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Reptiles
Click on photograph for larger version.
The eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, grows up to 3 feet
long, is gray with large red spots with black borders. It
hunts in farm buildings for mice and other rodents and is common.
The northern water snake, Natrix sipedon, grows up to 48 inches long and
is reddish black with lighter bands. It is common in streams, ponds, and bogs
and feeds on small fish, salamanders, and
frogs.
The Corn Snake, Elaphe guttata, grows up to 4 feet long, is reddish with
dark patches, and lives in old rodent burrows. I is a good tree climber and
feeds on rodents and small birds. It is listed as an endangered species in New
Jersey.
The eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina, grows to 6 inches long,
is able to close the back and front part of its shell for protection and live in
woodlands. It feeds on fruit and insects and is common.
The eastern mud turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum, grows up to 4 inches long
and has a darn olive shell. It lives in bogs, streams, and ponds, and feeds on
insects and small crustaceans.
The eastern painted turtle, Terrapene carolina, grows up to 6 inches
long, has a dark brown shell with and lives in ponds and marshes. It feed on
insects, crustaceans, small fish, and
leaves.
The spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata, grows up to 4.5 inches long and has
a dark with yellow or oranges spots. It lives in ponds and streams and feeds on
insects and plants.
The red belied turtle, Chrysemys rubriventris, grows up to 13 inches
long, has a dark brown shell with a yellow-red bottom. It lives in river and
ponds and feeds on fish, insects, plants, and carrion.
The
snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, grows up to 14 inches long and 35
lbs. but have been caught up to 75 lbs. It has a rough dark shell and a notched
tail, lives in ponds and rivers and feeds on fish, frogs small mammals, and
plants.
The
northern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulatus, is grayish brown and grows
up to 7 inches long. Males have a blue patch under their throat. They live in
woodlands, feed on insects, and can be observed sunning themselves on logs and
fences.
The five line skink, Eumeces fasciatus, is gray and grows up to 8
inches long. They live under decaying stumps and logs and feed on insects.
Wildlife of Weymouth Township
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