VIRGINIA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN No. 82 Ifeirch-April 1977

DISTRIBUTION NOTES ON THE YONAHLOSSEE SALAMANDER IN _ S OUTIFWES TERN_ VIRGINIA _ by (Dr.) Douglas W. Ogle** Virginia Highlands Commun­ A range extension for the ity College, Abingdon,VA der Rhododendron along an Yonahloss.ee salamander old logging road at an (Plethodon yonahlossee) E. elevation of 2,760 ’ (650m), of the New River drainage I often turned over rocks and, as Hoffman (1967) in PULASKI County, VA, is and logs to look for stated, no other species cited. This locality is salamanders. In several were seen at this time. the northernmost for the places along the top of species and adds a new the escarpment, from The fo llo w in g day I found county to the Virginia Fisher’s Peak northeast a specimen at 1,720 ft. records. The collection to Fancy Gap, I found the (530 m), on an old access and dispersal of this slimy salamander (P. glu- road below Rich Mountain salamander along the tinosus) and an occasion­ and an extremely large southern Elue Ridge al red-spotted newt (Not- adult just northeast of escarpment in CARROLL Co. ophthalmus viridescens), lambsburg, VA, near the VA, is described and b u t nothing e ls e . However, base of the escarpment. related to earlier texts. as I started going to These results would seem lower elevations, I began to indicate that further to find specimens of P. collection along the es­ The d is tr ib u tio n o f the yonahlossee. At the base carpment in CARROLL and Yonahlossee salamander of the escarpment, in PATRICK Counties should (P. yonahlossee),general- identical habitats, produce more specimens. ly considered somewhat s e v e ra l sp ecies of Desmo- restricted in range, has gnathus were . found. On October 3, 1976, on a been summarized for Vir­ collecting trip with C.E. ginia by Hoffman (1967), During the last week of Stevens, I again found and discussed in detail July, on a damp foggy yonahlossee under a log by HIghton (1971). Two night between 10 and 11, In colluvial soil (con­ new lo c a l i t i e s w ill p ro ­ I collected two adult and sisting of washout, rock, vide additional infor­ four juvenile specimens and cliff debris, —the mation about the range of yonahlossee below Rich material of avalanches) and natural history of Mountain near the end of at the base of Brannon’s this organism. County Rfce. J l6 . The Knob, PULASKI County, VA, specimens were given to at 2,570 feet (792 m.) In summer 1975> w hile Dr. Eugene Gourley* at (lack’s Mountain Quadr­ collecting plants in the Radford College, VA. At a angle, USGS 15' series, Fisher’s Peak area of later date, typical speci­ 1965)• This locality, CARROLL County, VA (Lambs- mens were c o lle c te d and 1.3 mi. (3 km.) NE of the burg Quadrangle, U.S.G.S. sent to the National CARROLL County station 7.5’ series, 1965), Museum of Natural History reported by Hoffman (1967) (Smithsonian Institution) is important in several * VaHS member Washington, D.C. (USNM- respects. Adding a new 202,724-725). All the county to the Virginia **VaHS D ire c to r specimens were taken un- records, the site is the

- 1 - VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 M arch-A pril 1977

Yonahlossee Salamander in Southwestern Virginia (continued)

northernmost for the there does seem to be a References; species, and establishes correlation between popu­ yonahlossee northeast of lation density and Conant, R ., 1975* A F ie ld Big Reed Island Creek elevation; i.e., above Guide to Reptiles and Am­ into the lack's Mountain sea le v e l. phibians of Eastern and area. The topography is Central North America, 2d such that further collec­ It would be very inter­ edition. Houghton M ifflin tion around lack's Creek esting to learn what Company, Boston, MA. or Big Laurel Creek might effects the environment f u r th e r extend th e known and competition have on Highton, R., 1971. Dis­ range of this lovely limiting the distribution tributional Interactions anim al. of P. yonahlossee, espe­ Among Eastern North Amer­ cially in the fringe ican Salamanders of the When compared to pub­ habitats of the Blue Genus Plethodon, pp. 139- lished information on the Ridge Mountains. 188. IN P.C. Holt (Ed.) species, these results The D istrib u tio n al H isto ry provide interesting data. (Dr.) Douglas W. Ogle ** of the Biota of the South­ All specimens were taken Biology Department ern Appalachians, Part III more than 100 ft. (30 m.) Virginia Highlands Com­ Division Monograph #4,VPI from streams as mentioned munity College & SU, Blacksburg, VA. in Pope (1950)• Although P.0. Box # 828 the species has been re­ Abingdon, VA 24210 Hoffman, R.L., 1967* Dis­ ported from elevations tributional Records for varying from 1,500 ft. or Three Species of Pletho­ 457 8u (Newman 1954 )> to don in V irg in ia . The 5,700 ft. (1,737 m.) Radford Review, Vol.21, (Conant, 1975), the In- No. 3 } PP- 206-209. dividuals collected and observed were taken from Newman, W. B ., 1954. A lower elevations (none New Plethodontid Salaman­ above 2,800 ft. (854 m.) der from Southwestern Vir­ and no hybrid material ginia . Herpetologica, was detected. This seems Vol. 10, ~ppT 9-l4. to substantiate Highton (1971) in that the popu­ Pope, C.H., 1950. A Sta­ lations at the fringe of tistical and Ecological the range seem to occur Study of the Salamander at lower elevations than Plethodon yonahlossee. those toward the center. Bulletin of the Chicago The c o lle c tio n s are Academy of S cience, unusual in some a sp e c ts, Vol. 9, pp. 79-106. too. More yonahlossee were taken than glutino- sus, and although on Rich Mountain the range of the two species overlap, '------

