Reptiles and Amphibian Study Merit Badge
Requirements:
Updated Requirements as of January 1, 2006
1. Describe the identifying characteristics of six species of reptiles and four species of
amphibians found in the United States. For any four of these, make sketches from
your own observations or take photographs. Show markings, color patterns, or other
characteristics that are important in the identification of each of the four species.
Discuss the habits and habitats of all 10 species.
2. Discuss with your merit badge counselor the approximate number of species and
general geographic distribution of reptiles and amphibians in the United States.
Prepare a list of the most common species found in your local area or state.
3. Describe the main differences between
a. Amphibians and reptiles
b. Alligators and crocodiles
c. Toads and frogs
d. Salamanders and lizards
e. Snakes and lizards
4. Explain how reptiles and amphibians are an important component of the natural
environment. List four species that are officially protected by the federal
government or by the state you live in, and tell why each is protected. List three
species of reptiles and three species of amphibians found in your local area that are
not protected. Discuss the food habits of all 10 species.
5. Describe how reptiles and amphibians reproduce.
6. From observation, describe how snakes move forward. Describe the functions of the
muscles, ribs, and belly plates.
7. Describe in detail six venomous snakes and the one venomous lizard found in the
United States. Describe their habits and geographic range. Tell what you should do
in case of a bite by a venomous species.
8. Do ONE of the following:
a. Maintain one or more reptiles or amphibians for at least a month. Record
food accepted, eating methods, changes in coloration, shedding of skins, and
general habits; or keep the eggs of a reptile from the time of laying until
hatching; or keep the eggs of an amphibian from the time of laying until their
transformation into tadpoles (frogs) or larvae (salamanders).
b. Choose a reptile or amphibian that you can observe at a local zoo, aquarium,
nature center, or other such exhibit (such as your classroom or school). Study
the specimen weekly for a period of three months. At each visit, sketch the
specimen in its captive habitat and note any changes in its coloration,
shedding of skins, and general habits and behavior. Find out, either from
information you locate on your own or by talking to the caretaker, what this
species eats and what are its native habitat and home range, preferred
climate, average life expectancy, and natural predators. Also identify any
human caused threats to its population and any laws that protect the species
and its habitat. After the observation period, share what you have learned
with your counselor.
9. Do TWO of the following:
a. Identify at night three kinds of toads or frogs by their voices. Imitate the song
of each for your counselor. Stalk each with a flashlight and discover how each
sings and from where.
b. Identify by sight eight species of reptiles or amphibians.
c. Using visual aids, give a brief talk to a small group on three different reptiles
and amphibians.
10. Tell five superstitions or false beliefs about reptiles and amphibians and give a
correct explanation for each. Give seven examples of unusual behavior or other true
facts about reptiles and amphibians.
Syllabus: Prepared Summer 2010
Monday
REQ#1 Describe the identifying characteristics of six species of reptiles and four species
of amphibians found in the United States. For any four of these, make sketches from
your own observations or take photographs. Show markings, color patterns, or other
characteristics that are important in the identification of each of the four species.
Discuss the habits and habitats of all 10 species.
 In this requirement the six species of reptiles and amphibians are easy, the most
common herps are the way to go, Amphibians: red belly salamander, spring
piper, blue salamander, or green frog. For reptiles: smooth green snake, garter
snake and painted turtle or snapper.
REQ#2 Prepare a list of the most common species found in your local area or state.
 Turtle: painted turtle, snapping turtle,
 Amphibian: blue spotted salamander, red back salamander, wood frog, spring
piper, American toad, gray three frog, green frog, mink frog
 Lizards: five lined skink
 Snakes: common garter, smooth green, red bellied
REQ#3- Describe the main differences between
 Amphibians and reptiles
o Amphibians -any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Amphibia,
comprising frogs and toads, newts and salamanders, and caecilians, the
larvae being typically aquatic, breathing by gills, and the adults being
typically semiterrestrial, breathing by lungs and through the moist,
glandular skin.
o Reptiles - any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia, comprising
the turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, amphisbaenians, tuatara, and
various extinct members including the dinosaurs
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Alligators and crocodiles
o Alligators - Either of two large reptiles, Alligator mississipiensis of the
southeast United States or A. sinensis of China, having sharp teeth and
powerful jaws. They differ from crocodiles in having a broader, shorter
snout.
o Crocodiles - Any of various large aquatic reptiles, chiefly of the genus
Crocodylus, native to tropical and subtropical regions and having thick,
armorlike skin and long tapering jaws.
Toads and frogs
o Toads - Any of numerous tailless amphibians chiefly of the family
Bufonidae, related to and resembling the frogs but characteristically
more terrestrial and having a broader body and rougher, drier skin.
o Frogs - any tailless, stout-bodied amphibian of the order Anura, including
the smooth, moist-skinned frog species that live in a damp or semiaquatic
habitat and the warty, drier-skinned toad species that are mostly
terrestrial as adults.
