Chapter 18 

 Reptiles and 

 Amphibians 



Authors: Craig Ferris , Sally Rooney 



Resident reptiles and amphibians (collectively called herptiles) are not 

 abundant in coastal Maine when compared to other eastern United States coastal 

 areas probably because of the low winter temperatures and/or the short cool 

 summers. However, certain habitats, such as marshes, bogs, and rivers, may 

 support high numbers of some species . Sixteen amphibian species inhabit 

 coastal Maine: eight salamander species, one toad species, and seven frog 

 species. Fourteen resident reptile species are represented: five turtle 

 species and nine snake species (table 18-1). In addition, there is one 

 species of sea turtle, the leatherback (an endangered species), that is found 

 regularly in low numbers in the marine system of coastal Maine. There are no 

 native lizards in Maine. 



Amphibians are poikilothermic (cold blooded) vertebrates with moist skins, and 

 lungs or gills, through which they respire. They inhabit damp terrestrial 

 habitats and freshwater aquatic environments. Several salamanders are 

 primarily terrestrial but require moist microhabitats , e.g., under logs or in 

 wet leaf-litter. Adult toads, although terrestrial, breed in aquatic 

 habitats. All amphibian species have an amphibious larval stage. 



Reptiles have dry, scaly skins, which help prevent desiccation, and respire 

 through lungs. Snakes inhabit terrestrial systems mostly, while turtles are 

 found primarily in or near freshwater systems. Reptiles have no larval 

 stages . 



Reptiles and amphibians are important to humanity scientifically and 

 aesthetically. It has been suggested that amphibians could serve as 

 indicators of environmental contamination, because their moist skins may 

 concentrate toxic substances trapped during respiration (Porter 1972). 

 Neither group has economic value in Maine, although bullfrogs and snapping 

 turtles are used locally as food. High concentrations of snapping turtles can 

 be a problem if they prey on young waterfowl and fish. 



18-1 



10-80 