- 2 - t

VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 March-April 1977

MANY COLLECTION RECORDS OF VIRGINIA HERPETILES IN

During 1978-1977> VaHS response from many major production of the VaHS received a large number scientific institutions BULLETIN. This is more a of records of amphibian in the eastern and cen­ tribute to the volume of and reptilian specimens tral United States. These material than to the time collected in VA over the include natural history spent on the map posting. past 100 years. Much museums sponsored by a of the credit should gp to municipality or a sizable Individual contributions Joseph C. Mitchell^ VaHS university. Placing all of data with VaHS collec­ member; and coordinator of these data on the VaHS ting data slips completed of the nev phenology pro­ Survey maps is taking all for specimens w ill be put gram. He has succeeded in of the spare time of the on the large VaHS Survey soliciting a magnificent editor not devoted to the maps during th e o p e ra tio n .

NOTICE OF- PUBLICATION

During 1977, VaHS w ill be "adopt-a-county" programs if the species is a rare publishing a completely for clearing up some of one for which there are revised compilation of the zoogeographic puzzles few records. Take safety maps. These w ill be less of which we have more precautions on the road than 8^" X 11" versions than our share in VA. during such salvage oper­ o f th e VA. HERPETOLOGICAL ations . If in Federal SURVEY maps, but based on REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS parks, such as the Sky­ those permanent records. are not limited by strict line Drive or Blue Ridge political boundaries, but Parkway, collecting isn’t These maps w ill show what we find it convenient tc permitted under ANY cir­ records exist; species by inch up on the tremendous cumstances without a NPS species, for all of Vir­ size of the state through Collecting Permit. Bring ginia. All records will a county-by-county survey. such salvagable specimens be based (l) on actual to the attention of a NPS specimens in major col­ Distribution of species ranger or Park Naturalist. lections across the U.S. is controlled more by the and (2) by photographic availability of suitable Use the VaHS C o llectin g record (usually 2" X 2" h a b i t a t . Data Slips. A specimen color slides of captured without adequate data is' and released specimens.) SALVAGE PROGRAM: also without value. Data The latter are largely a should be f i l l e d out when way o f " f i l l i n g in " la rg e fthny specimens, particu­ still in the field—don’t gaps in distribution with­ larly reptiles, can be depend upon your memory.’ in th e known range o f th e collected as road kills. For specimens reported Virginian (indigenous or If the specimen was not through the VaHS system native)- varieties . (See destroyed (i.e., if the the collector(s) will be VaHS BULLETIN No. 8o) species is recognizable), credited by notes in the the specimen should find VaHS BULLETIN and e n try We hope this w ill give a its way into a suitable in the records of the VA boost to the "adopt-a- scientific collection. It Herpetological Survey vol­ species" and revive the is especially recommended umes-- a permanent record.

