U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Reptiles and

Amphibians

Chincoteague

National 

Wildlife Refuge
Although reptiles and

amphibians are often

less visible than the

other wildlife that

grace Chincoteague

National Wildlife

Refuge, they make up

an important part of

the ecosystem. Their

habitats are as varied

as the refuge itself,

some preferring the

freshwater ponds,

others taking to the

sandy dunes. Please

remember to respect

the homes of these

fascinating animals

and stay on the

designated trails.

Reptiles

Reptiles are cold-blooded, dryskinned vertebrates that usually have

scaly skin and typically lay shelled

eggs on land. Reptiles consist of

animals such as turtles and snakes.

Snapping Turtle 

(Chelydra serpentina), Common, 

8–18", 10–45 pounds. Found in

freshwater impoundments, snapping

turtles are black to light brown, and

are easily recognized by their large

heads and saw-toothed ridges along

their tails and back of their shells.

These turtles can usually be found

buried in the mud and are known for

their short temper and willingness to

strike if provoked.

Snapping turtle. Photo: Michael Colopy.

Turtles

Cover: Fowler’s toad.

Photo: Irene Hinke

Sacilotto.
Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum), Common,

3–5". This mainly aquatic turtle is

found in freshwater impoundments

and marshes. The Eastern mud 

turtle is aptly named after its muddy,

brown-black appearance. The turtle’s

head is spotted or streaked with

yellow; however, the mud turtle is

rarely seen because it hides by day

and forages underwater at night.

Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), Common, Female 6–10", Male 4–6". The

Northern diamondback terrapin is

found in brackish water and salt

marshes, often basking on mud 

flats. This turtle’s shell shows deep

growth rings which give it a sculpted

appearance. The shell’s coloration is

variable and the head and limbs are

peppered with black. 

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina), Uncommon, 

4–8". The Eastern box turtle is

mainly a land turtle, but sometimes

soaks in freshwater ponds. This 

high-domed shell turtle has the

ability to close its back end tight,

which gives it a boxed appearance. Variable in color and patterns, the

box turtle can be yellow, orange,

olive, black, or brown. 

Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), Common, 4–7".

The Eastern painted turtle is found

in freshwater impoundments, often

basking in the sun. This attractive

turtle has a smooth black shell with

yellow and red markings and yellow

lines and spots on the head.

Northern

diamondback

terrapin. Photo: 

Irene Hinke Sacilotto.

Eastern painted

turtle. Photo: 

Michael Colopy.

Northern diamondback terrapin

Eastern painted turtle
Red-bellied Turtle 

(Chrysemys rubriventris),

Uncommon, 10–13". Often seen

basking with the painted turtles, 

the red-bellied turtle has a brownblack shell. The females can be

distinguished from the males by the

vertical red lines down their back.

Atlantic Loggerhead (sea turtle)

(Caretta caretta), Uncommon, 

30–70", 170–900 pounds. The Atlantic

loggerhead is a reddish-brown sea

turtle that is occasionally seen

surfacing in channels and in Toms

Cove. This turtle has paddle like

limbs and an elongated, heart-shaped

shell. Listed as a threatened species.

No venomous snakes exist 

on the refuge.

Brown Water Snake 

(Nerodia taxispilota), Uncommon, 

30–70". The brown water snake is

found in freshwater ponds and

ditches and is an excellent tree

climber. This snake has a head wider

than its neck and is dark brown with

large dark splotches down its back. 

Northern Water Snake 

(Nerodia sipedon), Rare, 22–53". 

The Northern water snake is found 

in freshwater ponds or basking on

logs on the water’s edge. This snake

can be reddish, brown, or gray to

brownish-black with dark crossbands

on the neck region and blotches on

the back and side. 

Rough Green Snake 

(Opheodrys aestivus), Rare, 22–45". 

A tree dweller found in vines, bushes,

and trees near water, the rough 

green snake is very slender and 

pea-green in color with a white to

yellowish-green belly.

