Native and Invasive Herptile Species Of North America

This is Strictly an informational thread. So please dont post.
If you would like a certain native posted on here, PM me PLEASE.

The first species will be coming VERY shortly.

American Toad
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Bufo
Species: Bufo americanus

American toads have bulky bodies, thick skin, and short legs. They also have very noticeable warts. Like other toads, they secrete a poisonous milky fluid when feeling threatened. This fluid is why some smaller dogs die from eating the toads. This species skin changes color depending on weather, humidity, and stress levels. They have 4 toes on each of their front legs and 5 on each back leg. Males have brown or black throats, whilst the females have lighter throats.

They breed from March to July Each year. They can have 4000 to 8000 offspring. Their average gestation is 8 days long. Both males and females reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years. The females lay their eggs in water in a long spiral like tube structure. After the eggs are laid they become ignored by the parents.

These toads are nocturnal beings. They are most active when it is warm and humid.

Common Snapping Turtle
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Chelydridae
Genus: Chelydra
Species: Chelydra serpentina

This species of turtle is very large. They can grow up to almost 2 feet. These are one of the most common turtles in North America. They have very long tails which can be as long as the body is. Their tails look like they have saw teeth on them. Their plastrons leave much of their bodies out in the open. They have extremely long necks also. You do not want to get bitten by one of these. You can loose your digits and can get injured.

They breed from April to November. Females can store sperm for a few years. So this can mean she does not need to even see a male for a while to reproduce. She can lay as many as 80 eggs in a single clutch. She will also normally create her nest in a sandy soil close to the waters edge.

These guys are not social critters at all. When they do interact it is for mating or for fighting. They are normally active hunters, but can bury themselves to wait on prey.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species: Crotalus atrox

This is a snake you dont want to mess with. These are what are called Pit Vipers. They are called pit vipers because they have a pit organ that is in an identation between their nostril and eye. This snake obviously has a rattle at the tip of its tail. This helps predators know that the snake is dangerous and not to be messed with. If you come across one. Step back, but keep your eye on the snake and slowly walk away. Back on track, Obviously this snakes has diamond shaped patterns running down its back scales. Its head is also shaped like a triangle.

They are able to mate at 3 years of age. They mate right after they come out of hibernation. An amazing thing about them is that they are born live. This is because they hatch just before birth.

And another scary fact is that this species causes more deaths than any other in the United States.