- 3 - I VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 March-April 1977

VaHS LENDS ENCOURAGEMENT GAP IN VA RANGE OF SMOOTH TO NATURAL HISTORY OBSER­ (See Camp M itc h ell, YCC, EARTH SNAKE TO BE FILLED? VATIONS AT VA YCC CAMPS Report — on page five.) A specimen of the eastern smooth earth snake (Vir­ Some excellent environ­ an unexpected reptilian ginia valeriae valeriae), mental programs were con­ or amphibian variety does has been recorded for ducted at the Youth Con­ o ccu r. In some c ase s, i t the first time from servation Corps (YCC) would be a contribution SCOTT County, VA. (See camps around Virginia in to determine that the ex­ Dr. Conant’s Field Guide, recent summers. One such pected varieties occur. Mkp #24). There has been study is carried in this a large gap in the range VaHS BULLETIN. We must stress that VaHS of this species until the is primarily interested collection of this speci­ In conversations with the in reptiles and amphibians men by Ms. C h arlo tte How- Division of Parks ' and the albeit, with reference to ington, a student at East Department of Education’s natural habitat: plants Tennessee S ta te U n iv ersity representatives, we have and associated animals in in 197^• Ms. Howington opened VaHS BULLETIN’S proper perspective. was a member of Dr. Fred pages to YCC participants’ J. Alsop’s vertebrate observations relating to We believe this w ill give zoology class. She keyed amphibians and reptiles. the local natural history the specimen to Virginia a boost. It will also valeriae but raised the We have proposed to carry: add to the statewide sur­ question since Conant's (1) Any good reco rd s o r vey which VaHS has had 1958 Field Guide showed notes on observations pre­ underway since early 1961. that the species had not pared by YCC participants been taken in that area. th a t may make r e a l c o n tr i­ We have requested that butions to knowledge of the YCC staff encourage Dr. Fred J. Alsop,III, As­ local plants and animals. t h e i r YCC camp p a r t i c i ­ sistant Professor of Bio­ Interrelationships must pants to send any notes logy at East Tennessee , be shown to local reptile or data to the VaHS for at Kingsport University and amphibian life forms. use. We will do a little Center, Kingsport, Tenn., cutting or polishing as also keyed the snake to (2) The notes w ill c a rry necessary to conform to Virginia valeriae.’ full credit to the YCC VaHS BULLETIN form at, and observer (s) and YCC Camp to reflect well upon the The specimen came from staff advisers (biologist participant's efforts. 1 mi. west of Rye Cove, or naturalist, etc.) . SCOTT County, VA. VaHS is preparing a kit (3) These data, observa­ of materials that may be The specimen was c o lle c t­ tions, or wildlife lists useful to YCC staff bio­ ed on a path in the open will become a part of the logists, naturalists, or near a cedar grove about state’s reptile and amphi­ others who are working 1:00 p.m. 13 October ,r[k. bian survey. closely with this program. It is temporarily in the possession of Franklin J. Since some of the camps YCC Camp Directors are in ­ Tobey, J r . , Loudoun Coun­ are in areas of Virginia cluded in the list of.>VA ty, VA. It will be re­ that have been virtually summer camp and park n a tu ­ turned to Kingsport Univ. unsurveyed (from an eco­ ralists who will receive. Center in early summer. lo g ic a l view point) we may information kits from Va be able to establish that HS during th is summer ’77*

- 4 - VaHS BULLETIN: A n a ilin g consists of 200 to 300 VaHS BULLETINS. The f i r s t mailing is sent to VaHS members and "exchange members in other states. The second m ailin g goes to p ro sp e ctiv e members I and, in summertime, to camp & p ark n a tu r a lis ts .

MEMBERSHIP CARDS (VaHS)

I Your updated membership card should be enclosed in th is VaHS BULLETIN.

Those not receiving a new c ard w ith VaHS-B# 82 may w rite : \ i VaHS Secretary P.0. Box # 1376 LEESBURG, VA 22075

if an error has been made please say so.

If support has not been kept current, please send your contribution to:

Mr. Louis C. Baker, VaHS TREASURER, Yorktown High School 5201 No. 28th Street Arlington, VA 22207

Recommended Support Rate:

Science Faculty $l/yearj VA resident $2/year; Out of State $3/year; Overseas $5/y e a r .

Membership cards are put : in the mail all at one time, yearly, so that the uniformity (weight and size) requirement under Post Office regulations will not be violated.

f Member's names will be | carried in a forthcoming .» ! VaHS membership roster. VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 March-April 1977

