Reptiles

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Painted turtle

NPS

Reptiles are probably one of the most abundant animal types we have in the park that you may see the least. Here in the park, the reptiles include snakes, turtles, and lizards.

Reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded, or to put it more accurately, they are ectotherms. This means that their body temperature does not self-regulate like mammals. In other words, they have to move to a cool place when they get too hot and to a warm place if they get too cold. This fact governs every action of an ectotherm. Reptiles are relatively inactive unless they are trying to keep warm, cool off, eat, avoid predation, or find a mate. Conserving energy is the name of the game.

Amphibians such as frogs and salamanders have moist skin that helps them breathe. Reptiles, on the other hand, have scales to help retain moisture and provide some protection. As they grow, reptiles shed this specialized skin. Snakes will shed all at once, with their skin turning dull and dry and then peeling off from head to tail often in one piece, like peeling off a sock and having it turn inside out as it is removed. Turtles have scutes, which are larger plate-like scales that shed off the shell as needed. Lizards' skin sloughs off in pieces and is sometimes eaten by the animal.

 
Eastern garter snake
Eastern garter snake

Andrew Hoffman

Reptiles are opportunistic feeders. Most snakes will eat small mammals, birds, insects, and even fish. The hognose snake is a specialized feeder that eats mostly frogs, while the lizards tend to eat mostly insects. Most of the chelonians, or turtles and tortoises, are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal matter. By the time they are adults, their diet is mostly plants.

A venomous animal is one that is capable of injecting venom into its prey through a bite. Two venomous species can be found at Prince William Forest Park: the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. Neither is abundant, and both prefer to stay away from humans.

Last updated: August 22, 2021

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