reptiles

Common Name: Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle

Scientific Name: Lepidocheys Kempii

Description: The smallest member of the sea turtle family, this reptile is considered the most endangered. Adults grow to a length of 20-28 inches and weigh up to 80-110 pounds. Atlantic Ridleys have a distinctive round to heart-shaped that ranges in color from gray-brown to olive, even to black.

Reproduction: Females deposit eggs in aggregations called "arribadas" (meaning arrival) between April and mid-August, on days when the weather is cloudy and relatively cool, with a strong northern wind. Nesting in 1-2 year cycles, sexually matured females lay 1-3 clutches about every 3 months.

Habitat: The range of them extends from the gulf of Mexico, from the Mexican boarder all the way up to the Canadian Maritime Provinces!

Scientific Name: Kinosternon Subrubrum

Common Name: Eastern Mud Turtle

Description: This turtle is a very tiny nondescript reptile, measuring 3-4 inches. Its carpace (upper shell) is olive to dark brown to almost black, patternless, smooth and keelless. It only has 11 marginal plates rather than 12 on most other turtles. It’s lower shell

Is yellow-brown, double-hinged, with 11 plates.

Reproduction: Breeding occurs fairly soon after the Mud Turtle leaves hibernation, which in New York occurs from late April to May. In June, the female digs a 3-5 inch hole

(cavity) in vegetative debris or in sandy loam soil, where she deposits 2-6 eggs.

Habitat: The long range of this species Long Island, south to southern Florida, west to southern Texas, and north up to the Mississippi Valley to southern Illinois to southwestern Indiana. In New York, there are only 5 populations remaining.

Scientific Name: Crotalus horridus

Common Name: Timber Rattlesnake

Description: The Timber Snake measures from 3-4.5 feet or more in length, the timber rattlesnake is the largest venom carrier in New York. The record is 74 ½ inches. Despite the size, cryptic coloration allows them to be easily hidden. Two color patters are normally found: a yellow phase, which has black or dark-brown crossbands on a lighter back ground color of yellow, brown or gray, and a black phase, which has darker crossbands on a dark background.

Reproduction: Timber rattlesnakes produce from late April until mid-October , although in northern New York they might not emerge until mid-May. Mating occurs in Spring and Fall. Males are really active at this time, seeking females by an attractant odor they emit. Females give birth to 4-14 young every 3-5 years during late august to mid September.

Habitat: The range of the rattler extends from southern New Hampshire to northeastern Texas.

Common Name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Scientific Name: Coretta Coretta

Description: The Loggerhead is amongst the most common of the sea turtles. The redish-brown colored turtle averages about 3 ft. in and weighs about 300 pounds.

Reproduction: Most nesting occurs north of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in certain, temperate waters,although some nest west of the Caribbean. Ninty percent of nesting occors in Florida. Females come out and lay eggs at night. They normally nest 7 times in a season laying 100-125 eggs every 14+ days.

Habitat: The Loggerhead can be found about anywhere but mostly in the western Atlantic. They range from the Canadian Maritime Provinces south to Argetina.

Scientific Name: (Eretmochelys Imbricata)

Common Name: Atlantic Hawksbill Turtle

Description: It is normally persecuted for its shell, the name is from its hooked beak that is formed from the yellowish jaws. The adults keeled shell is amber with streaks of red-brown, black-brown, or yellow. Its underside is whitish-yellow with black spots. Adult females range from 24-28 inches in length and can weigh from 60-100 lbs.

Reproduction: Adult females typically nest in2-3 year cycles. One to four clutches are laid at 15-19 day intervals. Each clutch contains 70-160 eggs which will hatch in about 60 days.

Habitat: Hawksbill Sea Turtles can be found all over the world, including the Atlantic. They’re normally found in Cape Cod to Northern Brazil.

Scientific Name: (Sistrusrus Catenatus)

Common Name: Eastern Massasauga

Description: The Massasagua snake is the smallest of the three venomous snakes found in New York. It measures 18-40 inches in length, average is 27.5 inches. Its body is covered with black and dark-brown spots, while the background is a brownish-gray.

Reproduction: Breeding season is May to June, but mating can occur any time during April to September. A litter of 3-19 snakes, each measuring 6.5-9.5 inches. They are produced every 2-3 years.

Habitat: The Massasagua rattlesnakes range from Central New York and southern Ontario west to the prairies Missouri and Iowa.

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