CAMP MITCHELL, YCC REPORT Summer 1976, I worked in OF 1976 PARTICIPANT Northern red salamander: the Y.C.C. (Youth Conser­ Five-inch specimen found vation Corps ) . I recent­ under mossy rock in a ly received a letter from small stream near camp. my camp d ir e c to r , Mr. Ed­ win B. Swan ,of New C astle, L izards: Frogs and Treefrogs: VA, asking me to give any information that might he Northern Fence Lizard Spring Peeper: o f use to VaHS BULLETIN. Found on trees around the Found in open, tree areas, cabins. Both females and and around the swimming- The following is a list­ males were in great abun­ pool at night. ing and location of all dance . One lizard near of the reptiles and amphi­ cabin (#3) would stay Gray Treefrog: Found bians which I encountered next to a garbage can and around the swimming-pool during my stay at the YCC feed on the ants that area at night. Camp. lived under it. Ants seem to be the main ingredient American Toad: Found The location of my work in this lizard’s• • I diet. mostly at night, around was a t Camp M itc h ell the small stream and the New Castle, VA. It is a Five-lined Skink: Female cafeteria area. recreational area for the specimen lived under and residents of New Castle. around cabin (#3) and fed T u r tle s : on flies and ants. It bit readily when captured. Eastern Box Turtle: Specimens encountered were: A sm all, young t u r t l e was Salamanders: found in the yard of the Snakes: New Castle Ranger Dis­ Slimy Salamander: Large trict Work Center. Black Rat Snake: Five ft. (5 - 5 i inch) specimens in le n g th , o ld e r specimen were found under rocks or (Mr.) Robert F. Wise with one blind eye. Found fallen, partially decayed 315 Dawn Avenue in graveled area leaving t r e e s . WOODSTOCK, VA 22664 the border of the woods near a small-sized stream. Four-toed Salamander: In Editor’s Note: We hope same habitat as slimy that this may be first of Northern Ringneck Snake: salamander and, in fact, an occasional YCC report 9-inch specimens and two often shared the same co­ on reptile and amphibian smaller young from center v e r. Eoth found in woods life in the vicinity of of a rotten log behind a behind the cabins. Virginia’s several YCC cab in . camps. Biologists and Eft of red-spotted newt: science teacher staff may Two specimens were found assist VaHS by encourag­ Northern Copperhead: 2 -ft. . walking in the open on ing student participants. specimen in stream with the forest floor after a trees surrounding. r a in . (FJT) VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 l^rch-April 1977

FIELD BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY PESTS ENCOUNTERED IN THE "Swimmer’s itch" is often AT CORNELL SUMMER SESSION SUMMERTIME------OUTDOORS reported following wading JUNE 29 - AUGUST 12, 1977 in seawater, freshwater ponds, lakes, or rivers. Chiggers or red bugs are The animal causing the The Cornell University’s frequently encountered on itch is a flatworm para­ summer se ssio n o ff e rs field trips. Chiggers site no larger than an eight courses at the cause intense itching all eyelash. The cercariae advanc e d unde rgraduate over the body by biting. of about 20 (non-primate- level: Laboratory methods Bites are small to large infesting) schistosomes in biology, general eco­ reddish welts on the skin. cause swimmer's itch. The logy, plant ecology, Chiggers are so tiny most c e rc a ria e are known to mammalogy, o rn ith o lo g y , people cannot see them. p e n e tra te human sk in , but herpetology, biology of The la r v a l chiggers b ite , since people are not an fishes, and comparative not the adults, inject­ acceptable host, the para­ vertebrate ethology. The ing a tissue-dissolving sites die under the skin. courses provide extensive fluid. This is usually The natural hosts are non­ training in field problems at the site of a pore, or primate mammals and water- and methods. A variety of a hair follicle under the fowl. Intermediate hosts field sites are located cover of tight clothing. a re s n a ils . You may want in the vicinity of the to grab a biology text in Cornell campus, Ithaca, Young ch iggers a tta c h this connection: Schis­ Weekend trips w ill enable themselves to the skin of tosome eggs in solid body students to visit more people and domestic or wastes from infected hosts distant areas of interest. wild animals, including hatch in water and pro­ r e p tile s and b ir d s . The duce miracidia which en­ Herpetology: William J. bites have a more severe ter snails. Sporocysts Mautz—Evolution, d istri­ e f f e c t on some p e o p le . No (larval forms) emerge bution and adaptations of d isea se is known to have from the snails. These reptiles and amphibians, been spread, by chiggers subsequently produce fork­ emphasis on zoogeography, in the U.S. Dusting your tailed schistosome cercar­ ecology, behavior, and socks with powdered sul­ iae, thus completing the physiology. Admission is fur and avoiding sitting life cycle. The cercariae gained through formal ap­ on the ground will often produce red spots on the plication. For the forms prevent chigger bites. swimmer’s body. Rapid in s tr u c tio n s , and summer dry-towelling the body on session catalog ----W rite: Continued at top of next emergence from the water column ...... may prevent penetration. Dean of Summer Session Cornell University Continued from column one: References: 105 Day H all The e ig h t courses are open Ithaca, N.Y. 1^853 to candidates for under­ Public Health Reports graduate and graduate de­ Vol. 91, No.5 Sept.-Oct. grees, teachers and those 1978 pp. 469-470 (source) For specific information interested in personal or about the offerings in professional improvement. Cort, W.W. (1950) Studies field biology and ecology S tudents may p a r tic ip a te on schistosome dermatitis. write Dr. Simon A. Levin, in two courses simultan­ XI. Status of knowledge... Chairman, Section of Eco­ eously; up to eight cred­ Am J Hyg 52: 251-307. logy and Systematics, CU, its may be earned during Wills, Fried, Carroll and Langmuir Laboratory, the 6-week summer se ssio n . Jones (1978) Public Health Ithaca, N.Y., 14853 (Cost: $100 a credit.) Reports (cited above as - 6 - the source of this item.) VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 Nfetrch-April 1977

