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LSUMNS Life in a Louisiana Bayou
- 1. Life in a Louisiana bayou Sophie Warny, Ph.D. Museum of Natural Science & BASC
- 2. We will talk about…We will talk about… 1. The MNS Collections 2. Field trips to the MNS - Learn about herpetology: Louisiana species and MNS displays 3. Field trips to the MNS: Practical Details 4. Children’s activity book: For the MNS or schools - English and French 5. Hands on activities to do in your schools - Learn about scales - Learn about camouflage - Learn about life cycles
- 3. 7 main fields of RESEARCH7 main fields of RESEARCH Ornithology (Birds)Ornithology (Birds) GeneticsGenetics Ichthyology (Fishes)Ichthyology (Fishes) MammalogyMammalogy Herpetology (Reptiles and Amphibians)Herpetology (Reptiles and Amphibians) Vertebrate PaleontologyVertebrate Paleontology Anthropology (Archaeology and Ethnography)Anthropology (Archaeology and Ethnography) EDUCATIONEDUCATION 1. The MNS collections1. The MNS collections
- 4. Collections: - More than 270,000 specimens Research statement: - Biodiversity, Conservation, and - Stream restoration IchthyologyIchthyology Dr. Mike Fitzimons
- 6. Collections: - > 81,000 specimens - 880 species of snakes - 27 holotypes (new species) - Snake skeletal collection = one of the largest and most diverse in the world. Research statement: - Genetics, Systematics, Biogeography… HerpetologyHerpetology Dr. Chris Austin
- 7. Students help build the collection during field season: Masters student Jamie Oaks learn how to collect herpetology specimens, here with a young alligator on a Louisiana Bayou.
- 8. A make-shift laboratory in Papua New Guinea: PhD student CJ Hayden preserving reptile and amphibian specimens.
- 9. 2. FIELD TRIP: CONTENT2. FIELD TRIP: CONTENT Herpetology
- 10. What is herpetology?What is herpetology? Greek wordGreek word herpetonherpeton means “Crawling things”means “Crawling things” Carolus Linnaeus (Swedish scientist who establishedCarolus Linnaeus (Swedish scientist who established the system for naming species) called thesethe system for naming species) called these herpetology species “these foul and loathsomeherpetology species “these foul and loathsome animals” … or are they fascinating???animals” … or are they fascinating??? The study of amphibians and reptilesThe study of amphibians and reptiles The reptiles used to be the dominant forms on EarthThe reptiles used to be the dominant forms on Earth Now:Now: - Amphibians: ~4,000 species, smallest vertebrate group- Amphibians: ~4,000 species, smallest vertebrate group - Reptiles: ~7,500 species, second smallest vertebrate group- Reptiles: ~7,500 species, second smallest vertebrate group
- 11. What are amphibians?What are amphibians? They were the first vertebrates to conquer land.They were the first vertebrates to conquer land. GreekGreek AmphibiosAmphibios: “a being with a double life” -: “a being with a double life” - TypicallyTypically bi-phasic life cycle with aquatic larval stage (tadpole)bi-phasic life cycle with aquatic larval stage (tadpole) AllAll = ectothermic: use environmental T to regulate their T.= ectothermic: use environmental T to regulate their T. Amphibians have moist, scaleless skinsAmphibians have moist, scaleless skins They have permeable skin: high evaporative water loss.They have permeable skin: high evaporative water loss. They have ears, skull and teethThey have ears, skull and teeth Divided in three orders:Divided in three orders: Frogs and toadsFrogs and toads Salamanders (including newts and sirens)Salamanders (including newts and sirens) Legless caeciliansLegless caecilians
- 12. FrogsFrogs (~5000 sp.)(~5000 sp.) SalamandersSalamanders CaeciliansCaecilians TurtlesTurtles Lizards andLizards and SnakesSnakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras Polypedates leucomystax
- 13. Order Anura- frogs and toads (18) Eastern Spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii Southern Toad Bufo terrestris Fowler’s Toad Bufo woodhousii fowleri Oak Toad Bufo quercicus Upland Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata feriarum Southern Cricket Frog Acris gryllus Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea Barking Treefrog Hyla gratiosa Gray Treefrog Hyla versicolor complex Spring Peeper Hyla crucifer Bird-voiced Treefrog Hyla avivoca Pine Woods Treefrog Hyla femoralis Squirrel Treefrog Hyla squirella Pickerel Frog Rana palustris Southern Leopard Frog Rana sphenocephala Crawfish Frog Rana areolata Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Narrow-mouthed Toad Gastrophryne carolinensis
