SNAKES
Queensnake (Regina septemvittata)
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Endangered (COSEWIC
and SARO)
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Harmless, small to
medium-sized water snake, maximum length 60 cm. Head and
body slender, brown to olive in colour with creamy
yellow stripes along side. Three dark stripes may be
visible along the back. Creamy yellow belly with four
distinct brown stripes.
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Inhabits creeks,
streams and small rivers, usually with rocky shores and
bottoms. Basks on shrubs overhanging water, dropping
into the water when disturbed. Diet composed almost
entirely of freshly molted crayfish.
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The Canadian
population is found sporadically within southern
Ontario. It appears to have become extirpated from some
locations and relatively few new colonies have been
found in recent years. The queen snake exists in small
numbers, at only a small number of sites along the
Thames River.
  
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Northern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis
sauritus)
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Special Concern (COSEWIC
and SARO)
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Medium-sized snake, 45
to 66 cm in length. Black with three yellow stripes
running the length of the body. Colour and pattern does
not vary like that of the garter snake (which may have
orange or reddish stripes and even checkerboard
patterns). Belly greenish-yellow in colour, may have a
rusty-brown stripe along each side. Key features are
white lips and a white scale directly in front of eyes.
Scales of the slender body are keeled. Tail much longer
than that of a garter, measuring up to one-third of the
total body length.
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This semi-aquatic
snake is an excellent swimmer, often remaining submerged
for several minutes to escape predators.
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Inhabits densely
vegetated areas near permanent water. Habitat includes
upland forest, wet meadows, old fields, bogs, marshes,
swamps, and areas around lakes, rivers, and ponds.
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The Canadian
population is limited to southern Ontario and Nova
Scotia. There are only a small number of records from
the Thames River watershed.
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TURTLES
Spotted Turtle (Clemmys
guttata)
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Endangered V
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Small turtle up to 12
cm in length. Smooth upper shell, neck and head are
black with yellow to orange spots; legs vary from black
to orange and may be spotted. Most active in spring and
early summer; may become dormant during the hot summer
months.
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Found in shallow,
soft-bottomed wetlands such as marshes, bogs, swamps and
ponds.
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The limited Canadian
population occurs in isolated pockets in southern
Ontario and only as anecdotal records from southern
Quebec. Spotted turtles are very uncommon throughout the
Thames River watershed.
  
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Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea
blandingii)
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Threatened (COSEWIC
and SARO)
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Medium-sized turtle,
maximum shell length over 27 cm though most are less
than 20 cm. Upper shell is highly domed. Hinged lower
shell allows the turtle to close it against the upper
shell for additional protection. Shell is generally
black with a number of yellow flecks or radiating lines,
neck is long and chin and throat are bright yellow.
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This species may
travel long distances overland during the active season;
hence, many are killed along roadways.
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In Canada, this turtle
occurs in heavily vegetated, soft-bottomed wetlands of
southern Ontario and extreme southern Quebec. Small
numbers can still be found within a few wetlands along
the Thames River watershed.
Spiny Softshell Turtle
(Apalone spinifera)
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Threatened (COSEWIC
and SARO)
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Medium to large-sized
aquatic turtle, maximum shell length 46 cm for females,
24 cm for males. Olive-coloured upper shell is
noticeably flat and leathery. Distinctive snorkel-like
snout and long neck enable turtle to hide underwater in
mud and stretch head to surface to breathe.
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Inhabits soft-bottomed
water bodies with aquatic vegetation. Basks on sunny
riverbanks, sandbars, logs and rocks.
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The Canadian
population is limited to unconnected areas of southern
Ontario and Quebec. The Ontario population is found
sporadically along rivers and lakes, such as the
Sydenham and Thames Rivers and Lake Erie.
   
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Stinkpot (aka Musk Turtle) (Sternotherus odoratus)
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Threatened (COSEWIC
and SARO)
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Shell length 9-12 cm.
Upper shell is keeled (smooth in older adults), highly
domed and narrow. Colour can be a combination of tan,
cream, olive, or black in colour, occasionally marked
with light streaking and black flecks. The small, cream
to black lower shell offers little protection to the
legs. A modified hinge allows the front portion of the
plastron some flexibility. Skin may be pink, grey, light
brown or black, often with light striping and dark
flecks. Small fleshy projections are apparent on the
chin and neck.
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Stinkpots are
primarily aquatic bottom walkers, but they are
exceptional climbers, occasionally being found on limbs
overhanging the water.
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Possibly extirpated
from the Thames, as only historic records from the lower
Thames River exist.
Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys
geographica)
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Special Concern (COSEWIC
and SARO)
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Medium-sized turtle,
maximum length 27 cm for females, 16 cm for males.
Keeled, green upper shell covered in yellow lines
resembling the contours of a map. Head, neck, legs and
tail are light to dark green and striped with yellow.
Heavily webbed feet. Rear of shell is slightly serrated.
Lower shell is cream to yellow in colour.
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Inhabits large rivers,
lakes and bays with plenty of basking sites. Prefers
soft substrate bottom and/or aquatic vegetation.
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The map turtle's
Canadian range extends from southern Quebec to southern
Ontario. The species is found in a number of pockets
along the Thames River watershed.
 
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Snapping Turtle (Chelydra
serpentine)
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Special Concern (COSEWIC
and SARO)
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Adult shell length
20-50 cm. Broad, slightly domed upper shell has
prominent serrations on rear edge. Shell colour ranges
from light brown to black, often obscured by a coating
of algae. Small lower shell is cream to yellow in
adults, and black to cream with a grey pattern in
juveniles. Skin is grey, brown or black. The large head
may be well-patterned with brown and black in some
individuals. The adult’s long tail is adorned with
obvious triangular projections.
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Although still
regularly seen in the wild, this species is at great
risk of large scale decline due to its late breeding
age, low juvenile-to-adult recruitment and high
human-caused mortality of adults.
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Snapping turtles are a
very important part of local ecosystems acting as an
efficient scavenger, predator and prey to a wide
assortment of wildlife.
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