Eastern Garter Snake 

(Thamnophis sirtalis), Rare, 18–52".

The Eastern garter snake is highly

variable in color, with stripes or spots

dominating. Occasionally some garter

snakes are all black. Beware, when

these snakes are handled they expel 

a pungent musk.

Snakes

Red-bellied turtle. Photo: T.E. Graham,

USFWS.

Garter snake. Photo: ©Photodisc.
Eastern Hognose Snake 

(Heterodon platyrhinos), Common,

18–45". The Eastern hognose snake 

is stout-bodied with a pointed,

slightly upturned snout and wide

neck. The coloration of this snake 

is highly variable, but it usually 

has dark blotches on its back. The

hognose snake is best known for the

defensive behavior of “hooding” its

neck, flattening its body and hissing.

If this fails to elude the predator, 

the Eastern hognose rolls over and 

plays dead.

Black Rat Snake 

(Elaphe obsoleta), Common, 34–100".

This long, powerful constrictor is

shiny black with a white chin and

belly. The black rat snake is an

excellent climber and often resides 

in high tree cavities. 

Black Racer 

(Coluber constrictor), Common, 

34–77". The black racer is a long,

slender, agile and fast moving 

snake. What may seem to be the

buzzing of a rattlesnake is actually

the black racer vibrating its tail tip 

in dead vegetation. If grabbed, this

snake may bite repeatedly and 

thrash about.

Amphibians

Amphibians are cold-blooded

vertebrates that usually lack scaly

skin, lay jelly-coated eggs in water,

and go through metamorphosis 

(a change in physical appearance). 

This group of animals consists of

toads, frogs, and salamanders.

Fowler’s Toad 

(Bufo woodhousii fowleri). Common,

2.5–5". The Fowler’s toad is found 

in sandy areas, on trails, and around

buildings. This large toad has dry,

warty skin that is yellow, green or

brown in color. The back of the

Fowler’s toad is blotchy while the

chest is paler and unspotted. 

Green Treefrog 

(Hyla cinerea), Common, 1–2.5". The

green treefrog prefers moist shady

places. This little frog has smooth

bright green, yellow, or greenish-gray

skin with a yellowish stripe along side

of the body. They often congregate in

large groups of several hundreds and

tend to rest during the day.

Toads

Frogs

Green treefrog. Photo: Hollingsworth, USFWS.

Eastern hognose

snake. Photo: Irvin

Ailes, USFWS.

Black rat snake.Photo: Robert Wilson, USFWS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Chincoteague is one of over 500

refuges in the National Wildlife 

Refuge System administered by 

the U.S. Fish & 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 program 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 habitat of refuges is as diverse 

as the nation itself.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife 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. 

Equal opportunity to participate in, 

and benefit from, the programs and

activities of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Service is available to all individuals,

regardless of age, race, religion, color,

sex, national origin, or disability. 

Contact: U.S. Department of the

Interior, Office of Equal Employment

Opportunity, 1849 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.

Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala), Common,

2–5". The Southern leopard frog can

be found in freshwater ponds and

brackish marshes, but forages on

land. This nocturnal frog is slender

and green to brown in color with

variable spots. 

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), Common, 3.5–8".

The largest frog in North America,

the bullfrog is an introduced species

at the refuge. This frog is found in

freshwater ponds and has green to

yellowish skin with occasional gray 

or brown markings. 

Redback Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), Rare, 2–5". 

The redback salamander is dark gray

or black with a reddish stripe along

its back. This salamander prefers the

dark, moist areas under rocks and

leaf litter in the forest.

Salamanders

Bullfrog. Photo: Irene Hinke Sacilotto
For further information, contact:

Refuge Manager

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 62

Chincoteague Island, Virginia 23336-0062

Telephone: 757/336 6122

Fax: 757/336 5273

E-mail: R5RW_CHNWR@fws.gov

December 1999