Creatures that go creeping, crawling or hopping within Illinois Audubon

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1. Surely you remember reading “Snagging Habitat From Death,” Illinois Audubon (Winter 2021 – 22). This article, with such a clever title, mentions that treefrogs and snakes are among the species that seek cover or roost under loosened bark of snags. Which other animals are mentioned as ones that find shelter under loose bark?

a. Bats

90.8%

b. Wood ducks

9.2%

2. If you are one who prefers brevity, you probably read “Turtle Trapping Survey,” Illinois Audubon (Fall 2021), which gives a brief report about trapping within the hydrologically suitable wetland sites of Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve. The survey’s purpose was to determine the status of the Blanding’s turtle and other turtles. Which two common turtles were found within the aquatic turtle community at Amboy Marsh?

a. Eastern mud turtle and river cooter

13.1%

b. Painted turtle and snapping turtle

86.9%

3. “Turtle Trapping Survey” states: “The results suggest that the Blanding’s turtle population at the nature preserve has undergone a substantial decline since 1986.” Which action is mentioned as a recommended?

a. Translocation of the Blanding’s turtle from viable populations found in wetlands of three adjoining states.

18.7%

b. Protection of the nests and collection of eggs or hatchlings for head-starting.

81.3%

4. “The whistling “bird frogs” of southernmost Illinois,” Illinois Audubon (Summer 2020) discusses the bird-voiced treefrogs that call Illinois home. The article tells that bird-voiced treefrogs may be confused with the gray treefrogs. “However, an invasion of privacy readily reveals their identity,” how so?

a. The observer must spread the treefrogs’ hind legs apart to note differences in coloration and pattern.

59.8%

b. The observer must examine the chest of the gray treefrogs for a small bean-shaped parotoid gland and check out the bird-voiced treefrog’s cranial crest for an elongated parotoid gland. Photo courtesy Greg Schechter.

40.2%

5. “The whistling “bird frogs” of southernmost Illinois” also suggests another kind of invasion of frog privacy – eavesdropping. Listen carefully as the male treefrogs serenade their beloveds during spring mating season. What does the bird-voiced treefrog’s voice sound like?

a. The voice of the bird-voiced treefrog is a slow, melodic trill, suggesting the call of a mourning dove; thus, the frog’s colloquial moniker.

29.5%

b. The mating call of the male bird-voiced treefrog is a series of high-pitched, rapidly delivered notes, produced in 3 or 4 seconds; thus, its name.

70.5%

6. “This was incredibly exciting …,” stated John G. Palis in a discussion about the bird-voiced treefrog’s habitat. Bald cypress or tupelo gum swamps were once thought requisite for the bird-voiced in Illinois. What was the exciting turn of events that precipitated his remark?

a. In a survey of southernmost Illinois in the 1990s, researchers determined that bird-voiced treefrogs were restricted to remnant bald cypress and tupelo gum swamps, but a survey in 2018 at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area (Jasper County) documented colonies of bird-voiced treefrogs on the area’s constructed swamp-like, shallow water wetlands.

45.7%

b. As early as 2011, habitat conditions on the Grassy Slough Preserve (Johnson County) had changed sufficiently from retired farmland to open-water wetlands edged by trees to entice bird-voiced treefrogs to colonize at least three constructed wetlands.

54.3%

7. If you prefer reading about birds, you were probably happy reading “Belted Kingfisher,” Illinois Audubon (Summer 2020). But, the article does mention amphibians; in what way?

a. Amphibians are mentioned as regurgitated prey, fed to hatchlings by belted kingfisher parents.

65.8%

b. Amphibians are mentioned as being excluded from a menu planned by the piscivore (the kingfisher whose diet consists exclusively of fish.)

34.2%

8. Hopefully, reading about snakes won’t give you nightmares. And, hopefully you didn’t miss this great article, “Birding for Snakes,” Illinois Audubon (Summer 2019). The article describes a unique behavior in rough green snakes, the swaying of their head—held off the ground—back and forth when looking at an object. To what advantage is that behavior for the snake?

a. Head swaying augments binocular vision and mimics the movement of vegetation in the wind.

71.4%

b. Head sway is a diversionary tactic. The prey of a snake would be conditioned to expect a motionless body and aflitting tongue as a snake’s pose before it strikes, not a swaying body.

28.6%

9. “Fungal Disease Threatens Illinois Rattlesnakes” Illinois Audubon (Spring 2016) discusses Snake Fungal Disease or SFD. The disease’s causative agent, a fungus, can feed on reptile scales, and it is tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. Which snakes other than rattlesnakes were mentioned in the article as having been studied as victims of SFD?

a. Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) and diamondback water snake (Nerodia rhombifer)

58.7%

b. The article mentioned no snakes other than rattlesnakes in its discussion of SFD.

41.3%

10. “State Symbols Reflect Illinois’ Natural Heritage,” Illinois Audubon (Summer 2018) offers a quick way to discover much information, a chart with headings (IL State Symbol, Year Adopted, Type, Species, Description). You probably remember reading that the eastern tiger salamander is the state amphibian, but did you read further? If so, what physical feature assists the tiger salamander as it tries to survive winters in Illinois?

a. Large shovel-shaped toes

39.6%

b. Secretory skin glands

60.4%

11. “The Eastern Spadefoot, Illinois’ Storm Frog,” Illinois Audubon (Fall 2016) is an example of an article full of scientific facts and touching personal experiences. The story begins “I’m lying on my back in the dark with my toddler son, …” Then comes a mention of a sound, which is later described as being likened to the sound of a person vomiting or experiencing gastrointestinal distress. The sound is the call of a male Eastern spadefoot. What fact about the spadefoot frog’s reproductive success is discovered by the author over his many years of observation?

a. Eastern spadefoot frogs’ characteristic annual breeding season starts later than most frogs’ seasons. Spadefoot wait for stormy, rainy April.

50.5%

b. Eastern spadefoot frogs have a proclivity to breed during heavy rains.

49.5%

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