- 14. Southern Toad Bufo terrestris Squirrel Treefrog Hyla squirella Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Greenhouse Frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris Invasive species Cycle does not need water
- 15. FrogsFrogs SalamanderSalamander s (~400 sp.)s (~400 sp.) CaeciliansCaecilians TurtlesTurtles Lizards andLizards and SnakesSnakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras Dicamptodon ensatus
- 16. Salamanders (15) Three-toed Amphiuma Amphiuma tridactylum Lesser Siren Siren intermedia Red-spotted Newt Notophthalmus viridescens Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum Small-mouthed Salamander Ambystoma texanum Mole Salamander Ambystoma talpoideum Mud Salamander Pseudotriton montanus Red Salamander Pseudotriton ruber Southern 2-lined Salamander Eurycea cirrigera Dwarf Salamander Eurycea quadridigitata Three-lined Salamander Eurycea guttolineata Dusky Salamander Desmognathus fuscus Slimy Salamander Plethadon glutinosus
- 17. Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum Three-toed Amphiuma Amphiuma tridactylum Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum
- 18. FrogsFrogs SalamandersSalamanders CaeciliansCaecilians (~160 sp.)(~160 sp.) TurtlesTurtles Lizards andLizards and SnakesSnakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras Schistometopum thomense
- 19. What are reptiles?What are reptiles? They have dry scales (different than fishes)They have dry scales (different than fishes) They have low evaporative water lossThey have low evaporative water loss Terrestrial ‘egg’ and no larval stage. They either lay shelledTerrestrial ‘egg’ and no larval stage. They either lay shelled eggs on land or bear their young aliveeggs on land or bear their young alive Ectothermic: depend upon external temperatureEctothermic: depend upon external temperature They can survive on hardly any food (desert)They can survive on hardly any food (desert) They include:They include: TurtlesTurtles LizardsLizards SnakesSnakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras
- 20. FrogsFrogs SalamandersSalamanders CaeciliansCaecilians TurtlesTurtles (~300 sp.)(~300 sp.) Lizards andLizards and SnakesSnakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras Geochelone radiata
- 21. Turtles and tortoises (20) Common Musk Turtle Sternotherus odoratus Razor-backed Musk Turtle Sternotherus carinatus Eastern Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum Slider Trachemys scripta Cooter Pseudemys floridana River Cooter Pseudemys concinna False Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica Mississippi Map Turtle Graptemys kohnil Pascagoula Map Turtle Graptemys gibbonsi Ringed Map Turtle Graptemys oculifera Diamond-backed Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin Eastern Box Turtle “3-toed” Terrapene carolina Ornate Box Turtle Terrapene ornata Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta Chicken Turtle Deirochelys reticularia Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera Alligator Snapping Turtle Macroclemys temminckii Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus
- 22. Razor-backed Musk Turtle Sternotherus carinatus Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus
- 23. Alligator Snapping Turtle Macroclemys temminckii Slider Trachemys scripta
- 24. FrogsFrogs SalamandersSalamanders CaeciliansCaecilians TurtlesTurtles LizardsLizards (~4500 sp.)(~4500 sp.) and Snakesand Snakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras Emoia caeruleocauda
- 25. Lizards and Skinks (11) Coal Skink Eumeces anthracinus Five-lined Skink Eumeces fasciatus Five-lined Skink Eumeces inexpectatus Broad-headed Skink Eumeces laticeps Ground Skink Scincella lateralis Green Anole Anolis carolinensis Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus Texas Horned Lizard Phrynosoma cornutum Eastern Glass Lizard Ophisaurus ventralis Slender Glass Lizard Ophisaurus attenuatus Gila monster Heloderma suspectum
- 26. Broad-headed Skink Eumeces laticeps Green Anole Anolis carolinensis Texas Horned Lizard Phrynosoma cornutum
- 27. Eastern Glass Lizard Ophisaurus ventralis Gila monster Heloderma suspectum
- 28. Many geckos have millions of microscopic structures on the undersurface of their toes that allow them to cling to walls and ceilings.
