Fish & Wildlife Service

Bombay Hook

National Wildlife

Refuge

Amphibians

and

Reptiles

FUi.sSh. F&isWh i&ldWlifieldSliefreviSceervice 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

https://www.facebook.com/bombayhookwildliferefuge

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

July 2013

Green treefrog

Jane M. Rohling
This goose, designed by

J.N. “Ding” Darling, has

become the symbol of the

National Refuge System.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife

Refuge comprises 16,251 acres,

approximately three-quarters of

which is tidal salt marsh. It also

includes freshwater impoundments,

brushy and timbered swamps, and

upland habitats. 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)

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. They mate in the fall and the

female lays her eggs in the spring.

Marbled Salamander

(Ambystoma opacum)

Fairly common. Found in woodland

areas hiding under logs. A mole

salamander, spending most of its life

underground. Fall breeder.

Spotted Salamander

(Ambystoma maculatum)

Uncommon. Found in woodland and

pond areas. Hides beneath logs

during the day. Recognized by bright

yellow spots. Like marbled

salamander, breeds in fishless pools.

Early spring breeder.

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 in warm

months, usually May and June.

Northern Cricket Frog

(Acris c. crepitans)

Common. Inhabits emergent and

shoreside vegetation of freshwater

pools. Call sounds like two marbles

hitting together. Breeding usually

occurs May through July.

Marbled salamander

Redback salamander
G

reenTreefrog

(Hylacinerea)

Commoninwoodlandareasadjacent

toponds.Seenparticularlyduring

spring.Visitswindowsatnight,

seekinginsectsattractedbylight.

Cowbell-likebreedingcallcanbe

heardearlytomidsummer.

GrayTreefrog

(Hylaversicolor)

Uncommon.Foragesaloftinsmall

treesandshrubsnearwater.Breeds

inquietshallowwaters.

NorthernSpringPeeper

(Pseudacrisc.crucifer)

Common.Congregatesandcalls

loudlyinearlyspringwhereshrubs

standinshallowwater.Breeds

FebruarythroughJune.

NewJerseyChorusFrog

(Pseudacristriseriatakalmi)

Common.Congregatesduringthe

springinlowvegetationalongthe

edgesoffreshwaterpoolsandponds.

Callisreminiscentofafingergoing

acrossacomb.BreedsFebruary

throughJune.

Bullfrog

(Ranacatesbeiana)

Commonlargefrogofthefreshwater

pools.Thefamiliarjug-o-rumcallcan

beheardthroughoutthewarm

weather.

GreenFrog

(Ranaclamitansmelanota)

Inhabitstheshallowfreshwaterof

pools,ponds,andditches.Itscall

soundslikealoosebanjostring.

BreedsAprilthroughAugust.

SouthernLeopardFrog

(Ranau.utricularia)

Commoninshallowfreshwaterareas.

Travelsintograssfields,farfrom

water,duringthesummer.

PickerelFrog

(Ranapalustris)

Common.Inhabitsshallow,

freshwaterareas.Travelsintograss

fieldsduringthesummer.

WoodFrog

(Ranasylvatica)

Common.Shouldbelookedforin

shallowwoodlandpoolsduringthe

earlyspring.Oneofthefirstfrogsto

callinspring.Gaspingorclackinglike

callheardinearlyMarch.

Greentreefrog

Pickerelfrog
E

asternPaintedTurtle

(Chrysemysp.picta)

Themostfrequentlyseenturtle.

Basksinthewarmsunlightonlogs,

stumpsandvegetatedclumpsinthe

freshwaterpools.

RedbellyTurtle

(Pseudemysrubriventris)

Uncommon.Inhabitsthefreshwater

pools.Baskslikethepaintedturtle

butismuchlarger.Feedsprimarilyon

aquaticvegetation.

NorthernDiamondbackTerrapin

(Malaclemyst.terrapin)

Commonestuarinespecies.Livesin

unpollutedsaltmarshandbrackish

waterhabitats.Layseggsonthe

dikesorotheraccessibleareasin

earlyJunetoearlyJuly.

