Biodiversity of Alabama:100 Species to Know

Common Terrestrial Species

1. Turkey Tail •Type of shelf fungus, common on rotting trees in forests•Fungi are saprophytes, they get nutrients from dead, decaying things, important to recycle nutrients in ecosystems

Turkey for comparison

2. Lichens •Flat, crusty plant-like growth on rocks, bark of trees•Are a combination of algae and fungus living together (symbiosis)•Good example of pioneer species – are the first to grow on bare rock, or in disturbed areas

3. Cicada • young nymph lives underground, crawls out and climbs up onto a

branch• undergoes metamorphosis to emerge as a winged adult (like

butterflies)• some species emerge in large numbers after spending years

underground• makes loud noise in trees

Nymph (young cicada after crawling out of ground)

Adult (after metamorphosis)

4. Fowler’s toad Bufo fowleri • Common statewide in a variety of habitats,

including disturbed areas. • Breeds March to August, often in more

permanent aquatic sites than other toads. • Alabama’s most commonly encountered and

widely distributed toad; often seen on roads• Field marks: bumpy skin with brown spots• Toads do NOT cause warts in humans

NOTE: Many amphibian species are used as indicator species (defined as a species that is so sensitive to changes in the environment that it indicates the health of the entire ecosystem). Mutant toads, frogs have been found in many places.

5. Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea •Common nearly statewide, • Breeds April to August in permanent aquatic habitats with emergent vegetation. •Field marks: bright green color with white stripe down side, •Treefrogs have sticky toe pads that help them hang onto surfaces

6. Cave salamander Eurycea lucifuga. • Fairly common to common in caves of northeast AL• Field marks: orange-red body with dark spots, • Huge eyes are an adaptation for living in dark caves• Salamanders must stay moist to breathe through skin

7. Scarlet Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula holbrooki

• Fairly common, but secretive and nocturnal

• Lives in burrows underground and in rotten logs

• Predator, but not venomous• “Red on black, venom lack;

red on yellow, kill a fellow”• May be confused with poisonous

coral snake• Eats small rodents, reptiles and

other snakes (hence, the name kingsnake)

8. Rat SnakeElaphe obsoleta •Fairly common statewide. •Large arboreal snake, may nest high in tree cavities, a position that may reduce mortality from fire ants and other ground-foraging predators. •Known to many as “chicken snake” because it frequents chicken houses for food•Occurs in most terrestrial habitats, and occasionally may be found in, or near, forested suburbs. •Two subspecies with different colors:

– E. o. obsoleta (black rat snake) – north AL– E. o. spiloides (gray rat snake) – more common in south AL

9. Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis •Fairly common statewide. Frequently encountered, especially in northern Alabama. •Very generalized in habitat preferences, and found in most terrestrial habitat types. •Field Marks – stripes, round pupils•Harmless to humans, helps us by eating small bugs and rodents

10. Green Anole Anolis carolinensis• Common across AL except in extreme north due to cold

winters • A climbing lizard that inhabits a variety of vegetated

habitats, including residential areas. • Many know this conspicuous color-changing lizard as

“chameleon,” but a chameleon is another type of reptile

11. Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina •Low Conservation Concern but numbers have dropped in past few decades•Often found in open woodlands or forests, especially after rain•Domed shell on top, has hinge underneath that allows it to close up for protection•Omnivorous (eats a wide variety

of plants and animals)

12. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis • Found in open country and

woodland edges, but also in developed areas

• Adapted for predation: hooked beak, talons; feeds on small mammals, songbirds, reptiles

• Often seen perched on telephone poles, dead tree tops

13. Great Egret•Feeds in shallow water on fish, frogs •Live in colonies near water. •Adapted for hunting aquatic animals with long beak, long neck, long legs. •Beautiful feathers once used on ladies’ hats; led to formation of Audubon Society in 1905 to protect birds

14. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris •Adapted for drinking nectar from flowers with long beak, ability to hover (wings can beat up to 75 times per second!)•Important role as pollinator for plants •Migratory, live in AL in summer; then go to Central and South America•Like most birds, males more brightly colored than females (sexual dimorphism)

Male

Female

15. Laughing Gull •Common on the Gulf Coast, but can be found near inland waterways•Name comes from call that sounds like laughter•Omnivore-scavenger - will catch invertebrates (crabs, insects, snails, etc.) and fish, but is also known for hanging around humans for food, even at dumps and parking lots

16. Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis•Common in all seasons across the state •Found in shrubby areas, hedgerows, thickets, and suburban gardens.•Eats seeds and insects •Sexual dimorphism – which one is the male?

