DOCSLIB.ORG

Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter #22 (2009)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter #22 (2009) MissouriMissouri HerpetologicalHerpetological AssociationAssociation NewsletterNewsletter Number 22 2009 Copyright 2009 Missouri Herpetological Association _MISSOURI HERPETOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER NO. 22_ Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................2 ANNOUNCEMENTS............................................................................................................................................2 ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MHA.............3 POPULATION ECOLOGY AND METAPOPULATION DYNAMICS OF TURTLES ON MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS. T. AUSBERGER, K. SHEEHAN, C. ZIRKLE AND M.S. MILLS. INFLUENCE OF PRIOR EXPOSURE TO PREDATOR CUES ON THE OZARK ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius. J. PARSONS, A. MATHIS, AND A. CRANE. LANDMARK LEARNING BY THE OZARK ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius. A. CRANE AND A. MATHIS. MORPHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN THE OZARK SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius, FOLLOWING INFECTION WITH THE CHYTRID FUNGUS. A. MATHIS AND A. CRANE. DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY OF THREE MISSOURI SNAKE SPECIES. B.S. KOSEVA, A.H. DEBROT, D.R. ELLIOT, C.M. OWENS, AND C.E. MONTGOMERY. THE ECOLOGY OF A SNAKE COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN MISSOURI. P.J. MUELLEMAN AND C.E. MONTGOMERY. DETERMINANTS OF CONTEST OUTCOME AND THE USE OF AGGRESSIVE CALL IN THE GRAY TREEFROG, Hyla versicolor. M.S. REICHERT AND H.C. GERHARDT. ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE CONSERVATION IN OKLAHOMA. D.B. LIGON, B.FILLMORE AND D. MOORE. SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE RELATIVE MASS OF THE TESTIS AND SEXUAL SEGMENT OF THE KIDNEY IN THE OPHIDIA. R.D. ALDRIDGE, B.C. JELLEN AND D.S. SIEGEL. THE SUITABILITY OF ROADSIDE DITCHES AS HABITAT FOR AQUATIC SALAMANDERS. T.L. CRABILL AND R.A. SEIGEL. ONTOGENETIC CHANGES IN HABITAT USE AND SPATIAL PATTERNS IN THE COTTONMOUTH, Agkistrodon piscivorus. A. MUENSCH, B. GREENE, E. MENZEL AND A. CRANE. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES NEW HERPETOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR MISSOURI IN 2009. R.E. DANIEL, B.S. EDMOND AND J.T. BRIGGLER .............................................................................................................7 NEW SIZE RECORDS FOR TWO MISSOURI TURTLES R.E. DANIEL …………………………..…… 9 ASSOCIATION EVENTS IN 2009. B.S. EDMOND ……………………………………………...……………. 10 ADDITIONS TO THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF REFERENCES ON THE HERPETOFAUNA OF MISSOURI. R.E. DANIEL ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 Cover art: Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus by Tom R. Johnson. Although presumed to have a statewide distribution, this species has yet to be reported from much of the northern plains ecoregions or from the Mississippi Alluvial plain of the bootheel. The first reported observation of this species in Madison County appears among the new herpetological records appearing in this issue. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (22), 2009 1 INTRODUCTION MHA Spring Field Trip The Twenty-second Annual Meeting of the The 2010 spring field trip will be held Missouri Herpetological Association was held April 24-25 at Sam A. Baker State Park in 26-27 September 2009 at Missouri State northern Wayne County. The fall field trip this University Bull Shoals Field Station, Taney year will be held in late September at Montauk County, Missouri. This organization is designed State Park in southwest Dent County. Beginning to provide herpetologists in Missouri and this year the fall field trip will not be held in surrounding states with an opportunity to meet conjunction with the annual meeting. and exchange ideas regarding current efforts in Information about the field trips will be sent to research and other professional activities. High MHA members and posted on the MHA website on the list of priorities is to provide students, in mid March and mid August. The field trips involved in research at either the graduate or are open to any one with an interest in undergraduate level, (1) the chance to interact amphibians and reptiles. with senior herpetologists, and (2) an outlet to present, in a semi-formal setting, the results of MHA on the Net their labors. This newsletter is the result of a decision made at the inaugural meeting to provide a The Association has an official site on means of publicly acknowledging papers the Internet. Point your browser to presented at this and subsequent annual http://www.moherp.org/ for copies of current meetings. Further, the newsletter will inform the and past publications and to view photos and herpetological community of new distribution information from past field trips and meetings. records of Missouri’s herpetofauna, additions to Send ideas, suggestions, comments, and content the bibliography dealing with the state to the Webmaster ([email protected]). herpetofauna and provide an outlet for the publication of short notes dealing with the Wanted natural history of Missouri amphibians and reptiles. We still need artwork for future cover illustrations. Any species native to the state is acceptable; however, species described from Missouri type specimens and state species of conservation concern are particularly desirable. ANNOUNCEMENTS The species described from Missouri type specimens that haven't appeared on past covers 23rd Annual Meeting of the Missouri are: Eurycea spelaea, Nerodia fasciata confluens, Carphophis vermis. Anyone wishing Herpetological Association to contribute drawings for future issues can send submissions to Richard Daniel at: The Twenty-third Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association will Division of Biological Sciences be held on 16-17 October 2010 at Reis 114 Lefevre Hall Biological Station, Crawford County, Missouri. University of Missouri A “call for papers” and registration materials will Columbia, MO 65211 be sent electronically in mid-July. For more E-mail: [email protected] information please contact Jeff Briggler at: Missouri Department of Conservation P.O.Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 (573) 751-4115 E-mail: [email protected] Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (22), 2009 2 Abstracts of Papers Presented INFLUENCE OF PRIOR EXPOSURE TO at the PREDATOR CUES ON THE OZARK 22nd Annual Meeting of the ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius. Missouri Herpetological Association Jenny Parsons, Alicia Mathis and Adam Crane Department of Biology, Missouri State Reis Biological Station University, Springfield, MO 65897 26-27 September 2009 Detection of chemical cues is important for avoidance of predation for many prey POPULATION ECOLOGY AND animals. Previous experiments have shown that METAPOPULATION DYNAMICS OF Ozark zigzag salamanders (Plethodon TURTLES ON MISSOURI WESTERN angusticlavius) make behavioral changes when STATE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS in direct contact with predatory chemical cues. We predicted that prior exposure to a predator Teresa Ausberger1, Kristen Sheehan2, Colton cue would also affect the subsequent behavior of Zirkle3 and Mark S. Mills1 these salamanders. We collected chemical cues 1Department of Biology, Missouri Western State from ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus) University, St. Joseph, MO 64507; 2Benton High which are known predators of these salamanders. School, St. Joseph, MO 64504; 3Central High During testing salamanders were removed from School, St. Joseph, MO 64501 their home chambers and exposed them to the either the predator cue or to blank water (control We have initiated a proposed long-term treatment). After 5 min of exposure, salamanders study of the population ecology of turtles in nine were gently rinsed to remove any snake cues and ponds on the campus of Missouri Western State were then returned to their home chambers. University. Our goals for the summer of 2009 Their behaviors were recorded for an additional were as follows: 1) to determine species 5 min. Salamanders that had been previously composition in all nine campus ponds, 2) to exposed to snake cues spent significantly more permanently mark all individuals in order to time in escape behavior and performed more initiate studies on population dynamics, growth, chemosensory sampling (nose-tapping) than and movement of turtles among ponds or nearby salamanders in the control treatment. These water bodies (e.g., Otoe Creek), 3) to relate results suggest that salamanders avoid areas physical and biological properties of the ponds to where they have had previous encounters with turtle species composition and abundance. To predators. date we have marked 42 turtles representing four species: 21 Chelydra serpentina, 13 Chrysemys LANDMARK LEARNING BY THE OZARK picta, 7 Trachemys scripta, and 1 Apalone ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon spinifera. The ponds differ in their size, depth, angusticlavius temperature, composition of bottom sediments (e.g. hard clay vs. silt), amount and make-up of Adam Crane and Alicia Mathis vegetation in and surrounding the ponds, and Department of Biology, Missouri State presence and abundance of fishes among other University, Springfield, MO 65897 factors. The ponds also vary greatly in their relative impact from this urban environment. For Although salamanders have been shown example, Pond 1 receives nearly all of its water to be able to learn some information through from parking lot run-off and Pond 8 is spring classical conditioning, spatial learning has been fed. We have captured 2 snapping turtles in Pond largely unstudied. We tested whether 1 compared with 9 turtles of three species in salamanders could learn to locate foraging
Load more

Recommended publications
  • TPWD White List
