Herps Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern Washington

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What are "Herps"?

"Herps" is a short, quick way to say both amphibians and reptiles at one time. This includes toads, frogs, snakes and salamanders. Most of these animals are colorful, harmless, vocal and valuable. Toads, frogs and salamanders are amphibians - a class of vertebrate animal. Washington has 24 species of toads, frogs and salamanders. Unlike salamanders, toads and frogs have relatively short bodies and lack tails as adults. Most amphibians live two lives: one in water as tadpoles and another on land as adults.

What are the differences between toads and frogs?

Toads have dry, warty skin, while frogs have smooth, wet skin; toads do not have teeth;  frogs have tiny teeth on both upper and lower jaws. Toads have shorter hind legs than most frogs. Toads hop, frogs jump. Female toads lay their eggs in long, parallel strings; female frogs-depending on the species-lay their eggs singly, in small clumps, in large clumps, or as a film of eggs on the water surface. Although you may be hard-pressed to identify a toad or a frog by its calls, I bet you already know when a frog is calling!

Most of Washington's amphibians return to water to reproduce. That is one of the reasons wetlands are important to our wildlife. Most amphibians prefer fishless bodies of water for breeding.  Flooded fields, ditches, small woodland ponds, livestock ponds and water-filled depressions are favorite places.

Toads and frogs defend themselves in several ways. Most of their enemies are predators such as fish, turtles, snakes, birds and carnivorous mammals-shrews, mink, skunks and raccoons. Our larger species of frogs will also eat other frogs. Toads cannot jump as fast as frogs to escape predators so they defend themselves by producing toxic or unpleasant tasting skin secretions which are released when they are seized. Because of this bad taste, toads are not a popular food among predators! Even their eggs and tadpoles are toxic. Some frogs also have skin glands with a bad flavor, but the secretions are generally not as strong as a toads, and so frogs are eaten by a much wider variety of predators.

It may be good idea to wash your hands after handling a toad or frog since some people may be sensitive to their toxic skin. However, the age-old myth that toads can cause warts is false!

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Our Thanks goes to the Cornell Library of Natural Sounds and Carlos Davidson for allowing us to use their frog and toad recordings from the CD - "Frog and Toad Calls of the Pacific Coast" by Carlos Davidson. Go to the above Cornell link for more information on ordering this CD or other nature sounds.

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Northern Leopard Frog (283kb) Let us know when you find this one!! The leopard frog is the most widely distributed frog in North America, yet its range seems to be shrinking here in northeast Washington. It lives in potholes, wet meadows and riparian (along river) areas. It generally breeds in March or April. This medium sized frog, 2-5 inches, is easily recognized by the dark spots with pale borders on their back, sides and legs. The upper body color varies from gray to green to brown. Well defined glandular ridges, called dorsolateral folds, run from the eye to the hind leg on each side. Spotted Frog (623kb) Look in your Backyard! This frog has recently been separated into two species - The Oregon Spotted Frog and the Columbia Spotted Frog. The Columbia Spotted Frog is the frog we find in our area of central and eastern Washington. Being our most aquatic frog, it is almost always found in or near a perennial body of water such as a spring,  pond,  lake or sluggish stream. It is most often associated with sedges, rushes and grasses. Adults are light to dark brown, gray, or olive green with dark spots (frequently with lighter centers) on the back, sides and legs. The undersides of the legs are bright red, salmon, or orange. This bright color may extend up to the chin. Adult body length is 2-4 inches. The upturned bright yellow eyes are characteristic of this frog. It is uncommon to hear this frog call. Pacific Treefrog (579kb) Listen to a chorus! This small frog is found in grasslands, meadows, forest edges and even many urban sites. Coloration may be gray or tan with a conspicuous dark mask from the nostrils to the shoulders. The toes are tipped by round toe pads and webbing is extremely limited. The belly is white. This species may be from 3/4 to 1 7/8 inches (13 to 50mm) in body length. Pacific treefrogs (sometimes called chorus frogs) are seldom seen and yet may be heard throughout most of the spring and summer. This small species breeds in early spring in temporarily flooded fields, marshes, meadows and ditches. Their call is a rasping, vibrating "prreeep".

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LIZARDS

Washington is home to 7 species of lizards. Lizards are long, slender reptiles with scales. The majority of Washington's lizards are able to break free of their tails if it is grasped by a predator. A new tail eventually develops, but it is not as long or as colorful as the original one. Lizards may sometimes be confused with salamanders because both have four legs and a long tail. However, salamanders have smooth, moist skin like their relatives the frogs. Lizards, on the other hand, are covered with dry scales and have claws on their toes (salamanders are clawless). Lizards live in warm, dry habitats while salamanders require cool, moist conditions to survive. Lizards are valuable because they eat large numbers of insects. They are also valuable parts of the natural food web serving as food for many of our smaller mammal and bird predators. Although these reptiles will bite to defend themselves when captured, their bite is non-venomous. The tails of all lizard species are harmless and definitely are not "stingers."

The Western Skink ranges from 5 to 8 1/16 inches in total length. Young western skinks have bold, alternating white and black stripes and a bright blue tail. Adult western skinks may lack the blue tail or it may just be a paler blue. These lizards live in open woods around downed logs and also on rocky, wooded hillsides. This species occurs mainly east of the Cascades.

Tips for Helping Herps

Landowners who wish to encourage a variety and abundance of toads and frogs can do so by following some simple land-management practices. Most of the species native to Washington breed in fishless ponds or temporary pools. Landowners may not think these small water holes are valuable, but many species of amphibians may use them as breeding ponds. Small brush piles placed in the water near the pond edge, as well as near the pond, provide good hiding places for young toads and frogs as they leave the pond. Placing dead tree branches in shallow water will provide places for female frogs to attach their egg masses. Fencing the pond from cattle will protect the water and allow a more diverse plant community to grow, providing cover and insects. Insecticides and other pesticides should be kept away from any frog ponds because their eggs and tadpoles are highly sensitive to these chemicals. With a little effort, a landowner can ensure that these animals remain a part of our outdoor heritage. Toads and frogs provide food for a wide variety of animals, and are also eaten by people. Their peeps, trills, whistles, grunts and snores add enjoyment to a spring or summer evening.

Studying these interesting creatures can be a rewarding summer-time hobby. Learning to identify the species by the sounds they make can be an enjoyable pastime and is as challenging as birdwatching. As the famous herpetologist Archie Carr once wrote, "I collect frog songs in my head as some people save stamps in a book." You don't have to be a trained zoologist to recognize their various sounds; it just takes practice and a lot of patience!

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Herp Links

• Westward Frog
• North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
• Herp Hot Links
• Snakes of North America
• (Visit Frogland - Fun filled)