Fish & Wildlife Service

Bombay Hook

National Wildlife

Refuge

Amphibians

and

Reptiles 

Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

2591 Whitehall Neck Road

Smyrna, DE 19977-6872

302/653 9345

E-mail: FW5RW_BHNWR@FWS.GOV

http://bombayhook.fws.gov

Federal Relay Service

for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov

September 2002

Green treefrog

Jane M. Rohling
This goose, designed by

J.N. “Ding” Darling, has

become the symbol of the

National Refuge System.

Bombay HookNational Wildlife

Refuge comprises 15,978 acres,

approximately three-quarters of

which is tidal salt marsh. It also

includes 1,100 acres of impounded

fresh water pools, brushy and

timbered swamps, 1,100 acres of

agricultural lands, and timbered and

grassy upland. The general terrain is

flat and less than ten feet above sea

level.

The variety of habitats within

Bombay Hook Refuge provides the

essential living requirements for an

interesting array of amphibians

(salamanders, toads, and frogs) and

reptiles (turtles, snakes and lizards).

Many of these kinds of animals are

often overlooked by visitors. They

are hard to see; however, closer

scrutiny may expose a “clump of

moss” as a frog or “part of a vine” to

be a snake. A slight movement on

their part as you approach may be the

giveaway. The frogs and toads can

also be identified by their voices

which ring out in loud chorus during

spring nights, and into the summer.

Amphibians

Salamanders Redback Salamander 

(Plethodon cinereus) 

A fairly common woodland

salamander. Hides beneath logs, bark

slabs and stones during the daytime.

In this area, it is usually in the “lead”

phase, that is, the reddish pigment is

usually lacking.

Marbled Salamander 

(Ambystoma opacum) 

Uncommon. Found in woodland areas

hiding under logs. Fall breeder. A

mole salamander, spending most of its

life underground.

Spotted Salamander 

(Ambystoma maculatum)

Uncommon. Found in woodland and

pond areas. Early spring breeder.

Like marbled salamander, breeds in

fishless pools. Hides beneath logs

during the day. Recognized by bright

yellow spots.

Toads and Frogs Fowler’s Toad 

(Bufo woodhousii fowleri) 

Common in woodland and grassy

areas. Has three or more warts in

each dark spot unlike the American

toad which has l or 2. Breeds in

shallow temporary pools.

Northern Cricket Frog 

(Acris c. crepitans) 

Common. Inhabits the emergent and

shoreside vegetation of the

freshwater pools. Call sounds like

two marbles hitting together.

Marbled salamander

Redback salamander
Green Treefrog 

(Hyla cinerea) 

Common in woodland areas adjacent

to ponds. Seen particularly during

spring. Visits windows at night,

seeking insects attracted by light.

Cowbell-like breeding call can be

heard early to mid summer.

Gray Treefrog 

(Hyla versicolor) 

Uncommon. Breeds in quiet shallow

waters. Forages aloft in small trees

and shrubs near water.

Northern Spring Peeper 

(Pseudacris c. crucifer) 

Common. Congregates and calls

loudly in early spring where shrubs

stand in shallow water.

New Jersey Chorus Frog 

(Pseudacris triseriata kalmi)

Common. Congregate during the

spring in low vegetation along the

edges of freshwater pools and ponds.

Call is reminiscent of a finger going

across a comb.

Bullfrog 

(Rana catesbeiana) 

A common large frog of the

freshwater pools. The familiar jug-o- rum call can be heard throughout the

warm weather.

Green Frog 

(Rana clamitans melanota) 

Inhabits the shallow freshwater of the

pools. Ponds and ditches. It’s call

sounds like a loose banjo string.

Southern Leopard Frog 

(Rana u. utricularia) 

Common in shallow freshwater areas. Travels into grass fields, far from

water, during the summer.

Pickerel Frog 

(Rana palustris) 

Common. Inhabits shallow,

freshwater areas. Travels into grass

fields during the summer. Wood Frog 

(Rana sylvatica) 

Common. Should be looked for in

shallow woodland pools during the

early spring. One of the first frogs to

call in spring. Gasping or clacking

like call heard in early March. 

Green treefrog

Pickerel frog
Northern Diamondback Terrapin

(Malaclemys t. terrapin) 

A common estuarine species. Lives in

unpolluted salt marsh and brackish

water habitats. Lays eggs on the

dikes or other accessible areas in

early June to early July.

Eastern Painted Turtle 

(Chrysemys p. picta) 

The most frequently seen turtle.

Basks in the warm sunlight on logs,

stumps and vegetated clumps in the

freshwater pools.

Redbelly Turtle 

(Pseudemys rubriventris)

Uncommon. Inhabits the freshwater

pools. Basks like the painted turtle

but ismuch larger. Feeds primarily on

aquatic vegetation.

Reptiles Turtles Common Snapping Turtle

(Chalydra s. serpentina) 

Common in the freshwater pools, but

also inhabits brackish and salt water.

The largest nesting turtle in

Delaware, it lays its eggs in the

upland fields and dike road during

the late spring.

