List of amphibians and reptiles of West Virginia

Last updated

The Cheat Mountain salamander (Plethodon nettingi) Cheatmtsala.jpg
The Cheat Mountain salamander ( Plethodon nettingi )
The hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis.jpg
The hellbender ( Cryptobranchus alleganiensis )
An adult red-spotted, or eastern, newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) Redspotted newt.jpg
An adult red-spotted, or eastern, newt ( Notophthalmus viridescens )
The northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) with egg clutch DesmognathusFuscusPageVA.jpg
The northern dusky salamander ( Desmognathus fuscus ) with egg clutch
The eastern American toad (Bufo americanus) Bufo americanus Toad.JPG
The eastern American toad ( Bufo americanus )
The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) H crucifer USGS.jpg
The spring peeper ( Pseudacris crucifer )
The gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) GrayTreeFrog2010.jpg
The gray tree frog ( Hyla versicolor )
A female American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) American Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Side 1800px.jpg
A female American bullfrog ( Rana catesbeiana )
The northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) Rana pipiens.jpg
The northern leopard frog ( Rana pipiens )
Northern red-bellied cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris) Pseudemys rubriventrisHolbrookV1P06.jpg
Northern red-bellied cooter ( Pseudemys rubriventris )
Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) Eastern Box Turtle-27527-1.jpg
Eastern box turtle ( Terrapene carolina )
Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) Clemmys guttataHolbrookV1P11A.jpg
Spotted turtle ( Clemmys guttata )
Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) Waldbachschildkroete-01.jpg
Wood turtle ( Glyptemys insculpta )
Northern pine snake (P. m. melanoleucus) Washington DC Zoo - Pituophis melanoleucus 1.jpg
Northern pine snake ( P. m. melanoleucus )
Snake handlers worshipping with a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Snakehandling.png
Snake handlers worshipping with a timber rattlesnake ( Crotalus horridus )
Eastern snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) Chelydra serpentinaHolbrookV1P23A.jpg
Eastern snapping turtle ( Chelydra serpentina )
Black rat snakes (Pantherophis obsoletus) mating Snakes.JPG
Black rat snakes ( Pantherophis obsoletus ) mating
Northern copperhead (A. c. mokasen) Copperhead 003.jpg
Northern copperhead (A. c. mokasen)
Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) Douthat State Park - Eastern fence lizard - 2.jpg
Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

89 species of amphibians (class Amphibia) and reptiles (class Reptilia) are known to inhabit the state of West Virginia. The ranges of some 34 salamander species, 15 species of frogs and toads, 21 species of snakes, 13 turtle species, and 6 lizard species extend into some portion of the state. Two of these — the Cheat Mountain salamander and West Virginia spring salamander — are endemic to West Virginia. The former species is considered threatened and the latter is considered endangered by federal authorities. [1]

Contents

The taxa

The following letters indicate the likelihood of finding each species in West Virginia: [2]

CCommonCan be commonly seen in suitable habitat within current range.
UUncommonSeldom seen because habitat restricted and/or behavior secretive.
RRareNot often present even in suitable habitat.

In addition, the IUCN classifies three of these species as endangered (EN), two as vulnerable (VU), and six as near-threatened (NT).

Order Urodela (salamanders)

Family Cryptobranchidae (giant salamanders)

Family Proteidae (waterdogs and mudpuppies)

Family Ambystomatidae (mole salamanders)

Family Salamandridae (true salamanders)

Family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders)

Order Anura (frogs)

Family Scaphiopodidae (American spadefoot toads)

Family Bufonidae (true toads)

Family Hylidae (tree frogs and allies)

Family Ranidae (true frogs)

Order Testudines (turtles)

Family Chelydridae (snapping turtles)

Family Emydidae (pond turtles)

Family Kinosternidae (mud turtles and musk turtles)

Family Trionychidae (softshells)

Order Squamata (scaled reptiles)

Family Phrynosomatidae (spiny lizards)

Family Teiidae (whiptails)

Family Scincidae (skinks)

Family Colubridae (colubrid snakes)

Family Viperidae (vipers)

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plateau tiger salamander</span> Species of amphibian

The plateau tiger salamander or Mexican tiger salamander is a species of mole salamander in the family Ambystomatidae. It is typically considered endemic to Mexico, although its range might extend to the United States. Its natural habitat is grassland, including sparse forest and semiarid grassland. Breeding takes place in a range of aquatic habitats: deep volcanic lakes, shallow vernal pools, artificial cattle ponds, and intermittent, fish-free stream pools. It exhibits facultative paedomorphosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imitator salamander</span> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern two-lined salamander</span> Species of amphibian

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The West Virginia spring salamander is a species of troglobitic salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to West Virginia, the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-cheeked salamander</span> Species of amphibian

The red-cheeked salamander, also known as the Jordan's salamander, Jordan's redcheek salamander, or Appalachian woodland salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States.

The Sequoyah slimy salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae.

References

  1. "Amphibians & Reptiles". West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. "Amphibians and Reptiles of West Virginia: A Field Checklist" (PDF). West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. December 2003. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  3. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2022). "Cryptobranchus alleganiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T59077A82473431. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T59077A82473431.en . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  4. Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). "Ambystoma barbouri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T59053A11875949. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59053A11875949.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  5. Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). "Plethodon virginia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T59360A11908996. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59360A11908996.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  6. Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). "Plethodon nettingi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T17627A7207626. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T17627A7207626.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  7. Geoffrey Hammerson, Joseph Mitchell (2004). "Plethodon punctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T59351A11921999. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59351A11921999.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  8. Geoffrey Hammerson, Christopher Beachy (2004). "Gyrinophilus subterraneus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T59283A11897278. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59283A11897278.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  9. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2022). "Aneides aeneus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T200106367A118971788. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T200106367A118971788.en . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  10. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Eurycea cirrigera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T78918210A78918104. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  11. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Eurycea bislineata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T78918774A64162498. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  12. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Eurycea lucifuga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T59269A196339688. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T59269A196339688.en . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  13. van Dijk, P.P. 2011. Clemmys guttata (errata version published in 2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T4968A97411228. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4968/97411228. Downloaded on 29 October 2018.
  14. van Dijk, P.P. & Harding, J. 2011. Glyptemys insculpta (errata version published in 2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T4965A97416259. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4965/97416259. Downloaded on 29 October 2018.
  15. van Dijk, P.P. 2011. Terrapene carolina (errata version published in 2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T21641A97428179. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/21641/97428179. Downloaded on 29 October 2018.
  16. van Dijk, P.P. 2011. Pseudemys rubriventris (errata version published in 2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T18460A97427406. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18460/97427406. Downloaded on 29 October 2018.