Amphibians & Reptiles 
Sample Tournament 
by Karen L. Lancour 
Note: In competition a specimen, slide, or picture would be provided 
instead of the specimen name. Some stations in competition may 
use several organisms and ask questions concerning their 
similarities and differences. 
Station A: Specimen - Mudpuppy 
1. To what family does this specimen belong? 
2. A unique feature of this critter is its retention of a key 
larval feature as an adult. Name this noticeable larval feature. 
3. How many toes are found on each foot? 
4. When does this animal usually feed? (day or night) 
5. How would you distinguish a specimen from cool oxygenated 
water and a specimen from warm muddy or foul water? 
Station B: Specimen - Common Garter Snake 
6. To what family does this specimen belong? 
7. This is the most commonly encountered snake in many parts of 
its range. What is this organism's range? 
8. What does this critter eat? 
9. Where is this snake likely to be found in its environment? 
10. How are the young born? (hatched externally or born alive) 
Station C: Specimen – Green Anole 
11. To what family does this specimen? 
12. What distinctive feature very prominent in the males places 
these animals in this family? 
13. Where in the environment are these animals most comfortable? 
14. What do these animals eat? 
15. These animals have the ability to change what external feature 
in response to temperature, humidity, emotion or activity? 

Station D: Specimen - American alligator 
16. To what order does this specimen belong? 
17. How is this animal recognized and distinguished from the other 
family of large reptiles? 
18. What type of noise does the adult make? 
19. How does this animal assist the ecology of its environment 
during times of drought? 
20. What are the two main activities of humans that have greatly 
reduced the numbers of these animals in many areas? 
Station E: Specimen - Northern Leopard Frog 
21. To what family does this specimen belong? 
22. When and where do these animals breed? 
23. This specimen as an adult can often be found wandering in the 
meadows. When pursued on land, how does it flee? 
24. When are these animals most active? 
25. What do members of this family of animals eat? 
Station F: Specimen - Snapping Turtle 
26. To what family does this specimen belong? 
27. The common name of this organism describes what unique 
feature of this animal? 
28. How is this type of animal economically important? 
29. What is the temperament of the members of this family? 
30. How does the length of the tail of these turtles 
compare with most turtles? 
Station G: Specimen - Spotted Salamander 
31. To what family does this specimen belong? 
32. Warm spring rains stimulate these creatures to migrate in 
large numbers to what breeding site? 
33. Where in the environment are the adults typically found? 
34. What feature generated the nickname for these animals? 
35. How has acid rain affected the breading of these animals 
in the Northeast U.S and Canada? 

Station H: Specimen - Spring Peeper 
36. To what family is the specimen assigned in the Official 
Reference? 
37. This organism has been moved to the genus Pseudoacris. In 
the Official Reference it is still classified in what genus? 
38. Where do these animals live? 
39. The appearance of the sound of these animals is responsible 
for their nickname. When do they begin to sing? 
40. What adaptations have these animals evolved to enhance 
their ability to climb? 
Station I: Specimen - A large number of bullfrogs on a highway. 
41. These frogs have instinctively returned to their natural 
breeding grounds which is now replaced by this highway. 
What type of habitat was destroyed by the construction of 
this highway? 
42. How many chambers will be found in the heart of these frogs? 
43. How will this new highway probably affect the future of these 
frogs? 
44. To what family do these frogs belong? 
45. What is the name of the larval form of these animals? 
Station J: Specimen - Rattlesnake 
46. To what family does this animal belong? 
47. What feature makes these snakes distinctive and easily 
recognized? 
48. The venom of these snakes is considered poisonous because 
it destroys what type of body tissue? 
49. The venom of some types of snakes is used to prepare pain 
killers. What type of body tissue would the toxin of this 
venom affect in order to relieve pain 
50. What distinctive noise does this animal produce? 

SAMPLE TOURNAMENT SCHOOL NUMBER 
AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES SCHOOL 
STATE 
STUDENT NAMES: (PLEASE PRINT) RAW SCORE 
1. RANK 
2. POINTS 
BE SURE TO INCLUDE APPROPRIATE UNITS WITH ALL ANSWERS!!! 
STATION A: STATION F: 
1. 26. 
2. 27. 
3. 28. 
4. 29. 
5. 30. 
STATION B: STATION G: 
6. 31. 
7. 32. 
8. 33. 
9. 34. 
10. 35. 
STATION C: STATION H: 
11. 36. 
12. 37. 
13. 38. 
14. 39. 
15. 40. 
STATION D: STATION I: 
16. 41. 
17. 42. 
18. 33. 
19. 44. 
20. 45. 
STATION E: STATION J: 
21. 46. 
22. 47. 
23. 48. 
24. 49. 
25. 50.