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Species of Ontario Vernal Pools
*Please note that this section is still under construction. Watch for more links to pages about faculative species.
Definitions:
Obligate Vernal Pool Species: Species that rely on vernal pools for all or portions of their lifecycle and are unable to successfully complete their lifecycle without vernal pools.
Facultative Vernal Pool Species: Species that can use vernal pools for all or portions of their lifecycle, but are able to successfully complete their lifecycles in other water bodies.
Obligate Vernal Pool Amphibians:
Obligate Vernal Pool Invertebrates:
| Common Name |
Scientific Name
|
| Fairy Shrimp |
ANOSTRACA: Eubranchipus |
Facultative Vernal Pool Amphibians:
| Common Name |
Scientific Name
|
Spring Peeper
|
Pseudacris crucifer
|
|
Western Chorus Frog (?) |
Pseudacris triseriata |
|
Boreal Chorus Frog (?) |
Pseudacris maculata |
|
Gray Treefrog |
Hyla versicolor |
|
American Toad |
Bufo americanus |
|
Fowler’s Toad |
Bufo fowleri |
|
Green Frog |
Rana clamitans |
|
Pickerel Frog |
Rana palustris |
|
Leopard Frog |
Rana pipiens |
|
Bullfrog |
Rana catesbeiana |
Four-toed Salamander
|
Hemidactylium scutatum |
|
Small-mouthed Salamander (?) |
Ambystoma texanum |
|
Red-spotted Newt |
Notophthalmus viridescens |
Facultative Vernal Pool Invertebrates:
| Common Name |
Scientific Name
|
Predaceous Diving Beetle larvae
|
Dytiscidae
|
Water Scavenger Beetle
|
Hydrophilidae |
Giant Water Bug
|
Belostomatidae
|
Water Scorpion
|
Nepidae
|
Dragonfly larvae
|
Odonata: Anisoptera
|
Damselfly larvae
|
Odonata: Zygoptera
|
Whirligig Beetle larvae
|
Gyrinidae
|
Caddisfly larvae
|
Trichoptera
|
| Leeches |
Hirundinea
|
Freshwater Fingernail Clams
|
Pisidiidae |
Rat-tailed Maggot
|
Syrphidae |
| Mosquitoes |
Diptera: Culicidae
|
| Midges |
Diptera: Chironomidae
|
Phantom Midges
|
Diptera: Chaoboridae
|
Amphibious Snails (Air-breathing)
|
Basommatophora |
Water Boatmen
|
Corixidae |
| Backswimmer |
Notonectidae |
Water Mites
|
Acariformes |
Amphipod (Scuds)
|
Amphipoda |
| Isopod |
Isopoda |
Crawling Water Beetle
|
Haliplidae |
Fishflies (Dobsonflies)
|
Corydalidae |
| Mayfly |
Ephemeroptera |
Clam Shrimp
|
Laevicaudata |
| Ostracod |
Ostracoda |
| Daphnia |
Cladocera |
| Copepod |
Copepoda |
Gordian (Horsehair) Worm
|
Gordioida |
| Planaria |
Turbellaria |
Aquatic Oligochaete Worms
|
Oligochaeta |
Facultative Vernal Pool Reptiles:
| Common Name |
Scientific Name
|
Common Gartersnake
|
Thamnophis sirtalis
|
Eastern Ribbonsnake
|
Thamnophis sauritus
|
Northern Watersnake
|
Nerodia sipedon
|
Spotted Turtle
|
Clemmys guttata
|
Blanding’s Turtle
|
Emydoidea blandingii
|
Wood Turtle
|
Clemmys insculpta
|
Painted Turtle
|
Chrysemys picta
|
Snapping Turtle
|
Chelydra serpentina
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Other Facultative Vernal Pool Species:
| Common Name |
Scientific Name
|
Mallard
|
Anas platyrhynchos |
Wood Duck (?)
|
Aix sponsa |
| Raccoon |
Procyon lotor |
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