Reptiles

Question 1

black rat snake INSERT

Answer 1

Black rat snake

elaphe obsoleta obsoleta

Question 2

habitat of the black rat snake

Answer 2

variety

rocky hills/mountains to farmlands at sea level

Question 3

how to differentiate a black rat snake for a black racer

Answer 3

rat snake: keeled scales and body shape in cross-section that resembles a bread loaf rather than rounded tube

Question 4

when do rat snakes emerge from winter hibernation

Answer 4

march through may, soon after they begin seeking a mate (late april - june)

Question 5

rat snake reproduction

Answer 5

lay 12-20 eggs in hidden area (under logs, in leaves, in burrows)

eggs take about 70d to hatch

in good conditions females can produce 2 clutches / year

Question 6

diet of rat snakes

Answer 6

primary: rodents (mice, rats, also chipmunks, moles, etc), bird eggs and young birds

juvis eat small lizards, baby rodents, small frogs

Question 7

how do rat snakes kill prey

Answer 7

constriction

Question 8

insert

Answer 8

eastern box turtle

terrapene carolina carolina

Question 9

habitat of box turtle

Answer 9

open woodlands, pastures, marsh meadows

near streams/ponds, often soak in shallow water

Question 10

box turtle hibernation

Answer 10

hibernation starts in october

winter in loose soil up to 2 feet deep

Question 11

diet of box turtle

Answer 11

opportunistic omnivore as adults

young are primarily carnivorous

Question 12

mating season for box turtle

Answer 12

begins in spring and continues to october

males mate with many females

Question 13

unique sperm storage in box turtle female

Answer 13

can store sperm and lay fertile eggs for up to 4 years after one successful mating

Question 14

nesting for box turtles

Answer 14

may through july
usually 3-8 eggs are buried in sandy soil

female lays several clutches / year

Question 15

egg characteristics of box turtle

Answer 15

elliptical shape

thin, white, flexible shell

Question 16

incubation of box turtle eggs

Answer 16

3 mo, varies w/ soil temp and moisture

Question 17

box turtles reach sexual maturity

Answer 17

7-10 years old and 5 inches in length

Question 18

differentiating male v female box turtle

Answer 18

males concaved plastron, longer thicker tails, +/- presence of red iris

Question 19

lifespan of box turtle

Answer 19

wild over 100 years

captive 30 years

Question 20

homerange of box turtles

Answer 20

230m diameter territory
very strong homing instinct
very important to have accurate release site

Question 21

insert

Answer 21

painted turtle

chrysemys picta

Question 22

painted turtle habitat

Answer 22

slow moving shallow water (ponds, marshes, creek, lake) with soft bottoms and many basking sites and aquatic veg

Question 23

feeding season for painted turtles

Answer 23

when temperature is above 15C/59F (april/may) and stops when it gets cold in september

Question 24

diet of painted turtles

Answer 24

aquatic plants and animals (omnivores)

Question 25

breeding season for painted turtles

Answer 25

march 16- may 31 | peak nesting in june/july w/in close range of water

Question 26

clutch for painted turtles

Answer 26

multiple / year (2-5 clutches) clutch size 1-23 eggs incubation 80d

Question 27

how are the genders of painted turtle eggs determined

Answer 27

incubation temperature | cooler = more males

Question 28

sexual maturity for painted turtles

Answer 28

by size not age males w/ plastron 70-95mm females with plastrong 97-128 males have longer front claws and longer tales w/ vent located distally

Question 29

lifespan of painted turtle

Answer 29

reported 30+ years

Question 30

insert

Answer 30

``` snapping turtle chelydra serpentina (common) Macrochelys temminckii (alligator) ```

Question 31

habitat of common snapping turtle

Answer 31

highly aquatic | lakes, ponds, slow rivers

Question 32

wintering of snapping turtles

Answer 32

burrow into muddy bottoms of ponds under logs or debris or in holes on bank

Question 33

how do snapping turtles breath when hibernating

Answer 33

through special membranes in their throats or through the capillaries of the cloacal epithelium

Question 34

breeding season for snapping turtles

Answer 34

late april to november | nesting from may to october, peak in june

Question 35

clutch

Answer 35

hard, tough eggs | hatches 90d and emerge late summer or overwinter in the nest

Question 36

sexual maturity for snapping turtles

Answer 36

11-13yr

Question 37

diet of snapping turtle

Answer 37

omnivore fish, carrion, inverts, veggies, frogs, crabs, mollusks and other aquatic animals, reptiles, or mammals they wait and hide for prey

Question 38

most common presentations for snapping turtles

Answer 38

HBC, fishing hook ingestion, fungal skin infection