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Amphibians and Reptiles of Talladega National Forest

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Amphibians and Reptiles of Talladega National Forest Large Creek/River AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF Temporary Pond Upland Pine Small Creek Habitats of Talladega National Forest Abundance Amphibians and Reptiles of Talladega Hardwood TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST Checklist Summer Winter National Forest (Oakmulgee District) Spring (OAKMULGEE DISTRICT) Pond Fall Pond: Permanent wetlands, either natural (oxbow Common Name Scientific Name Turtles lakes, beaver ponds) or not (man-made Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina* C + + C C U impoundments). Several wetlands are the result of Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum* C + + C C U U indirect damming by forest road construction. Loggerhead Musk Turtle Sternotherus minor* C + C C C Usually large areas of open water with pond lilies and Stinkpot Sternotherus odoratus* C + + + C C U Yellow-bellied Slider Trachemys scripta* A + + + A A C C occasional standing dead trees. Common Map Turtle Graptemys geographica U + + U U Black-knobbed Map Turtle Graptemys nigrinoda C + C C Temporary pond: Depression-type wetlands, Alabama Map Turtle Graptemys pulchra U + U U U including road side ditches, that fill during winter and Chicken Turtle Deirochelys reticularia P spring but dry during summer. Usually small with River Cooter Pseudemys concinna C + + C C C U Box Turtle Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera C + C C no outlet (isolated), and without large predatory Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica ? fish. For this reason they are excellent breeding Alligator Snapping Turtle Macrochelys temminckii U + Talladega National Forest (Oakmulgee District) sits habitats for certain amphibians. Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina* U + + astride the Fall Line between the Coastal Plain and Lizards Large Creek: Example: Big Sandy, Oakmulgee upland physiographic provinces, giving the Broad-headed Skink Eumeces laticeps* C + + C C Talladega a unique blend of amphibian (40 sp.) and Mole Skink Eumeces egregius* U + U Creeks. 30-60 feet wide with deep pools, strong reptile (57 sp.) species from both regions. Coal Skink Eumeces anthracinus* R current, and slow meanders with extensive sandbars. Southeastern Five-lined Skink Eumeces inexpectatus* C + + C C Talladega uplands boast unique tracts of longleaf Large logs and snags are common and provide habitat Five-lined Skink Eumeces fasciatus* C + + + + C C C U pine, similar to both lowland longleaf forests in the Ground Skink Scincella lateralis* C + + C C C for basking turtles. lower Coastal Plain and the montane longleaf found Six Lined Racerunner Aspidoscelis sexlineatus* A + C C in other portions of Alabama. Lowlands consist of a Eastern Glass Lizard Ophisaurus ventralis ? Small Creek: Small creeks draining uplands and Slender Glass Lizard Ophisaurus attenuatus R + mixture of sandy-bottomed streams, beaver ponds, commonly feeding beaver ponds. Most are shallow Eastern Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus* A + + A A C U and broad seepage areas: breeding habitats for creeks less than 6 feet wide with occasional seepage Green Anole Anolis carolinensis* A + + + + + A A C C many species. Crocodilians areas and sandy substrate. First-order streams are American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis ? typically steeper and may exhibit small cascades The best way to use this checklist is to plan your * denotes detection of this species since 2005 across rocky substrate. Good breeding habitat for This checklist is based upon extensive herpetological adventure; we have included collections from scientists at the University of A = abundant (observation practically guaranteed in stream-breeding salamanders and frogs. appropriate habitat) information on habitat and seasonal abundance so Alabama and Auburn University, as well as two you can determine the best strategy to view C = common (observed frequently in appropriate habitat) Hardwood Forest: Forest dominated by oak and intensive surveys: one from 2005-2008 by Leslie U = uncommon (observed infrequently in appropriate habitat) wildlife. You can also keep track of what you see Rissler, Jimmy Stiles and Sierra Stiles hickory mixed with some pine in creek bottoms. R = rare (only recorded one to three times in Talladega and make notes, and if you visit the forest and an ongoing survey conducted by National Forest) Older stands typically have a moist duff layer, while repeatedly you can compare your checklists or Wally Smith. P = occurs near TNF and probably occurs here younger are mixed with pine. Hardwood forests are keep adding new finds to an old one. Do not The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in ? = occurs near TNF and may be present here most common in the Talladega along low-lying creek collect native wildlife, it is illegal. Do not release all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, X = not recorded recently; possibly