Among the frogs and toads, the American toad, gray tree frog, and the wood 

 frog are primarily terrestrial but migrate to a variety of palustrine habitats 

 during the breeding season (spring and early summer) to lay their eggs in 

 shallow water. The spring peeper and the remaining frog species found in 

 coastal Maine occupy palustrine and riverine habitats throughout the year. 

 Breeding takes place from June through July (personal communication from B. 

 Burgason, Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, Bingham, ME; March, 

 1979). Among all species of toads and frogs the eggs hatch into a "tadpole," 

 or larval stage. Tadpoles metamorphose into adults after periods of time that 

 vary with species. Bullfrog tadpoles overwinter before metamorphosing into 

 adults . 



Turtles in coastal Maine breed in spring and summer. The females lay their 

 eggs in cavities dug in sandy soil or in humus along river banks, shores of 

 ponds, lakes, or palustrine wetlands. The eggs usually hatch by September. 

 Turtles have no larval stages. 



The snakes found along the coast of Maine fall into two reproductive 

 categories: those that give birth to living young (water, brown, red-bellied, 

 ribbon, and garter snakes) and those that lay eggs (ring-necked, green, black 

 racer, and milk snakes). The living young are born in late summer, the eggs 

 hatch usually in August or September (Oliver and Bailey 1939). Snakes have no 

 larval stages. 



FOOD HABITS 



Reptiles and amphibians of coastal Maine are primarily carnivorous, feeding on 

 a variety of animal life, principally invertebrates. The major exceptions are 

 the turtles, which consume both plant and animal matter. Adult terrestrial 

 salamanders eat terrestrial insects (adults and larvae), as well as other 

 available invertebrate fauna, including spiders, mites, and various worms. 

 Larvae of all terrestrial salamanders feed on insects. Aquatic larval 

 salamanders prey on aquatic insect larvae, supplementing their diets with 

 other available animal material. 



Adult American toads, tree frogs (spring peeper and gray tree frog), and the 

 more terrestrial frogs (pickerel, leopard, mink, and wood) eat insects 

 primarily, and a wide variety of other invertebrates. The more aquatic frogs 

 (green frog and bullfrog) eat aquatic insects principally, and other available 

 invertebrate foods. The bullfrog also consumes some vertebrate prey, 

 including small fish, and other herptiles (Oliver and Bailey 1939). The 

 larvae of toads and frogs are herbivores and detrivores, feeding on algae and 

 decomposing material from the surfaces of their aquatic environments. 



Turtles in the coastal zone are generally omnivorous, eating a variety of 

 invertebrates, a few vertebrates, and vegetable material. Snapping turtles 

 occasionally may eat fish and become a nuisance in proximity to fish 

 hatcheries and natural spawning areas. Under certain circumstances the 

 snapping turtle may be a serious threat to fish fry and ducklings (Coulter 

 1957 and 1958). The leatherback turtle feeds primarily on jellyfish. 



Snakes indigenous to the Maine coast are predators. The larger species 

 (water, garter, ribbon, black racer, and milk) eat small vertebrates (mice, 

 birds, and shrews) as well as insects and other invertebrates. The 



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