Herpetofauna - Reptiles and Amphibians

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Overview

Common Name (English) Common Name (French) Scientific Name Legal Status Comments
Mudpuppy necture tacheté Necturus maculosus N/A Few recent atlas records
Red-spotted Newt triton vert Notophthalmus v. viridescens N/A Few recent atlas records
Jefferson/Blue-spotted Salamander complex salamandre de Jefferson/à points bleus complexe Ambystoma jeffersonianum-laterale "complex" N/A Few recent atlas records
Spotted Salamander salamandre maculée Ambystoma maculatum N/A Few recent atlas records
Northern Two-lined Salamander salamandre à deux lignes Eurycea bislineata N/A N/A
Four-toed Salamander salamandre à quatre orteils Hemidactylium scutatum N/A No recent atlas records; previously in extreme eastern end only
Eastern (Northern) Red-backed Salamander salamandre cendrée Plethodon cinereus N/A N/A 
American Toad crapaud d'Amérique Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus N/A N/A
(Eastern) Gray Treefrog rainette versicolore Hyla versicolor N/A N/A 
Spring Peeper rainette crucifère Pseudacris crucifer N/A  N/A
Western (Midland) Chorus Frog rainette faux-grillon de l'Ouest Pseudacris triseriata Threatened (CAN); Not at risk (ON) Protected under SARA on federal lands only
Wood Frog grenouille des bois Rana (Lithobates) sylvatica N/A N/A 
Northern Leopard Frog grenouille léopard Rana (Lithobates) pipiens N/A  N/A
Pickerel Frog grenouille des marais Rana (Lithobates) palustris N/A No recent atlas records
Green Frog grenouille verte Rana (Lithobates) clamitans melanotus N/A N/A 
Mink Frog grenouille du Nord Rana (Lithobates) septentrionalis N/A Few recent atlas records
Bullfrog ouaouaron Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana N/A N/A 
(Common) Snapping Turtle tortue serpentine Chelydra serpentina Special concern (CAN/ON) N/A
Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) tortue musquée Sternotherus odoratus Special concern (CAN/ON) Few recent atlas records
Midland (Northern) Painted Turtle tortue peinte Chrysemys picta marginata Special concern (CAN); Not at risk (ON) N/A 
Red-eared Slider tortue à oreilles rouges Trachemys scripta elegans N/A Non-native species
Northern (Common) Map Turtle tortue géographique Graptemys geographica Special concern (CAN/ON) Occurs along large rivers (Ottawa, Rideau, Lower Jock)
Blanding's Turtle tortue mouchetée Emydoidea blandingii Endangered (CAN) Threatend (ON) N/A
Spotted Turtle tortue ponctuée Clemmys guttata Endangered (CAN/ON) Few atlas records from Ottawa
Wood Turtle tortue des bois Glyptemys insculpta Threatened (CAN); Endangered (ON) Historic records only in Ottawa
Spiny Softshell tortue-molle à épines Apalone spinifera Endangered (CAN/ON) Few historical records from Ottawa River (all outside Ottawa)
Eastern Gartersnake couleuvre rayée Thamnophis s. sirtalis N/A  N/A
Eastern Ribbonsnake couleuvre mince Thamnophis sauritus Special concern (CAN/ON) Few atlas records from Ottawa
Northern Watersnake couleuvre d'eau Nerodia s. sipedon N/A N/A
Northern Redbelly Snake couleuvre à ventre rouge Storeria o. occipitomaculata N/A  N/A
Smooth Greensnake couleuvre verte Opheodrys (Liochlorophis) vernalis N/A Few recent atlas records
Northern Ringneck Snake couleuvre à collier Diadophis punctatus edwardsii N/A Few recent atlas records
(Eastern) Milksnake couleuvre tachetée Lampropeltis t. triangulum Special concern (CAN) Not at risk (ON) Few recent atlas records

Help conserve Ottawa’s turtles

Turtles are usually found in or near water. During the spring and summer they may travel on land to find new homes, search for food, or lay their eggs. Unfortunately, many are killed by cars while trying to cross roads or lay their eggs in the gravel shoulders. They are also very vulnerable to predators while laying their eggs. Turtles take many years to mature, so these losses of breeding females are a serious threat to the species as a whole. Almost every native turtle species is now considered to be “at risk” in Ontario. Please treat them with respect!

If you encounter a nesting turtle, please don’t disturb her. If the nest is in a high-risk location such as in a public playground or road median, it may need to be moved by a licensed professional. The Canadian Wildlife Federation may be able to assist with nest rescue. If the nest is on your property, you can build a protective cover to keep it safe from raccoons, skunks and other nest predators. Instructions on making and installing a nest protector can be found here: Canadian Wildlife Federation - turtle nest protector

Ottawa is home to several kinds of turtle, but these are the four most frequently seen:

Midland Painted Turtle – has a smooth, low-domed shell up to 18 cm (7.5 in) long with reddish-orange patterns around edge. Head, tail and legs are marked with yellow or reddish-orange stripes. Markings are brightest on young animals, fading with age. Although painted turtles are not currently listed as a species at risk in Ontario, it is illegal to hunt or trap them under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.

Snapping Turtle – large, bulky turtle with a rough, ridged shell up to 45 cm (18 in) long. Muddy greyish-brown to black in colour. Massive head, tail and legs cannot be withdrawn into shell. May bite if disturbed on land. A species of special concern both federally and provincially.

Northern Map Turtle – has a keeled shell up to 28 cm (11 in) long with yellow markings and a jagged rear edge. Head, tail and legs are marked with yellow stripes. Markings are brightest on young animals, fading with age. A species of special concern both federally and provincially. It is illegal to hunt or trap them under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.

 

Blanding’s Turtle – note the bright yellow chin and throat, and the highly domed, speckled shell up to 28 cm (11 in) in length. This is a federally and provincially threatened species, protected in Ontario under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. It is illegal to kill, harm, harass, collect or possess a Blanding’s Turtle. Sightings can be reported to the Natural Heritage Information Centre at Report rare species (animals and plants). Photographs and precise locations are helpful. 

To report violations of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, or the Endangered Species Act, 2007, call 1-877-847-7667 (1-877-TIPS-MNR).

For more information about turtles, visit Ontario Nature’s Reptiles and Amphibians of Ontario.