    TPWD White List Frogs and Toads Great Plains toad (Bufo cognatus) Green toad (Bufo debilis) Red-spotted toad (Bufo punctatus) Texas toad (Bufo speciosus) Gulf Coast toad (Bufo valliceps) Woodhouse’s toad (Bufo woodhousei) Green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) Bull frog (Rana catesbeiana) Couch’s spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii) Plains spadefoot (Spea bombifrons) New Mexico spadefoot (Spea multiplicata) Salamanders Tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) Lizards Green anole (Anolis carolinensis) Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis) Texas spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis) Marbled whiptail (Aspidoscelis marmoratus) Six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) Checkered whiptail (Aspidoscelis tesselatus) Texas banded gecko (Coleonyx brevis) Greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) Collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) Five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus) Great plains skink (Eumeces obsoletus) Texas alligator lizard (Gerrhonotus infernalis) Lesser earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata) Crevice spiny lizard (Sceloporus poinsettii) Prairie lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) Ground skink (Scincella lateralis) Tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) Side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) Snakes Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) Glossy snake (Arizona elegans) Trans-Pecos rat snake (Bogertophis subocularis) Racer (Coluber constrictor) Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) Rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus) Blacktail rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) Prairie
    [Show full text]
  • Snakes of the Everglades Agricultural Area1 Michelle L
    CIR1462 Snakes of the Everglades Agricultural Area1 Michelle L. Casler, Elise V. Pearlstine, Frank J. Mazzotti, and Kenneth L. Krysko2 Background snakes are often escapees or are released deliberately and illegally by owners who can no longer care for them. Snakes are members of the vertebrate order Squamata However, there has been no documentation of these snakes (suborder Serpentes) and are most closely related to lizards breeding in the EAA (Tennant 1997). (suborder Sauria). All snakes are legless and have elongated trunks. They can be found in a variety of habitats and are able to climb trees; swim through streams, lakes, or oceans; Benefits of Snakes and move across sand or through leaf litter in a forest. Snakes are an important part of the environment and play Often secretive, they rely on scent rather than vision for a role in keeping the balance of nature. They aid in the social and predatory behaviors. A snake’s skull is highly control of rodents and invertebrates. Also, some snakes modified and has a great degree of flexibility, called cranial prey on other snakes. The Florida kingsnake (Lampropeltis kinesis, that allows it to swallow prey much larger than its getula floridana), for example, prefers snakes as prey and head. will even eat venomous species. Snakes also provide a food source for other animals such as birds and alligators. Of the 45 snake species (70 subspecies) that occur through- out Florida, 23 may be found in the Everglades Agricultural Snake Conservation Area (EAA). Of the 23, only four are venomous. The venomous species that may occur in the EAA are the coral Loss of habitat is the most significant problem facing many snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius), Florida cottonmouth wildlife species in Florida, snakes included.
    [Show full text]
  • Biological Resources and Management
    Vermilion flycatcher The upper Muddy River is considered one of the Mojave’s most important Common buckeye on sunflower areas of biodiversity and regionally Coyote (Canis latrans) Damselfly (Enallagma sp.) (Junonia coenia on Helianthus annuus) important ecological but threatened riparian landscapes (Provencher et al. 2005). Not only does the Warm Springs Natural Area encompass the majority of Muddy River tributaries it is also the largest single tract of land in the upper Muddy River set aside for the benefit of native species in perpetuity. The prominence of water in an otherwise barren Mojave landscape provides an oasis for regional wildlife. A high bird diversity is attributed to an abundance of riparian and floodplain trees and shrubs. Contributions to plant diversity come from the Mojave Old World swallowtail (Papilio machaon) Desertsnow (Linanthus demissus) Lobe-leaved Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata) Cryptantha (Cryptantha sp.) vegetation that occur on the toe slopes of the Arrow Canyon Range from the west and the plant species occupying the floodplain where they are supported by a high water table. Several marshes and wet meadows add to the diversity of plants and animals. The thermal springs and tributaries host an abundance of aquatic species, many of which are endemic. The WSNA provides a haven for the abundant wildlife that resides permanently or seasonally and provides a significant level of protection for imperiled species. Tarantula (Aphonopelma spp.) Beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla)
    [Show full text]
  • Significant New Records of Amphibians and Reptiles from Georgia, USA
    GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 597 Herpetological Review, 2015, 46(4), 597–601. © 2015 by Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Significant New Records of Amphibians and Reptiles from Georgia, USA Distributional maps found in Amphibians and Reptiles of records for a variety of amphibian and reptile species in Georgia. Georgia (Jensen et al. 2008), along with subsequent geographical All records below were verified by David Bechler (VSU), Nikole distribution notes published in Herpetological Review, serve Castleberry (GMNH), David Laurencio (AUM), Lance McBrayer as essential references for county-level occurrence data for (GSU), and David Steen (SRSU), and datum used was WGS84. herpetofauna in Georgia. Collectively, these resources aid Standard English names follow Crother (2012). biologists by helping to identify distributional gaps for which to target survey efforts. Herein we report newly documented county CAUDATA — SALAMANDERS DIRK J. STEVENSON AMBYSTOMA OPACUM (Marbled Salamander). CALHOUN CO.: CHRISTOPHER L. JENKINS 7.8 km W Leary (31.488749°N, 84.595917°W). 18 October 2014. D. KEVIN M. STOHLGREN Stevenson. GMNH 50875. LOWNDES CO.: Langdale Park, Valdosta The Orianne Society, 100 Phoenix Road, Athens, (30.878524°N, 83.317114°W). 3 April 1998. J. Evans. VSU C0015. Georgia 30605, USA First Georgia record for the Suwannee River drainage. MURRAY JOHN B. JENSEN* CO.: Conasauga Natural Area (34.845116°N, 84.848180°W). 12 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 116 Rum November 2013. N. Klaus and C. Muise. GMNH 50548. Creek Drive, Forsyth, Georgia 31029, USA DAVID L. BECHLER Department of Biology, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, AMBYSTOMA TALPOIDEUM (Mole Salamander). BERRIEN CO.: Georgia 31602, USA St.
    [Show full text]
  • Lampropeltis Getula Getula
    Scholars Crossing Faculty Publications and Presentations Department of Biology and Chemistry 2005 Field Notes: Lampropeltis getula getula Timothy R. Brophy Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/bio_chem_fac_pubs Recommended Citation Brophy, Timothy R., "Field Notes: Lampropeltis getula getula" (2005). Faculty Publications and Presentations. 42. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/bio_chem_fac_pubs/42 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology and Chemistry at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. • CA TESBEIANA 2005, 25(2) basic natural history needs [for the herpetofauna of Virginia's Eastern Shore1 is the fact that we do not yet have a full understanding of the distributional patterns for any species." Accordingly, I report on a Field Notes vouchered record for Scincella lateralis from Accomack County. On II June 2001 at 2015 h, an adult little brown skink was found scurrying County Airport, Melfa, VA). The snake was not captured, but a color along the cement apron of the garage at 24326 Finney Drive. This photograph has been deposited in the VHS archives (voucher #68). residence is in close proximity to both Parkers Creek (ca. 10 m) and a large agricultural field (ca. 25 m). The skink was not captured, but a There are several other vouchered records for L. g. getula from Accomack color photograph has been deposited in the VHS archives (voucher #69). County (Mitchell, J.C. 1994.
    [Show full text]
  • Lampropeltis Getula, in South Carolina
    2007, No. 3 COPEIA September 10 Copeia, 2007(3), pp. 507–519 Enigmatic Decline of a Protected Population of Eastern Kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula, in South Carolina CHRISTOPHER T. WINNE,JOHN D. WILLSON,BRIAN D. TODD,KIMBERLY M. ANDREWS, AND J. WHITFIELD GIBBONS Although recent reports of global amphibian declines have received considerable attention, reptile declines have gone largely unreported. Among reptiles, snakes are particularly difficult to quantitatively sample, and thus, most reports of snake declines are based on qualitative or anecdotal evidence. Recently, several sources have suggested that Eastern Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula) have declined over a substantial portion of their range in the southeastern United States, particularly in Florida. However, published evidence for L. getula declines or their potential causes are limited. We monitored the status of a population of L. getula on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, South Carolina, USA, from 1975 to 2006. Herpetofaunal populations on the Savannah River Site have been protected from the pressures of collecting and development since 1951 due to site access restrictions. Here, we document a decline in both abundance and body condition of L. getula inhabiting the vicinity of a large isolated wetland over the past three decades. Because this L. getula population was protected from anthropogenic habitat degradation, collection, and road mortality, we are able to exclude these factors as possible causes of the documented decline. Although the definitive cause of the decline remains enigmatic, natural succession of the surrounding uplands, periodic extreme droughts, shifts in community composition (e.g., increased Agkistrodon piscivorus abundance), introduced fire ants, or disease are all potential contributors to the decline.