Common Musk Turtle 

(Sternotherus odoratus) 

Common. Lives in the freshwater

pools. May give off musky smell

when handled, sometimes called

stinkpot. 

Eastern Mud Turtle 

(Kinosternon s. subrubrum) 

More common than the musk turtle

which is resembles. Inhabits both

fresh and brackish wataer.

Spotted Turtle 

(Clemmys guttata) 

Uncommon. Inhabits shallow

freshwater in the pools, ponds and

ditches. Most individuals have yellow

or orange spots on shell.

Eastern Box Turtle 

(Terrapene c. carolina) 

Uncommon. This is a dry-land turtle

most frequently seen in the

woodlands. Feeds on slugs, worms

and vegetation. May live to 80+

years.

Eastern box turtle

Lizards Five-lined Skink 

(Eumeces fasciatus) 

Uncommon. Lives in cut-over

woodlands that have rotting stumps

and logs. Mainly terrestrial, but can

climb trees. Juveniles have bright

blue tails. Adult males have reddish

orange heads.

Northern Fence Lizard 

(Sceloporus undulatus 

hyacinthinus) 

Uncommon. Favors rotting logs and

open woodlands. Primarily arboreal,

seldom far from trees.

Five-lined skink
Rough Green Snake 

(Opheodrys aestivus) 

Difficult to observe because it blends

with the background. Favors dense

vegetation along shallow bodies of

freshwater. Feeds on insects.

Black Rat Snake 

(Elaphe o. obsoleta) 

A largae, thick, bodies snake. Seen

commonly, usually in the upland

woods or on field edges. Excellent

climber, often found in trees.

Eastern Kingsnake 

(Lampropeltis g. getula) 

Uncommon. Often secretive, hiding

under boards and logs. Hunts along

the banks of freshwater pools and

swamps. May feed on other snakes.

Eastern Milk Snake 

(Lampropeltis t. triangulum) 

Rare on Delaware’s coastal plain.

Secretive about farm buildings and in

the fields and woods.

Eastern Hognose Snake 

(Heterodon platirhinos) 

Uncommon. Prefers cultivated fields

and woodland meadows. Feeds on

toads and frogs. Will play dead if

harassed.

Eastern Worm Snake 

(Carphophis a. amoenus) 

Uncommon. Inhabits farmland

bordering woodlands; dwells in damp

situations under rocks, decaying logs,

and loose soil.

Snakes Northern Water Snake 

(Nedrodia s. sipedon) 

Most commonly encountered snake on

Refuge. Harmless, but will bite if

provoked. Common in and about

fresh and brackish water. Feeds on

frogs and fish.

Eastern Garter Snake 

(Thamnophis s. sirtalis) 

Frequently seen. Inhabits fields,

woods and marsh edges.

Eastern Ribbon Snake 

(Thamnophis s. sauritis) 

A semiaquatic snake found along the

edges of the freshwater pools.

Swamps and ditches, and also

occasionally in fields and woods.

Ringneck Snake 

(Diadophis punctatus) 

Secretive. Hides under stones and

bark slabs in woodlands, especially

near damp spots. Bright yellow to

orange ring around neck.

Northern Black Racer 

(Coluber c. constrictor) 

A large snake, active during the day.

Seen occasionally in the woods and

along field edges.

Rough green snake

Northern water snake

Robert Savannah
Bombay Hook is one of more than

500 refuges in the National Wildlife

Refuge System administered by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The

National Wildlife Refuge System is a

network of lands and waters

managed specifically for the

protection of wildlife and wildlife

habitat and represents the most

comprehensive wildlife resource

management programs in the world.

Units of the system stretch across the

United States from northern Alaska

to the Florida Keys, and include small

islands in the Caribbean and South

Pacific. The character of the refuges

ia as diverse as the nation itself.

The Service also manages National

Fish Hatcheries, and provides

Federal leadership in habitat

protection, fish and wildlife research,

technical assistance and the

conservation and protection of

migratory birds, certain marine

mammals and threatened and

endangered species.

The 35 species on this list have been

identified on the Bombay Hook

Refuge by refuge personnel with

cooperation from the staff of the

Philadelphia Zoological Garden. A

special thanks also goes to Dr. Roger

Conant, author of the Field Guide to

the Reptiles of Amphibians of

Eastern and Central North America,

in the Peterson Series. To Skip

Conant USFWS volunteer; Jim

White of the Delaware Nature

Society, Mike McLaughlin associated

with Delaware conservation groups

who assisted in updating this list.

Bob Jones State Fish and Wildlife for

original artwork. Names were taken

from “Common and Scientific

Names” by the Society for the Study

of Reptiles and Amphibians.

Other species no doubt exist on the

refuge and reports of their

identification will be welcomed at the

refuge headquarters. Following is a

list of other possible species:

Northern Brown Snake (Storeria

dekayi), Ground Skink (Scincella

lateralis), Eastern Mud Salamander

(Pseudotriton montanus), Northern

Red Salamander (Pseutotriton ruber),

Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla

chrysoscelis), and Eastern Spadefoot

(Scaphiopus h. holbrookii). 

Robert Savannah

Eastern painted turtle

Northern Spring peeper

U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service