extirpated sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or mari- bottoms. unwanted pets or exotic animals. tal or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communica- Upland pine : Ridgetop sites characterized most tion of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should You may find something never recorded from this contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).To commonly by longleaf pine with herbaceous or scrub- Forest or for this area of Alabama. If you think file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil dominated understory. Most upland sites are Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, you’ve found a new record, contact the Forest SW, Washington, DC 20250- 9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and managed using prescribed fire to benefit the Service at (334) 727-2652. TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. Brochure prepared by Sean P. Graham, Wally Smith and David A. Steen Loggerhead Musk Turtle Large Creek/River Temporary Pond Amphibians and Reptiles of Upland Pine Small Creek Abundance Amphibians and Reptiles of Hardwood Checklist Summer Winter Talladega National Forest Spring Pond Talladega National Forest Fall Common Name Scientific Name Large Creek/River Temporary Pond Snakes Upland Pine Small Creek Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus* U + + + + U U U Abundance Hardwood Checklist Summer Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platyrhinos* C + + C C U Winter Spring Seepage Salamander Pond Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus* R + + U Fall Common Name Scientific Name Black Racer Coluber constrictor* C++++++CCCU Salamanders Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea* C + + C Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum* C + + C C Mud Snake Farancia abacura PPP Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum* C + + C C C Rainbow Snake Farancia erytrogramma ??? Mole Salamander Ambystoma talpoideum U + + C Mole Kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster* R + R R Smallmouth Salamander Ambystoma texanum U Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula* C + + + + C U U Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum U U Scarlet Kingsnake Lampropeltis triangulum* U + U U Southern Two-lined Salamander Eurycea cirrigera* C + C C C C Corn Snake Elaphe guttata* C + + C C U Three-lined Salamander Eurycea guttolineata* C + + + C C C C Gray Rat Snake Elaphe spiloides* C + + C C C Chamberlain's Dwarf Salamander Eurycea chamberlaini ???? Pine Snake Pituophis melanoleucus PPP Mississippi Slimy Salamander Plethodon mississippi* A + + C C C U Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum* U + U U U Southern Zigzag Salamander Plethodon ventralis* C + U Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus* C + + + C C U Seepage Salamander Desmognathus aeneus* C + + + C C C C Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis* C + + + + + + C C U Spotted Dusky Salamander Desmognathus conanti* C + C C C C Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus U + + + + U U U Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus ? Brown Snake Storeria dekayi* C + + + + + + C C U Eastern Newt Notophthalmus viridescens* C + + + + C C C C Redbelly Snake Storeria occipitomaculata* U + + U U U Red Salamander Pseudotriton ruber* C + + + C C C C Northern Watersnake Nerodia sipedon U + + + + U U U Mud Salamander Pseudotriton montanus* R + + Plain-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster C + + + + + C C C Four-toed Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum U + + + U Diamondback Watersnake Nerodia rhombifer C + + + + C C C Three-toed Amphiuma Amphiuma tridactylum C + C C Queen Snake Regina septemvitatta* U + + Two-toed Amphiuma Amphiuma means ????? Glossy Crayfish Snake Regina rigida U + + + U U Lesser Siren Siren intermedia C + + C C Smooth Earth Snake Virginia valeriae* R + + R Gulf Coast Waterdog Necturus cf. beyeri C + + C C C C Rough Earth Snake Virginia striatula PPP Frogs and Toads Southeastern Crowned Snake Tantilla coronata* U + U U Bronze Frog, "banjo frog" Rana clamitans* A + + + + A A Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus* A + + + + + A A C U Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana* A + + + A A Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix* A + + C C U Southern Leopard Frog Rana sphenocephala* C + + + + + C C C A Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus* C + + C C U Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea* A + A A Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius P Gray Treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis* A + + + A C C Squirrel Treefrog Hyla squirella U + + U U U Bird-voiced Treefrog Hyla avivoca* A + + A C C Barking Treefrog Hyla gratiosa* C + + C C * denotes detection of this species since 2005 Mountain Chorus Frog Pseudacris brachyphona* C + + + + U C A = abundant (observation practically guaranteed in Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer* A + + + + C U A appropriate habitat)
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