Reptiles & Amphibians

The eastern tiger salamander is the largest land dwelling salamander in North America. It is found across the United States, but is an endagndered species in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

The green treefrog is a small amphibian that can be found in ponds, lakes, marshes and streams in parts of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

Hellbenders are large aquatic salamanders that can grow more than two feet in length. They live in freshwater streams in parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The marbled salamander is black with silvery crossbands along its body. It is found throughout the southern portion of the Chesapeake Bay region.

The northern red salamander is a small, reddish amphibian with black, irregularly shaped spots covering its back. It lives in cool freshwater streams and adjacent wooded areas throughout most of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The northern spring peeper is a tiny, brownish tree frog with a distinctive X-shaped cross on its back. It lives in marshy woods and near ponds and swamps throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Its “peeping” call is one of the first signs of spring in the region.

The southern leopard frog is a medium-sized frog with spots on its back, sides and legs. Its leopard-like appearance was the inspiration for its name. It lives in wetland habitats in and can be found near the Chesapeake Bay in eastern Virginia, Maryland and southeastern Pennsylvania.

Spotted salamanders are grey, black or bluish and live in all of Chesapeake Bay watershed except the Delmarva Peninsula. They spend most of their lives sheltered under leaf litter, logs and rocks. 

The wood frog is a small amphibian with a characteristic black marking on its face that resembles a robber’s mask. It can be found in forests and wetlands throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.