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What
Gray Treefrog Species Complex (Complex Hyla versicolor)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A Gray Treefrog.
Ah, crypsis!
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What
Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
Fowler's Toad.
I think this is a defensive "look-big" posture, possibly due to me bothering it to take this picture.
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Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A Southern Leopard Frog.
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Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A Spring Peeper.
Peepers can be identified by the cross-shaped pattern on the back.
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American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
Ah, the American Toad.
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Western Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
The Black Ratsnake.
This individual was caught "red-handed" in the nest box of a wood duck.
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Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius ssp. streckeri)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A Pygmy Rattlesnake.
Notice the reduced rattle at the tip of the tail.
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What
Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
The Northern Watersnake.
This snake is commonly misidentified as a Cottonmouth, but is not venomous. (Although their musk is rather potent.)
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Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor ssp. flaviventris)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
An Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer.
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Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
The beautiful Copperhead.
These snakes are so cryptic with a forest-floor background, I've been looking right at one without seeing it before (until it moved). Simply incredible.
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What
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
American Bullfrog.
Say hello to the Missouri state amphibian.
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What
Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A juvenile of the Central Newt. Also called an eft.
Unlike most other salamanders, newts have a triphasic life cycle. This is the second stage. After metamorphosis the efts leave the pond and stay in the woods while they grow, later returning to the ponds to complete the transition into their adult phase.
They are brightly colored as a "warning sign" to predators that they are toxic.
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What
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A Marbled Salamander.
These salamanders display a rather stunning silver-on-black saddle-like pattern on their backs.
One of two fall-breeding Ambystoma in MO.
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What
Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
Rough Greensnake.
This snake is largely arboreal, spending most of it's time in the trees. The long and slender body form helps it wind from branch to branch without falling.
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What
Western Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus ssp. attenuatus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A Slender Glass Lizard.
Often mistaken for a snake, these are actually lizards that have secondarily lost their legs (well, I guess snakes did too).
If you compare the face of this lizard to another lizard versus a snake, the difference is very noticeable.
They get their name "Glass Lizard" because they can, and will, break their tails off at the slightest stress, like they're "made of glass."
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What
Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
Common Five-lined Skink.
This lizard is incredible common in MO, although most people identify with the juvenile form more than this adult.
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What
Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A juvenile Common Five-lined Skink.
What most people call Blue-tailed Lizards. Only the juveniles have the blue tail and bright lines on the body. These colors are thought to distract predators, drawing them to the tail (which can be regenerated) instead of the main body.
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What
Six-lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
Six-lined Racerunner.
These lizards, as their name implies, are incredibly swift.
The only Whiptail native to MO.
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What
Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
Formerly S. undulatus (Eastern Fence Lizard), this has been reclassified as the Prairie Lizard.
Very common in southern MO. Only the males gain the bright blue coloration on their underbelly during the mating season.
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Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
The creatively-named Little Brown Skink.
Also called a Ground Skink.
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What
Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
Just a little-ol' Cricket Frog.
These are incredibly common across most of MO. The display a wide variation in coloration. This individual has a very nice red dorsal patch and striping on the hind legs.
Formerly A. crepitans.
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What
Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)Observer
benthebiologistDescription
A Ring-necked Snake.
These little snakes have a very colorful ventral patterning, meant to deter predators (or photographers).