    [Show full text]
  • Kingsnake Lampropeltis Getula, L
    Eastern, Florida, Speckled, Black, & Apalachicola Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula, L. floridana, L. holbrooki, L. nigra, & L. meansi Upland Snake Species Profile Natural History: Kingsnakes are known for their propensity to eat other snakes (ophiophagy). They have evolved to be resistant to venom and therefore will regularly consume venomous snakes. Their diet also includes lizards, turtle eggs, birds, and small mammals. Kingsnakes are primarily active during the daytime and use refugia, like mammal burrows, stump holes, rock piles, and downed logs to escape extreme hot or cold temperatures. These terrestrial snakes use many habitat types including pine forests, sandhills, hardwood forests, and meadows. They are sometimes found around the shorelines of wetlands. The breeding season begins in the spring Eastern kingsnakes (pictured above) occur and eggs hatch during the summer. throughout most of the gopher tortoise’s range. Name Game The genus of this species group, Lampropeltis, is a combination of two Greek words: lampros, which means shiny, and pelta, which means shield. “Shinyshield” refers to the glossy appearance of scales on all kingsnake species. Range and Appearance: Eastern kingsnakes can be found throughout most of the gopher tortoise’s range. Members of the genus can be found throughout the southern United States westward to California, as far north as Maine, and Kingsnakes northwestward to Montana. Eastern (L. getula) kingsnakes are primarily black with white bands Eastern Black across their back. Florida (L. floridana) and Speckled Florida Apalachicola (L. meansi) kingsnakes are creamy- Apalachicola white in color and have thick dark brown to tan bands. As their names suggest, black (L. nigra) kingsnakes are nearly solid black, and speckled (L.
    [Show full text]
  • Development and Assessment of a Wildlife Habitat Relationship Model for Terrestrial Vertebrates in the State of Maryland
    DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF A WILDLIFE HABITAT RELATIONSHIP MODEL FOR TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND by Robert John Northrop A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology Spring 2009 Copyright 2009 Robert John Northrop All Rights Reserved DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF A WILDLIFE HABITAT RELATIONSHIP MODEL FOR TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND by Robert John Northrop Approved: __________________________________________________________ Jacob L. Bowman, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: __________________________________________________________ Douglas W. Tallamy, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Approved: __________________________________________________________ Robin Morgan, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Approved: __________________________________________________________ Debra Hess Norris, M.S. Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank Dr. Jacob Bowman for his patience and continuing support over the past several years. Thanks to Dr. Roland Roth who originally asked me to teach at the University of Delaware in 1989. The experience of teaching wildlife conservation and management at the University for 14 years has changed the way I approach my professional life as a forest ecologist. I also offer a big thank – you to all my students at the University I have learned more from you than you can imagine. I am grateful to the U.S. Forest Service, Dr. Mark Twery and Scott Thomasma, for funding the initial literature review and research, and for ongoing database support as we use this work to build a useful conservation tool for planners and natural resource managers in Maryland.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis Getula ILLINOIS RANGE
    eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula Kingdom: Animalia FEATURES Phylum: Chordata Two subspecies of this snake are found in Illinois: Class: Reptilia the black kingsnake and the speckled kingsnake. The Order: Squamata black kingsnake averages 36 to 45 inches in length. It has shiny, smooth scales. The head is a little wider Family: Colubridae than the neck. Its body is black above with small ILLINOIS STATUS white or yellow spots that may be in a somewhat chainlike pattern. Some individuals may be almost common, native pure black. The speckled kingsnake averages 36 to 48 inches in length. It has shiny, smooth scales. A white or yellow spot may be found centered in each of the black or dark-brown scales of the back. The spots may be close enough together to give the appearance of white bands across the back. BEHAVIORS The black kingsnake lives in dry, rocky hills, open woods, dry prairies and stream valleys. It is most often found under flat rocks, logs or when it is crossing roads. This snake kills prey by constriction. When disturbed, it will vibrate the tail rapidly, hiss and strike. Mating occurs in spring. The female deposits about 13 eggs in July. Eggs tend to stick together. Eggs hatch in late August or September. This snake will eat other snakes, lizards, rodents, small birds, bird eggs and turtle eggs. The speckled kingsnake lives in swamps, woods and stream ILLINOIS RANGE valleys, hiding under rocks, logs, ledges, vegetation and other objects. It is active in the day during spring and fall but becomes active at night in the heat of summer.
