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Guide t the and Amphibians of South st Minnesota-

11111 R I 5

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1

Guide to the Herpetofauna of Southeas ·Region 5

This preliminary guid~ has been prepared . to ·the and distribution of reptiles and amphibians of egfon in Southeast Mi and identifi'cation are based on "A Field Gu.;i to Reptiles and by Roger Conant (Second Edition, 1975). Figure 1 is map of the region. Counties Included: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olms Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona. SPECIES LIST Turtles

Common snapping turtle Eas tiger salam~nder *Wood turtle *Four~toed salamander (?) *False map turtle Mudpuppy (?) Map turtle *Central (Common) newt (?) Western painted turtle *Blanding's turtle Toads Smooth softshe11 *Eastern spiny softshell American toad Lizards Frogs Northern prairie skink Northern spring peeper *Six-lined racerunner Gray (common) treefrog *Blanchard's Wes chorus frog *Pickerel frog Red-bellied Northern leopard frog Texas brown (DeKay's) snake Green frog Northern water snake Wood frog Eastern plains garter snake *Bull frog Red-sided garter snakej s.s. Eastern garter snake Plains western hognose snake Eastern hognose snake *Prairie ringneck snake *Blue racer *Western smooth green snake Bull snake Western fox snake *Black rat snake · Eastern milk snake *Eastern massasauga *Timber rattlesnake s.s. - single species (?) hypothetical species - reports needed * - special interest species - reports needed -2-

Summary A total of 37 species have been recorded in Region 5. Two subspecies of the common garter snake are present. Species of special interest in this region include the wood turtle, false map turtle, Blanding's turtle, Eastern spiny softshell, six-lined racerunner, four-toed salamander (if present), central newt, prairie ringneck snake, blue racer, western smooth green snake, black rat snake, eastern massasauga, timber rattlesnake, Blanchard's cricket frog, pickerel frog, and bullfrog. Any sightings of these species should be documented and sent to the nongame supervisor. County records for this region are given on the following pages. If you encounter any new county records, the speciman should be captured and either photographed from several angles or.preserved in isopropyl alcohol. Record the collector's name and address, date, county, township, range, section number (or distance and direction from nearest town), and the habitat in which the was found. The nongame supervisor should be contacted concerning disposition of specimens. Unless otherwise specified, all county records on the following pages are derived from Reptiles and Amphibians of Minnesota by Walter J. Breckenridge. 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4

Figure l. Map of Region 5. Township numbers are shown in the right margin and range numbers are shown at the bottom margin. · Reptiles and Amphibians of Minnesota - Region· 5

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Common Snapping Turtle x x - x

Wood Turtle : x x x DNR False Map Turtle x x Map Turtle x x x Western Painted Turtle x x x x B* DNR B* H** Blanding's Turtle x x x x x x Smooth Softshell x Hube~ Eastern Spiny Softshell x x x x x 1.izards Northern Prairie Skink x x x DNR DNR Six-lined Racerunner x x x - Snakes Red-bellied Snake x Texas Brown Snake x x x Northern Water Snake x x x x x x Eastern Plains Garter Snake x x x x x Red-sided Garter Snake ) x x x x x x x ) S.S. Eastern Garter Snake ) x x x x x x x B* Plains Western Hognose Snake x Eastern Hognose Snake x x x Prairie Ringneck Snake x ·X Blue Racer x x x x

*Brekke **Heather QJ c:: c:: n:s QJ s.. . -0 $- 0 n:s ..c ::::J 0 QJ 0 QJ .µ c:: en ..c E .µ QJ s.. ..c r-r- en 0 n:s -0 r- en Ol QJ QJ QJ ::::J c:: .a 0 ..... E -0 ~ m u 0 ...... n:s 0 ...... 0 0 s.. ,:g ...... :c 3 3 (..!) LL. 0 Cl ::E: LL. (/) 0:::: Snakes - Continued Western Smooth Green Snake x x Bull snake x x ) x x x DNR DNR Western fox snake x x x x x x 13"A" Black rat snake x x DNR Eastern milk snake x x x x x x Eastern massasauga x Timber rattlesnake x x x x x .x Salamanders Mudpuppy (?) Central Newt (?) Eastern Tiger Salamander x x x x x Four-toed Salamander ? Toads American Toad x x x x x x , Frogs Northern spring peeper x x x x Gray treefrog x x x x Blanchard's cricket frog x x x x Western chorus frog x x x x Pickerel frog x x x x Northern leopard frog x x x x x x x x Green frog x x x x x x x i:s~ .wood frog x x Bullfrog x

*Brekke