- 29. FrogsFrogs SalamandersSalamanders CaeciliansCaecilians TurtlesTurtles Lizards andLizards and SnakesSnakes (~ 2900 sp.)(~ 2900 sp.) CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras
- 30. Venomous snakes (all 6) Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus milliarius Cottonmouth (=water moccasin) Agkistrodon piscivorus Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix Eastern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius
- 31. Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus milliarius Cottonmouth (=water moccasin) Agkistrodon piscivorus Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Eastern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius
- 32. Non-Venomous Snakes (26) Six-lined Racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Mississippi Green Water Snake Nerodia cyclopion Gulf Salt Marsh Snake Nerodia clarkii Plain-bellied Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster Southern Water Snake Nerodia fasciata Broad Banded Water Snake Nerodia f. confluens Graham’s Crayfish Snake Regina grahamii Glossy Crayfish Snake Regina regida Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea Common Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula Common Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula Pine Woods Snake Rhadinaea flavilata Flat-headed Snake Tantilla gracilis Southeastern Crowned Snake Tantilla coronata Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus Brown Snake Storeria dekayi Red-bellied Snake Storeria occipitomaculata Smooth Earth Snake Virginia valeriae Rough Earth Snake Virginia striatula Rough Green Snake Opheodrys Aestivus Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis Corn Snake Elaphe guttata Western Ribbon Snake Thamnophis proximus Mud Snake Farancia abacura
- 33. Southern Water Snake Nerodia fasciata Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum Brown Snake Storeria dekayi Common Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula
- 34. FrogsFrogs SalamandersSalamanders CaeciliansCaecilians TurtlesTurtles Lizards andLizards and SnakesSnakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians (~23 sp.)(~23 sp.) TuatarasTuataras
- 35. Order Crocodilia- Alligators and Crocodilia (1) American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis
- 36. FrogsFrogs SalamandersSalamanders CaeciliansCaecilians TurtlesTurtles Lizards andLizards and SnakesSnakes CrocodiliansCrocodilians TuatarasTuataras (2 sp.)(2 sp.) Sphenodon punctatus
- 37. 3. FIELD TRIP: PRACTICAL DETAILS3. FIELD TRIP: PRACTICAL DETAILS
- 38. Practical DetailsPractical Details General Info & Tours Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm FREE! Scheduling Materials Rules Parking …
- 39. 4. MNS ACTIVITY BOOKLET4. MNS ACTIVITY BOOKLET
- 40. Activities for Self-guided tours The MNS book is available: - in French thanks to: … Anne-Sophie & Stanislas Dubois - in Spanish thanks to: … Ana Morales
- 44. Use this topic to introduce venomous species!
- 45. Use this topic to introduce invasive species!
- 46. 5. HANDS ON ACTIVITIES FOR THE CLASSROOM5. HANDS ON ACTIVITIES FOR THE CLASSROOM
- 47. Learning about:LIFE IN THE BAYOU SCALES: with Adrienne LIFE CYCLE and CAMOUFLAGE: with Rebecca
Editor's Notes
- 3 images with each genus + one invasive species that is not in the museum
- The frogs are the most numerous and diverse of the amphibians. Frog and toad are the tail-less amphibians, with a short body (at most 9 vertebrae). Frog have a soft skin and long limb and like living in water. Toad are “ugly”, stout-bodied, with warty-skinned and mainly live in the dark, away from water. Greenhouse frog: Greenhouse frogs deposit their eggs on land, under damp vegetation or debris, where close to 100% humidity is maintained.
