Upland Amphibians!

The Upland site contained many different species of amphibians. The diversity of species indicated that the brook area in the upland site was environmentally healthy.

Eastern American Toad

Bufo Americanus- The American Toad is a medium sized toad usually measuring 2 to 3 1/2 inches in length. Although the color and pattern varies, each spot on the toad will only contain one or two warts. There are also warts on the lower leg below the knee. The toad's belly is generally spotted on the forward half.

Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Eurycea Bislineata- The Northern Two-lined Salamander is small, rarely reaching lengths over 3 1/2 inches. It gets its name from the two dark lines running from behind the eyes to the tip of the tail. Sometimes, its back is lightly spotted. It is found in springs and streams with rocky bottoms. They can be found underneath many sorts of objects.

Eastern Newt

Notophthalmus Viridescens- The first picture is of a sexually immature newt. This land dwelling stage is called the eft stage. Efts are viewed more commonly than adults because of their bright-orange appearance. The efts are poisonous so they don't need to fear predators. The adults have a darker color and a tail more suited for swimming.

Mudpuppy

Necturus Maculosus- The mudpuddy has a reddish-brown back, with black spots scattered over the body. Its external gills are red and feathery and most obvious when fully opened. It is found in water and travels the bottom of riverside marshes, weedy ponds, and lakes. Its lungs are poorly supplied with lungs, therefore restricted to permanent bodies of water.

Green Frog

Rana Clamitans- The Green Frog can reach lengths up to 3 1/2 inches. The gender of a green frog can be determined by the size of the tympanic membrane relative to the eye. It is larger than the eye in males and the same size in females. Also, males are often more yellow than females. Green frogs are usually more brown than green and the tend to have dark markings on their backs.

Pickerel Frog

Rana Palustris- The Pickerel Frog can be identified by squares on their backs. It belongs to a group of frogs called "leopard frogs." All other leopard frogs have circular spots. They can also be identified by orange or yellow coloring within the hind legs.

Wood Frog

Rana Sylvatica- The Wood Frog is famous for its raccoon-like mask extending from the tip of its snout through the eye. The Wood Frog is a medium sized frog reaching lengths up to 2 3/4 inches. They are commonly brown, but they may vary from olive green to almost black.

Note- Pictures taken from the USGS