Eleven Months of Northern Ohio Herps in 2021 (Part 3)

A "leadback" morph of Redback Salamander. Redbacks are part of a large group known as “lungless salamanders.” Breathing is accomplished by absorbing oxygen through the skin and mouth lining.

On May 21st I found this Northern Ringneck Snake.

Spotted Salamanders are stout-bodied amphibians spend most of their lives underground. They are usually found in low-lying hardwood forests.

A Spring Peeper that I found on May 21st. These these miniature, well-camouflaged amphibians are often heard, but rarely seen.

A Northern Water Snake in northwest Ohio on June 1st. Sunning is by far the most common activity you are likely to see Northern Water Snakes do. They can be observed on branches (like this snake), on stone walls near waterways or on beaver lodges.

A hefty DeKay's Brown Snake found on the same day as the Northern Water Snake. This reptile is often mistaken for a baby Garter Snake. It is usually less than a foot long and mainly eats worms and slugs.

A melanistic Eastern Garter Snake that I found in northwest Ohio on the same day as the two previous snakes. For a trait like melanism to sustain itself in a population, being melanistic must benefit the individual in some way (give it an increased chance of survival).

I found this Northern Ringneck Snake in northeast Ohio on June 3rd. Ringnecks enjoy coast to coast distribution across the United States, though they are absent from arid areas.

On June 6th in northeast Ohio a bunch of cool herps were found - like this Dusky Salamander.

The Wood Frog grows to about three inches long. Its color ranges from pinkish-orange to tan to dark brown. It is easily recognized by its dark “robber’s mask.”

A "Red Eft" stage of Red-spotted Newt. Red Efts take slow, deliberate steps and do not seem to have any particular destination. The bright colors advertise the young newt’s toxic nature.

An Eastern Garter Snake on June 6th. These snakes derive their name from the resemblance of their dark stripes to old-fashioned sock garters.

Longtail Salamander - one of Ohio’s longest salamanders, the tail of this aptly named animal comprises 60-65% of its total length.

A "tadfrog" of a Green Frog from the pond across the street from me.

A Northern Two-lined Salamander found on the same day. This a small (3-5”) stream-side salamander with a yellowish olive stripe down its back bordered by two black lines.

A duckweed covered Midland Painted Turtle seen on June 29th.

This DeKay's Brown Snake was found on the same day. The snake is named is in honor of American zoologist James Ellsworth De Kay who collected the first specimen in Long Island.

A young Common Snapping Turtle. This species is the largest in Ohio (and much of the northeast), sometimes weighing 35 pounds.

Midland Painted Turtle - true to their common name, these turtles usually have red or orange markings along the edge of their shell. They also have yellow and red stripes on their neck and legs.

A Queen Snake that I found on July 2nd. This species feeds almost exclusively on newly-molted crayfish.

A newly metamorphosed Spring Peeper on July 14th.

American Toads are extremely helpful to people, especially in gardens where they will eat huge numbers of pests, including insects and slugs.

A fine looking DeKay's Brown Snake on July 15th. This secretive snake does well in urban areas and they seem to coexist well with humans in city settings and can be found in gardens, city parks, vacant lots, and old cemeteries as well as Metroparks.

A backyard Green Frog.

A Common Snapping Turtle that I found in the Cleveland Metroparks on July 23rd.

A Gray Treefrog undergoing metamorphosis.