While reptiles and amphibians are distantly related to one another, they have several distinct traits.
Reptiles live exclusively on land. They may spend large amounts of time in the water, but are unable to live under water. Reptiles typically have scaly and dry skin. Reptiles at Teaneck Creek include turtles and snakes.
Amphibians live on both land and in water. They are typically born in water and as they mature they develop lungs that enable them to survive on land. Amphibians typically have smooth skin. Amphibians at Teaneck Creek include frogs.
+ Snapping Turtle
(Chelydra serpentina)
Snapping turtles inhabitat the muddy bottom sections of the Teaneck Creek. They are best known for their powerful beak-like jaws which they use to catch invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles and small mammals. They also eat plant materials and are an important aquatic scavengar within the creek.
+ Eastern Box Turtle
(Terrapene carolina)
Unlike most turtles in NJ, Box turtles live on land rather then in the water. They prefer woodlands and meadows close to streams and ponds. They are omniverous, with a wide diet range including insects, snails, funji and vegetative matter. They can live to be 50 to 100 years old. Eastern box turtles are a Species of Special Concern and their population is declining in New Jersey. Because of this, they are a rare sight at the Creek.
+ Red Eared Slider
(Trachemys scripta elegans)
A popular pet, the Red Eared Slider originated in the southern US but was introduced into the area by pet owners who released the animals into local waterways. These turtles are now spread across most of the US. They are considered one of the world's 100 most invasive species. Red Eared Sliders can be found sun basking on rocks along the Creek.
+ Eastern Painted Turtle
(Chrysemys picta picta)
Eastern painted turtles enjoy sunning themselves on floating logs and rocks along the creek. As a cold-blooded reptile, sun basking helps them to regulate their temperature. During the winter they hibernate in the muddy bottom of the creek.
+ American Bullfog
(Lithobates catesbeianus)
Many bullfrogs make their homes within the wetlands of Teaneck Creek. You will often find them sitting in the mud along the edge of the creek. They are carniverous, feeding upon insects, snakes and the eggs of fish and insects.
+ Eastern Garter snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Garter snakes are one of New Jersey's most common snakes. At the Creek they are most often found underneith logs, near mulch piles and basking in the sun. They enjoy eating insects, frogs, and earthworms. Unlike most snake species which lay eggs, Garter snakes give birth to live young. They are nonvenomous.
+ Eastern Ribbon Snake
(Thamnophis sauritus sauritus)
Eastern Ribbon snakes are in the wetlands and along the edge of the Creek. They are capable of gliding acorss the surface of the water and typically eat tadpoles, small frogs, fish and insects. They are nonvenomous, and instead swollow their prey whole.
Photos by Jimmy Macaluso