Reptiles

Turtles

CommonSnappingTurtle

(Chalydras.serpentina)

Commoninthefreshwaterpools,but

alsoinhabitsbrackishandsaltwater.

Thelargestnestingturtlein

Delaware,itlaysitseggsinthe

uplandfieldsanddikeroadduring

thelatespring.

CommonMuskTurtle

(Sternotherusodoratus)

Common.Livesinthefreshwater

pools.Maygiveoffmuskysmellwhen

handled,sometimescalledstinkpot.

EasternMudTurtle

(Kinosternons.subrubrum)

Morecommonthanthemuskturtle

whichisresembles.Inhabitsboth

freshandbrackishwater.

SpottedTurtle

(Clemmysguttata)

Uncommon.Inhabitsshallow

freshwaterinthepools,pondsand

ditches.Mostindividualshaveyellow

ororangespotsonshell.

EasternBoxTurtle

(Terrapenec.carolina)

Uncommon.Thisisadry-landturtle

mostfrequentlyseeninthe

woodlands.Feedsonslugs,worms

andvegetation.Mayliveto80+

years.

Easternboxturtle

Lizards

Five-linedSkink

(Eumecesfasciatus)

Uncommon.Livesincut-over

woodlandsthathaverottingstumps

andlogs.Mainlyterrestrial,butcan

climbtrees.Juvenileshavebright

bluetails.Adultmaleshavereddish

orangeheads.

NorthernFenceLizard

(Sceloporusundulatus

hyacinthinus)

Uncommon.Favorsrottinglogsand

openwoodlands.Seldomfarfrom

trees.

Five-linedskink
R

oughGreenSnake

(Opheodrysaestivus)

Difficulttoobservebecauseitblends

withthebackground.Favorsdense

vegetationalongshallowbodiesof

freshwater.Feedsoninsects.

BlackRatSnake

(Elapheo.obsoleta)

Common.Seenintheuplandwoodsor

onfieldedges.Alarge,thick,bodied

snake.Excellentclimber,oftenfound

intrees.

EasternKingsnake

(Lampropeltisg.getula)

Uncommon.Secretive,hidingunder

boardsandlogs.Huntsalongthe

banksoffreshwaterpoolsand

swamps.Mayfeedonothersnakes.

EasternMilkSnake

(Lampropeltist.triangulum)

RareonDelaware’scoastalplain.

Secretive.Foundaroundfarm

buildingsandinfieldsandwoods.

EasternHognoseSnake

(Heterodonplatirhinos)

Uncommon.Preferscultivatedfields

andwoodlandmeadows.Feedson

toadsandfrogs.Willplaydeadif

harassed.

EasternWormSnake

(Carphophisa.amoenus)

Uncommon.Inhabitsfarmland

borderingwoodlands;dwellsindamp

situationsunderrocks,decayinglogs,

andloosesoil.

Snakes

NorthernWaterSnake

(Nedrodias.sipedon)

Mostcommonlyencounteredsnakeon

Refuge.Commoninandaboutfresh

andbrackishwater.Harmless,but

willbiteifprovoked.Feedsonfrogs

andfish.

EasternGarterSnake

(Thamnophiss.sirtalis)

Frequentlyseen.Inhabitsfields,

woodsandmarshedges.

EasternRibbonSnake

(Thamnophiss.sauritis)

Frequentlyseen.Asemiaquaticsnake

foundalongtheedgesofthe

freshwaterpools,swampsandditches,

andoccasionallyinfieldsandwoods.

RingneckSnake

(Diadophispunctatus)

Secretive.Hidesunderstonesand

barkslabsinwoodlands,especially

neardampspots.Brightyellowto

orangeringaroundneck.

NorthernBlackRacer

(Coluberc.constrictor)

Seenoccasionallyinthewoodsand

alongfieldedges.Alargesnake,

activeduringtheday.

Roughgreensnake

Northernwatersnake

Robert Savannah
Bombay Hook is one of more than

560 refuges in the National Wildlife

Refuge System administered by

theU.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.

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