Order Squamata

1
Order Squamata
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/

• No carapace, plastron
• Limbless (all Serpentes, some Lacertilia) or
  limbed

http//www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-Herpetology/
2
Order SquamataSuborder Lacertilia

• 4 legs present (usually)
• External ear opening

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/
3
Suborder Lacertilia, Family Scincidae(Eumeces
septentrionalis prairie skink)

• Identification
• Many dorsal stripes
• Smooth scales
• Length to 23 cm
• Juveniles have blue tails

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/
4
Eumeces septentrionalis prairie skink

• Habitat
• Grasslands with loose soil
• Crevices in rocks, logs, under objects
• Diet
• Terrestrial invertebrates

http//www.angelfire.com/ab6/jnjkapfer/JuvieSkink0
4.jpg
5
Eumeces septentrionalis prairie skink

• Reproduction
• Mate in April
• Lay eggs (about 10) in June (under objects)
• Females guard nest
• Eggs hatch in August
• Distribution
• Western half of IA

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/
6
Eumeces septentrionalis prairie skink

• Conservation
• Locally abundant
• Other
• Bask on rocks, logs
• Burrowers
• Tails break off, regenerate

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/Liz
ards/PrairieSkinkNew.jpg
7
Order SquamataSuborder Serpentes

• Legs always absent
• Lack external ear opening

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Diadophis
punctatus ringneck snake)
http//coloherp.org/geo/species/

• Identification
• Smooth (unkeeled) scales
• Gold neck ring (sometimes incomplete or absent)
• Light venter with irregular spots
• Anal plate divided
• Length to 36 cm

http//www.duke.edu/cwcook/
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From Christoffel et al. 2000
10
Diadophis punctatus ringneck snake

• Habitat
• Wooded areas, edge habitat
• Inhabits fallen logs
• Diet
• Soft-bodied invertebrates
• Small amphibians, reptiles, mammals

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/ringneck_snake.jpg
11
Diadophis punctatus ringneck snake

• Reproduction
• Breed in spring, fall
• Eggs (4-5) laid under logs, rocks
• Distribution
• Statewide (rare in north-central IA)

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/ringneck_snake.jpg
12
Diadophis punctatus ringneck snake

• Conservation
• Generally common
• Other
• Iowas smallest constrictor
• Secretive (flip objects to find them)
• Rarely bites

http//www.floridanature.org/photos/Diadophis_punc
tatus_punctatus_
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Lampropelti
s triangulum milk snake)

• Identification
• Smooth scales
• Blotches (variable color, pattern) on light
  dorsum
  
• V or Y-shaped patch often on nape
• White venter with black-checkering
• Anal plate undivided
• Length to 71 cm

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
From Christoffel et al. 2000
14
Lampropeltis triangulum milk snake

• Habitat
• Rocky areas
• Woodland edges
• Grasslands
• Near waterways
• Under objects
• Diet
• Vertebrates (including snakes)
• Invertebrates

http//www.nps.gov/acad/flow/pix/milksnake.jpg
15
Lampropeltis triangulum milk snake

• Reproduction
• Mate in spring/early summer
• About 10 eggs
• Young hatch in fall
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
16
Lampropeltis triangulum milk snake

• Conservation
• Common
• Protected in IA
• Other
• Once thought to milk cows
• A kingsnake (constrictor)
• Immune to venom of most poisonous snakes
• Bites when threatened

http//www.pitt.edu/mcs2/herp/herp.pics/Lt_multis
triata.jpg
17
Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Opheodrys
vernalis smooth green snake)

• Identification
• Smooth scales
• Adult dorsum bright green (rarely olive, tan)
• Blue-gray dorsum in dead adults, live hatchlings
• White/yellow venter
• Anal plate divided
• Length to 51 cm

http//www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-Herpetology/snake
s/
18
Opheodrys vernalis smooth green snake

• Habitat
• Grassy areas
• Forest clearings
• Diet
• Insects

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/smooth_greensnake.jpg
19
Opheodrys vernalis smooth green snake

• Reproduction
• Mate in spring
• Eggs (3-15) usually laid (oviparous) some eggs
  hatch inside mother (ovoviviparous)
  
• Distribution
• Scattered populations (about 10) across IA

http//images.google.com/imgres?imgurlhttp//www.
uga.edu/
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
20
Opheodrys vernalis smooth green snake

• Conservation
• A species of special concern in IA (protected)
• Demise caused by pesticide poisoning (from insect
  prey), habitat loss
  
• Other
• Rarely bites

http//www.uga.edu/srelherp/jd/jdweb/Herps/species
/USsnakes/ophver2.jpg
21
Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Coluber
constrictor racer)

• Identification (adult)
• Smooth scales
• Dorsum uniform dark green, blue, brown, black
• White to yellow venter
• Yellow throat, neck
• Anal plate divided
• Large (length to 1.3 m)

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/
22
Coluber constrictor racer
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/

• Identification (juvenile)
• Gray, brown dorsal blotches on blue/gray
  background
  
• Tail nearly unpatterned (unlike other small
  spotted snakes)
  
• Spots on venter

venter
23
Coluber constrictor racer

• Habitat
• Grasslands
• Woodland edge
• Diet
• Diverse (usually vertebrates)
• Chase prey

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/
24
Coluber constrictor racer
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/

• Reproduction
• Mate in spring
• From 5-25 eggs laid
• Hatch in August
• Distribution
• Statewide

25
Coluber constrictor racer

• Conservation
• Common
• Protected in IA
• Other
• Quickest IA snake
• Not a constrictor
• Might bite if threatened

http//www.dlia.org/atbi/species/animals/vertebrat
es/reptiles/images/coluber3.JPG
26
Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Virginia
valeriae smooth earth snake)

• Identification
• Smooth or weakly-keeled scales
• Dorsum gray, reddish, brown
• Tiny black dots or light middorsal stripe might
  occur on dorsum
  
• White to yellow venter
• Anal plate undivided
• Length to 26 cm

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
27
Virginia valeriae smooth earth snake

• Habitat
• Wooded or rocky areas near flowing waters
• Under leaf litter, logs
• Active during rains
• Diet
• Soft-bodied invertebrates (earthworms, slugs)

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/earthsnake_1.jpg
28
Virginia valeriae smooth earth snake

• Reproduction
• Mates in spring, fall
• Female gives birth to 5-10 live young
• Distribution
• South, central IA

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/earthsnake_1.jpg
29
Virginia valeriae smooth earth snake

• Conservation
• Scattered populations
• Protected
• Other
• Soft bite
• Secretive

http//home.frognet.net/brune/valeriae_16jul04_1b
.jpg