    [Show full text]
  • Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles & Crocodilians
    STANDARD COMMON AND CURRENT SCIENTIFIC NAMES FOR NORTH AMERICAN AMPHIBIANS, TURTLES, REPTILES & CROCODILIANS Sixth Edition Joseph T. Collins TraVis W. TAGGart The Center for North American Herpetology THE CEN T ER FOR NOR T H AMERI ca N HERPE T OLOGY www.cnah.org Joseph T. Collins, Director The Center for North American Herpetology 1502 Medinah Circle Lawrence, Kansas 66047 (785) 393-4757 Single copies of this publication are available gratis from The Center for North American Herpetology, 1502 Medinah Circle, Lawrence, Kansas 66047 USA; within the United States and Canada, please send a self-addressed 7x10-inch manila envelope with sufficient U.S. first class postage affixed for four ounces. Individuals outside the United States and Canada should contact CNAH via email before requesting a copy. A list of previous editions of this title is printed on the inside back cover. THE CEN T ER FOR NOR T H AMERI ca N HERPE T OLOGY BO A RD OF DIRE ct ORS Joseph T. Collins Suzanne L. Collins Kansas Biological Survey The Center for The University of Kansas North American Herpetology 2021 Constant Avenue 1502 Medinah Circle Lawrence, Kansas 66047 Lawrence, Kansas 66047 Kelly J. Irwin James L. Knight Arkansas Game & Fish South Carolina Commission State Museum 915 East Sevier Street P. O. Box 100107 Benton, Arkansas 72015 Columbia, South Carolina 29202 Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. Robert Powell Section of Zoology Department of Biology State Museum of Pennsylvania Avila University 300 North Street 11901 Wornall Road Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Kansas City, Missouri 64145 Travis W. Taggart Sternberg Museum of Natural History Fort Hays State University 3000 Sternberg Drive Hays, Kansas 67601 Front cover images of an Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) and Cajun Chorus Frog (Pseudacris fouquettei) by Suzanne L.
    [Show full text]
  • Venomous Nonvenomous Snakes of Florida
    Venomous and nonvenomous Snakes of Florida PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN ENGE Top to bottom: Black swamp snake; Eastern garter snake; Eastern mud snake; Eastern kingsnake Florida is home to more snakes than any other state in the Southeast – 44 native species and three nonnative species. Since only six species are venomous, and two of those reside only in the northern part of the state, any snake you encounter will most likely be nonvenomous. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission MyFWC.com Florida has an abundance of wildlife, Snakes flick their forked tongues to “taste” their surroundings. The tongue of this yellow rat snake including a wide variety of reptiles. takes particles from the air into the Jacobson’s This state has more snakes than organs in the roof of its mouth for identification. any other state in the Southeast – 44 native species and three nonnative species. They are found in every Fhabitat from coastal mangroves and salt marshes to freshwater wetlands and dry uplands. Some species even thrive in residential areas. Anyone in Florida might see a snake wherever they live or travel. Many people are frightened of or repulsed by snakes because of super- stition or folklore. In reality, snakes play an interesting and vital role K in Florida’s complex ecology. Many ENNETH L. species help reduce the populations of rodents and other pests. K Since only six of Florida’s resident RYSKO snake species are venomous and two of them reside only in the northern and reflective and are frequently iri- part of the state, any snake you en- descent.
    [Show full text]
  • Seasonal Migration by a Terrestrial Salamander, Plethodon Websteri (Webster’S Salamander)
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 12:96–108. Submitted: 6 August 2016; Accepted: 4 January 2017; Published: 30 April 2017. Seasonal Migration by a Terrestrial Salamander, Plethodon websteri (Webster’s Salamander) Thomas M. Mann1,3 and Debora L. Mann2,3,4 1Mississippi Natural Heritage Program, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 39202, USA 2Millsaps College, 1701 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39210, USA 3Authors contributed equally 4Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—We report seasonal, horizontal migration by a winter-active, terrestrial salamander, Plethodon websteri, away from a limestone outcrop upon their emergence in the fall and toward the outcrop in spring. We made 3,597 captures (including recaptures) using a series of three drift fences erected at 9 m, 65 m, and 84 m from the outcrop. Peak months for travel were November, when 98% of captures were on the sides of the fences facing the outcrop, and March, when 96% of captures were on the sides facing away from the outcrop, as expected if salamanders were moving away from the outcrop in fall and returning in spring. Recapture of salamanders that we marked with visual implant elastomer confirmed that animals move from the outcrop in fall and initiated movement toward the outcrop in spring from as much as 150 m. To our knowledge this is the third report of horizontal migration in a Plethodon species and the first to be confirmed by mark-recapture. We suggest that crevices in rocks provide refugia and oviposition sites deep enough to afford protection from heat and desiccation in summer forP.
    [Show full text]