- They are basically the amphibians with a tail. They typically have an elongated body and two pairs of legs of roughly similar size. They like cool shady places, and are mainly active at night. Unlike frogs and toads, they are quiet, they do not advertise their presence by making loud sounds. Amphiuma (ditch eel) found in canal and mud, with little tiny arms. Salamander: Salamander and newt are active carnivores (the tadpoles are mainly herbivores), they eat insects, slugs, snails, and worms.
- None found in Louisiana.
- Turtle and tortoise (only one)
- - All the Pseudemys, Graptemys, etc. are all aquatic turtle. .
- The turtle shell is of course their main characteristic (carapace on top and a plastron on the belly). The highly aquatic forms (softshells and sea turtle) have lighter weight shells. The musk and Mud turtle are also aquatic and are smaller. They mainly live in the mud, or moist environment Turtle— Spends most of its life in the water. Turtles tend to have webbed feet for swimming. Sea turtles (Cheloniidae family) are especially adapted for an aquatic life, with long feet that form flippers and a streamlined body shape. They rarely leave the ocean, except when the females come ashore to lay their eggs. Other turtles live in fresh water, like ponds and lakes. They swim, but they also climb out onto banks, logs, or rocks to bask in the sun. Tortoise— A land-dweller that eats low-growing shrubs, grasses, and even cactus. Tortoises do not have webbed feet. Their feet are round and stumpy for walking on land. Tortoises that live in hot, dry habitats use their strong legs to dig burrows. Then, when it’s too hot in the sun, they slip underground.
- Slider is the common Louisiana pound turtle - what you see in the LSU lake, everywhere in Louisiana. Turtle’s diet: juveniles are highly insectivorous, adults are mainly herbivorous, but can exploit other sources such as mollusks. The Alligator snapping turtle eats fish, it has a small worm-like projection in its tongue that it uses to lure fishes. It makes the lure wriggle by moving its muscles.
- Skink live on the bottom of the forest. Skinks have thick-bodiies, typically with stripes running from head to tail,some species have amber-colored lower jaws Anole are the green lizards all over the place. Many amphibians can change colors by concentrating or dispersing melanin. They use it to regulate body temperature, to conceal themselves (Rebecca will talk to you about camouflage), or if they are stressed. The anole does it in seconds unlike most lizards. The Texas Horned Lizard spends most of their time heating up their bodies in the sun, and eating ants. They dig burrows or occupy one constructed by another animals, often near the mounds of their favorite food source. They are most active during the warm days of summer.
- Geckos are chubby-looking, often flat-bodied lizards, usually with toe pads enabling them to climb walls. Most geckos have thin, soft skin that tears easily, and their tails break of very easily; geckos are the most vocal of lizards.
- They have no legs, no eyelids, no external ears. Yet, they are a quite successful group. Most lay eggs, but many bear live young.
- Only 6 snakes in Louisiana, out of 40 species are venomous in Louisiana. Note that snake venoms are generally not dangerous when ingested, and are therefore not technically poisons. The venoms are most of the time produced by glands located in the upper jaw. Snake venom is a highly modified saliva. There are three types of venoms: * Cytotoxic venom has a localized action at the site of the bite. * Hemotoxic venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular system: The copperhead and rattlesnake’s venom affects your muscles * Neurotoxic venom acts on the nervous system and brain: The Coral snake and cobra’s venom. They are very dangerous.
- Red touches black, he is ok Jack. Red touches yellow, dangerous fellow.
- Red touches black, he is ok Jack. Red touches yellow, dangerous fellow. Milk looks like coral but the color rhyme can be applied. The Nerodia looks like cottonmouth (common in the lake)
- The alligators have eyes and nostrils set high on the head so that they can see and breathe when lying of floating almost totally submerged. They can close their ear and nostril in the water.
- Not found in Louisiana