Ozarks)

Definition
Hemidactylium scutatum[image]
Term

Western Slimy Salamander

o   Description: Large black with white dorsal spots

o   Distribution: Central and Southern Missouri (Ozarks)

o   Habitat: Wooded upland forests

Definition
Plethodon albagula[image]
Term

Ozark Zigzag Salamander

o   Description: Dark brown to black usually with a thin red dorsal stripe - Best distinguished from serratis  by range

o   Distribution: Southwestern Missouri

o   Habitat: Wooded upland forests

Definition
Plethodon angusticlavius[image]
Term

Western Slimy Salamander

o   Description: Dark brown to black usually with a serrated red dorsal stripe

o   Distribution: Central and Eastern Missouri (Ozarks)

o   Habitat: Wooded upland forests

Definition
Plethodon serratus[image]
Term
Frogs
Definition
Order Anura 
Term

Tailed Frogs

Distribution: Northwestern North America and New Zealand

Characteristics: primitive, intermittent sex organ (tail) aids in reproduction (internal fertilization)

Definition
Family Leiopelmatidae 
Term

Clawed Frogs

Distribution: South America and Africa

Characteristics: Wholly aquatic with flattened body shape

Definition
Family Pipidae 
Term

Mexican Burrowing Toad

Distribution: South Texas into Central America

Characteristics: Plump and highly fossorial, evolutionarily very distinct

Definition
Family Rhinophrynidae 
Term

Glass Frogs

Distribution: Central and South America

Characteristics: Green skin and bones, see through skin

Definition
Family Centrolenidae 
Term

Poison Dart Frogs

Distribution: South America

Characteristics: Small and highly toxic (due to diet) with bright and elaborate coloration

Definition
Family Dendrobatidae 
Term

Rain Frogs/Coquis

Distribution: Central and South America

Characteristics: Usually very small, loud high pitched vocalizations, extremely diverse

Definition
Family Brachycephalidae 
Term

Fire-bellied Toads

Distribution: Eurasia and Philippines

Characteristics: Bumpy skin and plump, toad-like form, highly toxic skin with a bright underbelly (defensive display – “unken reflex”)

Definition
Family Bombinatoridae 
Term

Narrow-mouthed Toads

Distribution: Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia

Characteristics: Variable in body form and coloration, extremely diverse

Definition
Family Microhylidae 
Term

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad

o   Description: Darker brown with some lighter mottling dorsally

o   Distribution: Southern Missouri

o   Habitat: Often low floodplains, but is common on glades as well

o   KNOW CALL - Adult sheep (low pitch)

Definition
Gastrophryne carolinensis[image]
Term

Great Plains Narrow-mouthed Toad

o   Description: Light in coloration with little dorsal patterning

o   Distribution: Western Missouri

o   Habitat: Prairie and Grasslands

o   KNOW CALL - baby sheep (high pitch) 

Definition
Gastrophryne olivacea[image]
Term

Treefrogs

Distribution: Nearly worldwide (temperate and tropic)

Characteristics: Enlarged toe discs, long legs, highly arboreal

Definition
Family Hylidae 
Term

Cricket Frog

o   Description: Small with bumpy skin and a dark triangle between eyes

o   Distribution: Statewide

o   Habitat: Larger wetlands and rivers

o   KNOW CALL - clicking marbles 

Definition
Acris blanchardi[image]
Term

Spring Peeper

o   Description: Light colored with a distinctive X dorsally.

o   Distribution: Statewide except northwest corner

o   Habitat: Woodlands

o   KNOW CALL - high pitiched "peep"

Definition
Pseudacris crucifer[image]
Term

Chorus Frog

o   Description: Light colored with 3 or more dorsal stripes.

o   Distribution: Statewide

o   Habitat: Grasslands, swamps, and low wetlands

o   KNOW CALL - running your fingers accross a comb

Definition
Pseudacris maculata[image]
Term

 Illinois Chorus Frog

o   Description: Plump with dorsal blotches, distinctive blotch through eyes.

o   Distribution: Bootheel

o   Habitat: Sand Prairies and Grasslands

CALL - squeaky wheels

Definition
Pseudacris illinoensis[image]
Term

Green Treefrog

o   Description: Bright green with white dorso-lateral stripes.

o   Distribution: Bootheel and scattered isolates in central Missouri

o   Habitat: Cypress swamps and floodplain wetlands

o   KNOW CALL - nasal honk or quack

Definition

Hyla cinerea 

[image]

