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Eastern Mud Turtle - Kinosternon subrubrum
Description: 2 ¾ - 4 5/16" (7-11 cm). Very small turtle. Entire color is usually light to medium brown. Plastron may be yellow and is double hinged. Carapace is smooth. Head usually spotted or marked. Photo courtesy of Jim Harding.
Similar
species in our area: The musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) has similar
size and body shape but different color and has yellow stripes on
head.
Lifestyle: This species is extremely rare on L.I. and is listed as being "Endangered" by the New York DEC. It can only be found in approximately 5 locations on L.I. and S.I. It is semi-aquatic preferring slow moving muddy bottomed bodies of water. Although common in other parts of its range, it is probably the rarest freshwater turtle in New York State and certainly in the region covered in this website. It does travel away from the water at times. This species mates April to May. Nests in June and July laying 1-6 hard shelled eggs at 1" on land. The eggs hatch later in the season. Young have dark, domed carapace with a ridge down back and orange plastron. They are surprisingly terrestrial. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
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Smooth Green Snake - Opheodrys vernalis
Description:
11 ¾ - 19 ¾" (30 - 50 cm). This species is green dorsally and cream
white ventrally. It is narrow and has smooth scales. Anal plate
divided. Photo courtesy of Chris Camacho.
Similar species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This species is extremely rare on L.I. and has never been documented at BNL. However, there have been several anecdotal sightings reported in recent years. This species favors grassy fields where it is well camouflaged and seldom noticed. Mates spring and summer. Eggs are laid in mid-to-late summer, and clutch size averages around 7 eggs. The oval eggs are thin shelled and usually well advanced in development when laid. Young hatch 4-20 days at 4-6" and are olive to blue/gray. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
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Spotted Salamander - Ambystoma maculatum
Description: 5 5/16 - 9" (13.5 - 23 cm). This species is quite distinct, with a chubby body, two rows of round yellow to orange spots and an otherwise black dorsum and gray belly. Yellow head spotting is more common in our area. 12 costal grooves. Photo courtesy of Jim Harding.
Similar
species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This species is common in some parts of L.I. but has not been documented at BNL despite the fact that several known populations occur very close to the Lab's borders. It is seldom seen because of its fossorial lifestyle, spending most of its time under logs and rocks in forested areas. Found in both moist and dry soils. A very early breeder, this species mates from March to April. Around 150-200 gelatinous eggs are laid in masses in water. Larvae hatch from April to May at around ½" and transform after 2-4 months. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
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Blue-spotted Salamander - Ambystoma laterale
Description: 3 ½ - 5 1/8" (9 - 13 cm). Dorsum grayish to bluish with blue to bluish white speckles. Belly lighter shading. 12-14 costal grooves. Photo courtesy of Jim Harding.
Similar species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This species is listed as a "Species of Special Concern" by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In our region it is considered quite rare and is only found on L.I. It prefers acidic, moist areas in wooded areas. Fossorial. Lives under logs and rocks. Mates from April to May. Gelatinous eggs are scattered individually or in small clusters and attached to submerged vegetation. Emerge late spring to summer. Transform by late summer/early fall. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
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Southern Leopard Frog - Rana sphenocephala utricularia
Description: 2 - 4 5/16" (5.1-11 cm). Color varies from brown to green. Many dark "leopard-like" spots on dorsal surface. White spot in the center of the tympanum.
Similar
species in our area: Can be confused with the smaller pickerel frog
(R. palustris) in our area, but has circular spots, not
square. Also may look like the green frog (R. clamitans).
Photo courtesy of Chris Camacho.
Lifestyle: This frog is listed as a "Species of Special Concern" by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Southern leopard frogs have become exceedingly rare on L.I. and recent surveys conducted by Jeremy Feinberg indicate that this species may in fact be extirpated from L.I. entirely. The decline of this once-common species may be due to disease, pesticides, contaminants, historic droughts, habitat alteration, and habitat succession. The southern leopard frog prefers open, wet, grassy habitats. In the summer they may wander far from standing water, but only into moist areas. Mates from early March to late April. Gelatinous egg masses attached to submerged vegetation. Voice is a pulsing chuckle or croak. Nocturnal, although they are often seen during the day. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
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Northern Cricket Frog - Acris crepitans
Description: 1/2 - 1 1/2" (1.6-3.5 cm). A very small frog with distinctly warty skin. Ground color is brown and body often contains patches of green and stripes on legs. Photo courtesy of Jim Harding.
Similar
Species in our area: Can be confused with the small spring
peeper (Pseudacris crucifer). The primary difference
between the two is that the cricket frog has warts and the lacks the
distinct "X" pattern that peepers have on their backs.
Lifestyle: Formerly found in scattered wetland habitats throughout central and northern parts of L.I., including a few records that were in very close proximity to BNL. This species is now considered to be totally extirpated from L.I. but several suitable areas at BNL contain suitable habitat, and have not been well surveyed. The loss of this species on L.I. may be due to extensive aerial spraying and historic droughts that have occurred in this species historic habitats. It is now listed as "Endangered" by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
This species may still exist in very isolated pockets on Long Island, however this is extremely unlikely.