Salamanders and lizards
o Salamanders - Any of various small lizardlike amphibians of the order
Caudata, having porous scaleless skin and four, often weak or
rudimentary legs.
o Lizards - any of numerous scaly reptiles of the suborder Sauria, order
Squamata, typically having a moderately elongate body, a tapering tail,
and two pairs of legs held outward from the body, comprising mostly
terrestrial and burrowing species
Snakes and lizards
o Snakes - Any of numerous scaly, legless, sometimes venomous reptiles of
the suborder Serpentes or Ophidia (order Squamata), having a long,
tapering, cylindrical body and found in most tropical and temperate
regions.
o Lizards - any of numerous scaly reptiles of the suborder Sauria, order
Squamata, typically having a moderately elongate body, a tapering tail,
and two pairs of legs held outward from the body, comprising mostly
terrestrial and burrowing species
The different between them are easy and also it will me great to have pictures to
show.
Tuesday
REQ#4 - Explain how reptiles and amphibians are an important component of the
natural environment. List four species that are officially protected by the federal
government or by the state you live in, and tell why each is protected. List three species
of reptiles and three species of amphibians found in your local area that are not
protected. Discuss the food habits of all 10 species.
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1st part - Reptiles and amphibians are "indicator animals" meaning that their
health and well being is directly connected to the health of their environment
The four protected specie are:
o Blanchard's cricket frog, Acris crepitans blanchardi
o Eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus
o Ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata
o Northern ribbon snake, Thamnophis sauritus
o The non protected are easy enough
REQ#5 - Describe how reptiles and amphibians reproduce.
 For this it will be fun to go to the pond and catch some salamander eggs, also
show some pictures or snakes athcing and maybe some videos. Show the
reproductive parts of the male and female and the way salamanders “do it”
Wednesday
REQ#6 - From observation, describe how snakes move forward. Describe the functions
of the muscles, ribs, and belly plates.
 The snake uses some of the wide scales on its belly to grip the ground while
pushing forward with the others.
REQ#9/c.Using visual aids, give a brief talk to a small group on three different reptiles
and amphibians.
 For this requirement, it will be cool to go and see the boa and see how it moves.
Also the corn snake and show a video of a side winder moving
Thursday
REQ#7 - Describe in detail six venomous snakes and the one venomous lizard found in
the United States. Describe their habits and geographic range. Tell what you should do
in case of a bite by a venomous species.
 What to do if bitten by a venomous species.
o Allow bite to bleed freely for 15-30 secs.
o Cleanse and rapidly disinfect area with Betadine, assuming not allergic to
iodine, fish or shellfish. Remove clothing (pant legs, shirt sleeves, rings
and jewelery on bitten side)
o If bite on hand, finger, foot or toe, wrap leg/arm rapidly with 3" to 6" Ace
or crepe bandage past the knee or elbow joint immobilizing it. Overwrap
bite marks. But first, if possible, apply hard direct pressure over bite
using a 4 x 4 gauze pad folded in half twice to 1 x 1. Tape in place with
adhesive tape. Soak gauze pad in Betadine(tm) solution if available and
victim is not allergic to iodines, fish or shellfish.
o Strap gauze pad tightly in place with adhesive tape
o Overwrap dressing above, over and below bite area with ACE or crepe
bandage, but not too tight. Wrap ACE (elastic) bandage as tight as one
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would for a sprain. Not too tight. Check for pulses above and below
elastic wrap; if absent it is too tight. Unpin and loosen. If pulses are
strong (normal) it may be too loose.
Immobilize bitten extremity, use splinting if available.
If possible, try and keep bitten extremity at heart level or in a gravityneutral position. Raising it above heart level can cause venom to travel
into the body. Holding it down, below heart level can increase swelling.
Evacuate to nearest hospital or medical facility as soon as possible
Try and identify, kill and bring (ONLY if safe to do so) offending snake.
This is the least important thing you should do. Visual
identification/description usually suffices, especially in the U.S. and in
regions where the local fauna is known. Local symptoms will alert doctors
to whether the bite is venomous or not.
Bites to face, torso or buttocks are more of a problem. ACE/crepe
bandaging can not be applied to such bites. A pressure dressing made of
a gauze pad may help to contain venom. (see Pressure dressing
procedure)
The most venomous snakes in the U.S. and also put the more common
venomous.
REQ#9/b - Identify by sight eight species of reptiles or amphibians.
REQ#9/c - Using visual aids, give a brief talk to a small group on three different reptiles
and amphibians.
Friday
REQ#10 - Tell five superstitions or false beliefs about reptiles and amphibians and give a
correct explanation for each. Give seven examples of unusual behavior or other true
facts about reptiles and amphibians.
 You can get warts from toads
 Snakes are slimy
 All snakes are venomous
 Snakes will chase people
 Snakes don't have bones
Cool facts
 A rattlesnake is capable of striking for up to an hour after its death
 A chameleon's color change is caused by its emotion, as well as light and
temperature, and not by its background
 The tongue of a crocodile is attached to the roof of his mouth, making him
incapable of sticking his tongue out.
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The most poisonous reptile in the world is not a snake, but a frog. One golden
poison arrow frog has enough poison in its system to kill ten to twenty humans.
Let them tell some stories and also tell yours after that just blow the away with
some cool facts.