Term

Gray Treefrogs

o   Description: Bumpy skin with lichenate patterning can be green or gray.

o   Distribution: Statewide

o   Habitat: Generalist, most abundant in forested areas

o   KNOW CALLS - c. abbreviated trill

                               - v. tone and speed intensifies


Definition

Hyla chrysoscelis

Hyla versicolor

[image]

Term

“True Frogs”

Distribution: Nearly worldwide (temperate and tropic)

Characteristics: Long legs, stereotypical frog body form

Definition
Family Ranidae 
Term

Crawfish Frog

o   Description: Large with ornate dorsal blotches and reticulations

o   Distribution: Western and Central Missouri

o   Habitat: Grasslands and Prairies

o   KNOW CALL - loud resonating snore 

Definition

Lithobates areolata

[image]

Term

Plains Leopard Frog

o   Description: Brown with dorsal spots and a broken dorso-lateral fold

o   Distribution: Northern Missouri

o   Habitat: Open wetlands and larger rivers

CALL - rubbing finger on a balloon 

Definition

Lithobates blairi

[image]

Term

American Bullfrog

o   Description: Large and brown to green with no dorso-lateral folds

o   Distribution: Statewide

o   Habitat: Most lentic habitats

o   KNOW CALL - very deep "jug-o-rum"

Definition

Lithobates catesbeiana

[image]

Term

Green Frog

o   Description: Green to brown with dorso-lateral folds

o   Distribution: Statewide

o   Habitat: Most lentic and lotic habitats

o   KNOW CALL - loose banjo string

Definition

Lithobates clamitans

[image]

Term

Pickerel Frog

o   Description: Rectangular blotches dorsally, a yellow wash around groin

o   Distribution: Ozarks

o   Habitat: Shaded ravines, caves, and spring-fed streams

o   KNOW CALL - low, slow, rising snor or morning male groan 

Definition

Lithobates palustris

[image]

Term

Southern Leopard Frog

o   Description: Dorsal spots and sometimes green dorsal coloration

o   Distribution: Southern Missouri

o   Habitat: Open wetlands and larger rivers

o   KNOW CALL - slow growl 

Definition

Lithobates sphenocephalus

[image]

Term

Wood Frog

o   Description: Brown to tan with black mask around eye

o   Distribution: Eastern and far southwestern Missouri

o   Habitat: Upland forest with vernal pools

o   KNOW CALL - duck- like quacking 

Definition

Lithobates sylvatica

[image]

Term

“True Toads”

Distribution: Nearly worldwide (temperate and tropic)

Characteristics: Bumpy skin, plump body form, toxic paratoid glands, cranial crests

Definition
Family Bufonidae 
Term

American Toad

o   Description: Brown to Reddish with enlarged tibial warts

o   Distribution: Statewide

o   Habitat: Generalist

o   KNOW CALL - high pitched trill

Definition

Anaxyrus americanus

[image]

Term

Great Plains Toad

o   Description: Gray to olive green with large greenish blotches

o   Distribution: Missouri River

o   Habitat: Open Country


Definition

Anaxyrus cognatus

[image]

Term

Fowler’s Toad

o   Description: Gray to olive green with dark blotches enclosing many warts, no enlarged tibial warts, belly is plain with one single dark spot

o   Distribution: Eastern and Central Missouri

o   Habitat: Generalist

Definition

Anaxyrus fowleri

[image]


Term

  Woodhouse’s Toad

o   Description: Similar to Fowler’s Toad

o   Distribution: Missouri River

o   Habitat: Open Country

Definition

Anaxyrus woodhousii

[image]

Term

“Spadefoots”

Distribution: North America

Characteristics: Elliptical pupil and dark, hardened “spade” on foot

Definition
Family Scaphiopodidae
Term

Eastern Spadefoot

o   Description: Variable dorsal coloration with two yellow stripes

o   Distribution: Bootheel

o   Habitat: Low, sandy areas

CALL - whining, nasal call

Definition

Scaphiopus holbrookii

[image]

Term

 Plains Spadefoot

o   Description: Light in coloration, little dorsal patterning

o   Distribution: Missouri River

o   Habitat: Low, sandy areas

CALL - low short "burb" .. like from a really small person

Definition

Spea bombifrons

[image]

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