LETTERS, IDEAS, COMMENTS:

COSTELLO CRAIG SECOND ANNUAL REPTILE TO THE RESCUEi PROPAGATION AND HUSBANDRY SYMPOSIUM Having a snake for a 'pet' competent in handling her. may not have appealed to One girl, in particular, The Second Annual Reptile me less than a year ago, was very content just to Propagation and Husbandry hut has recently become a sit and hold the snake as Symposium w ill be held in very special addition to she watched it crawl. The Cleveland, Ohio, in June. my life. Locating a situation seemed under The f i r s t symposium was 'friendly' snake in the control, so I began to held at the Catoctin Mtn. middle of winter would read a story to the other Zoo (Thurmont, MD) in the have been an impossible children who were gather-r­ summer of 197&- R e g istra ­ task had I not met Mr. ed around me. Well, it tio n fee was $25.00. The Costello M. Craig, a VaHS wasn't long before I re­ symposium, this year, is member from Bedford, VA. ceived a tug on my arm hosted by the Northern He very graciously allow­ from my snake sitter. It Ohio A sso ciatio n of ed me to borrow one of seems that 'Sophie's' Herpetologists, Cleveland his corn snakes (which I infatuation with dark, Museum of Natural History, now call 'Sophie'), to cozy places had overcome and Case Western Reserve fulfill a college require­ her and she had managed University. The meetings ment in one of my teach­ to stuff almost all three will be held on the Case ing methods classes. I feet of her body up the Western Reserve Univer­ decided that it would be pant leg of this extreme­ sity campus and Cleveland a great opportunity for ly startled kindergartner.' Museum of Natural History kindergartners to have a All I can say is it was a on June 23, 2b, & 25,1977- 'hands on' learning ex­ good thing Sophie decided perience with a real live to come out on her own as The sponsors o f th e 2nd snake rather than me just I would have been a Annual R ep tile Symposium talking about reptiles little hesitant to match are: the Baltimore Zoo­ and showing pictures from strengths with her in logical Society, Catoctin story books. Well, some that particular situation. Mountain Zoological Park, experience it was, but the Zoological Society of I'm not sure for whom: Honestly, after sharing Philadelphia, and Repti- the children, the snake, several experiences like lan d . P r e r e g is tra tio n can or myself.' that with an animal, it's be obtained by writing to: awfully difficult to have Living with Sophie for to give h er up. But, Mr. (Mr.) Eob Johnson over a week, I was able C o stello C raig came to Baltimore Zoo to learn a lot from hand­ the rescue again, for now Druid Hill Park ling and simply watching this beautiful reptile is Baltimore, MD her execute many locomo­ mine I 2 1 2 1 7 tor skills. However, her Gratefully, comic ’personality' and ADD: (ATTN: R ep tile captivating charm really (Ms.) Kathy Newhouse Symposium) began to show itself the Student Teacher for day she visited kinder­ Kindergarten & 1st Grade garten. After a short Hayfield Elementary School while, a few of the chil­ Fairfax County Schools, VA dren became very interes­ ted in this new critter and, consequently, very - 7 - VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 March-April 1977

CONTENTS of VaHS BULLETIN No. 82 Pages (Column) Distribution Notes on the Yonahlossee Salamander 1-2 (in southwestern Virginia) by Dr. Douglas W. Ogle Announcement of Intent to Publish Va Herpetological 3 Survey Maps (mini-series) VaHS Lends Encouragement to Natural History/Ecology Observations at V irginia's YCC Camps 4-5 Gap in Range of Smooth Earth Snake to be Filled ? 4 3 Camp M itchell, YCC Report (1976 Participant) 5 1 (2 a t bottom ) Field Biology/Ecology Summer Sessions at Cornell 6 P ests Encountered in Summer, Outdoors 6 2-3 Letters, Ideas, Comments 7 1-2 Announcement: 2d Annual Reptile Symposium 7 3 . VaHS Membership/ Application or Renewal Form 7 (bottom) Table of Contents 8 (top)