REPTILES are cold blooded, air-breathing vertebrates covered in special skin made up of scales, bony plates, or a combination of both. Unlike birds and mammals, reptiles do not maintain a constant internal body temperature. They must seek sun to keep warm and shade to keep cool. They include crocodiles, snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises.
Common Watersnake Nerodia sipedon
Common watersnakes have medium to heavy builds and may be 25 to 40 inches long. Head is distinct from neck. Pattern in juveniles can be very different from adults. Juveniles have dark crossbands on either light-brown, tan, or gray background that is very distinct, some may be red or orange-brown in color. Pattern turns to blotches toward the tail. Adult patterns get darker as they age and may appear solid brown or black in old individuals.
SNAPPING TURTLE
Our familiar snapping turtles have been up out of the lakes laying their eggs, often in the soft ground of domestic vegetable gardens, but also on many a sunny gravel bank. How does she decide how far to walk…
When the months of spring slide along the coastline into summer, the snapping turtle has risen from the muddy bottom of brackish river tributaries to journey overland to lay her eggs.