17. Canada Goose•Found in freshwater and brackish marshes, agricultural fields, and on lakes. •Breeding birds have been established from introduced resident populations. •Migratory but may live year-round in AL•Fly in V-formation•Primarily herbivores, but will eat small insects, fish•Monogamous, mate for life

18. Turkey Vulture• Scavenger, no feathers on head

keeps head cleaner when feeding

• Red head resembles turkey• Commonly seen soaring in

flocks high overhead• Holds wings in shallow V when

flying (distinguishes it from a hawk)

19. Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura •Common in all seasons across the state •Found on farms, and in towns, woodlots, agricultural fields, and grasslands.•Name comes from its mournful call

20. Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis •Common in all seasons across the state•Found in open rural areas, farmlands, fence rows, open suburban areas, and parks with scattered trees. •Nests in tree holes; providing bluebird houses helps increase population•Eats mostly insects•Sexual dimorphism

Male bluebird

Female bluebird

21. American Robin

Turdus migratorius • Distinctive red on breast• Found in short grass areas with scattered trees in cities, towns, parks, suburbs, and rural areas• Migrates out of the Coastal Plain in the summer; found statewide the rest of the year (note the species name)• Feeds on berries and insects• Eggs are “robin’s egg blue”

22. Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum • Common in all seasons and regions. • Likes thick shrubby areas• Name comes from habit of thrashing in leaves for food with long bill

23. Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos •Common in all seasons and regions. •Found in rural, suburban, and urban areas in openings with short grass, scattered shrubs, and trees. • Learns and repeats calls of birds in its area (note scientific name which means “mimic of many voices”)• Territorial; will swoop down on people and cats

24. American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos• Common except near the Gulf• Found in woodlands, farmlands, and suburban areas• Susceptible to West Nile virus

mosquito crow mosquito human• Crow population down 45% since West Nile virus was introduced into the

U.S. in 1999• Live in family groups with siblings helping raise young birds• Feed on almost anything (including leftovers in our courtyard after lunch!)

25. Northern Bob White QuailColinus virginianus   • Found on farms, along woodland edges, and in brushy open country habitats and old fields. • Extensively hunted• Named for call that sounds like the words “bob-white”• Nests on ground; young are precocial and can run after parents within hours of hatching

26. Barn Owl

Tyto alba

• Found on every continent (except Antarctica) and in all 67 AL counties, mostly widely distributed land bird in the world

• Feeds on small mammals, lives near farms, edges of woods, fields

• Adaptations for predation: special wing feathers allow silent flight; great hearing (facial feathers form a “dish” and asymmetrical ears improve sound reception)

Fluffy barn owl chicks covered with downy feathers

27. Eastern Screech Owl

Otus asio• Found in woodlands, especially

near open areas, and orchards• Very small owl (6-10 inches)• Nests in cavities• Strictly nocturnal, so not

well-known

28. Southern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys volans• Found in a variety of forest habitats• Not well-known because it is strictly nocturnal • Omnivorous – eats nuts, insects, eggs, fungi, fruits• Doesn’t really fly but glides using webbed skin along side of body

29. CoyoteCanis latrans • Increasing in numbers statewide,

including urban areas • Successful as a generalist – smart

and adaptable• Diet extremely varied and includes

rodents, rabbits, birds, eggs, many kinds of fruits, domestic poultry, livestock, garbage, pet cats and watermelons

• Usually 6 pups per litter• Looks like a domestic dog, but

with longer legs, more scruffy

30. Bobcat Lynx rufus

• Common statewide in a wide array of habitats including dense understory, bottomland hardwood forests, swamps, and farmlands.

• Breeding peaks December-April, but young may be born anytime during the year.

• Diet includes many kinds of vertebrates and invertebrates.

• Behavior: crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk)

31. Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus • Primarily occurs in deciduous

forests and forest edges, but also in grasslands, along fencerows, and in urban areas

• Produces up to seven litters averaging three to five young annually

• Forbs and grasses comprise most of diet in summer, but consumption of twigs and tree bark increases in winter

32. Nine-banded ArmadilloDasypus novemcinctus• Range expanded from Texas into southern US

since late 1800s, partly due to decreasing numbers of large predators

• Armored carapace or shell is bone and horn• Live in burrows• Eat mostly insects• Clumsy, slow movement

33. Opossum Didelphis virginiana • North America’s only marsupial (young develop in mother’s pouch) • Has a prehensile tail• Omnivorous • Sometimes they will “play possum”

and roll over, become stiff, and their breathing will become slow and shallow. This coma-like state can last up to four hours.  Some predators will think the opossum is dead and go away. 

34. White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus • Flash of white on underside of tail used to communicate between deer when running• Almost wiped out of Alabama by early 1900s when number of deer fell to a few thousand, efforts to restore population have resulted in 1.75 million deer by year 2000• Important game animal

35. Red FoxVulpes vulpes • Common in forested

habitats statewide. • Diet: mostly small

animals, but may include plants, eggs, and carrion

• Nocturnal• Only one litter per year

(3-9 pups)

36. Raccoon Procyon lotor• Successful generalist, found even in urban areas• Often associated with water • Omnivore - consumes an unusually wide range of plant and animal foods• The raccoon’s Latin name, lotor, means “the washer” and refers to the perceived habit of dipping food in water before eating it.  Recent studies indicate that this behavior is only common in captive raccoons and seems to be a substitute for the dabbling process used in searching for prey in aquatic habitats.