Salamanders (Order Caudata) are a diverse group of amphibians.  They can be found in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, though water is essential for survival. Most salamanders are nocturnal and can be found under rocks and fallen trees.  North Carolina has an amazing abundance of salamanders because of its diverse geography from mountains to coastal swamps.  Some species are indigenous to only North Carolina and thus need to be conserved.  One such family of salamanders is the Plethodontidae family. This family constitutes more than 90% of salamanders and the southeast U.S. has more plethodontids than anywhere else in the world!

Frogs and toads are the most widely spread of all amphibians. About 3700 species are known to be in existence. Frogs are generally known for their long legs which allow for excellent leaping ability. They also have smooth skin. Toads, on the other hand, have shorter legs which make hopping easier. Their skin is warty. Adult frogs and toads are carnivorous. Because of their moist skin, they tend to inhabit wet or moist habitats. Breeding usually occurs in the water, and generally eggs are laid in submerged vegetation. They are then fertilized by the male as he clasps the female. The primary threat to frogs and toads is habitat destruction.

North Carolina is home to 12 species of lizards (Order Squamata, Suborder Lacertilia), none of which are dangerous. Superficially, lizards and salamanders are similar in appearance, however lizards have scales and small claws at the ends of their toes, while salamanders do not. One group of lizards, the glass lizards (Ophisaurus spp.) are legless and thus resemble snakes. Snakes, however, lack the external ear openings and movable eyelids of these lizards.  Lizards can be very abundant in some areas but are often difficult to spot and even more difficult to capture. If they are caught, however, many lizards will break off their tails in order to escape their captors, and the tail will later regrow. Because of their abundance, lizards play important roles in food chains and benefit humans by controlling insect populations.

Snakes (Order Squamata: suborder Serpentes) lack external ear openings, moveable eyelids, and legs. The snakes of North Carolina can be separated into three different families: the Colubridae, Elapidae, and Viperidae. Most North Carolina snakes are colubrids. The Colubridae is the largest family of snakes in the world and its members display a wide variety of characteristics. Most colubrids, including all those found in North Carolina, are not dangerous to humans. The family Viperidae includes the pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae). Pit vipers are all viviparous (they give birth to live young), except for the bushmaster, which lives in Central and South America. All vipers have long, moveable fangs capable of injecting venom and pit vipers are equipped with heat-sensitive pits between their eye and nostril that aid in hunting warm-blooded (endothermic) prey. The family Elapidae includes the cobras and mambas. The only member of this group native to North Carolina is the coral snake. The Elapidae are equipped with short, immoveable fangs and highly toxic venom that attacks the nervous system.

Turtles (order Testudines) represent the oldest of all living reptiles; they have undergone little change since their beginnings early in the Triassic period. Their shell consists of an upper section, the carapace, and a lower section, the plastron. Turtles are found throughout North Carolina, from the Coastal Plain to the mountains in the west. Overall, twenty species of turtles, belonging to six different families inhabit North Carolina. Five of these species are sea turtles and one (the Eastern Box Turtle) is primarily terrestrial. The rest are semi-aquatic, inhabiting North Carolina’s ponds, wetlands, and other water bodies. The greatest threat to turtles is habitat loss, particularly destruction and degradation of aquatic habitats. However, the destruction of terrestrial habitat surrounding wetlands and ponds which is required for nesting, and hibernation in some species, poses significant threats as well. In addition thousands of turtles are crushed every year by cars on North Carolina’s roads and highways.