Reptiles and Amphibians Of
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Indiana Snakes Are Listed Here, and Not All Streams, Ponds and Lakes Suns Beside Creeks
Midwest Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus satiny gray below with a brown or dark amber Fox Snake Elaphe vulpina This snake version of the earthworm is iris of the eye. The blue racer may show Blue This snake of marshes and wet places has brown above and has a pink belly and sides. It varying shades of gunmetal gray or blue above bold blotches, a grayish- or brownish-yellow is secretive and seldom seen, spending most of and below with a darker head and eye area. Mixed body and a dull orange/reddish head and tail. its time under stones, boards and logs where Racers move fast and sometimes appear to Black It vibrates its tail if cornered, but rarely bites. the ground is moist. It feeds on soft-bodied “chase” people. In fact, this behavior is often Snakes insects and earthworms. associated with courtship and may be used to drive an Black Kingsnake Lampropeltis getulus getulus intruder out of a territory. This glossy black snake has speckles of Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivas white and cream that may be less apparent in Smooth Green Snake Opheodrys vernalis Eastern Milk Snake older snakes. It lives on streambanks and in Both species are green above with white, Lampropeltis triangulatum triangulatum moist meadows, where it feeds on other yellow or pale green bellies. The rough green Red Milk Snake snakes, turtle eggs, mice and voles. It is snake has keeled scales that give it a rough Lampropeltis triangulatum syspila “V” generally secretive and can be found under texture. This snake, listed as a species of This snake’s taste for mice makes pattern boards, logs and debris. -
Western Tiger Salamander,Ambystoma Mavortium
COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Western Tiger Salamander Ambystoma mavortium Southern Mountain population Prairie / Boreal population in Canada Southern Mountain population – ENDANGERED Prairie / Boreal population – SPECIAL CONCERN 2012 COSEWIC status reports are working documents used in assigning the status of wildlife species suspected of being at risk. This report may be cited as follows: COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Western Tiger Salamander Ambystoma mavortium in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xv + 63 pp. (www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm). Previous report(s): COSEWIC. 2001. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 33 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm). Schock, D.M. 2001. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum in Canada, in COSEWIC assessment and status report on the tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 1-33 pp. Production note: COSEWIC would like to acknowledge Arthur Whiting for writing the status report on the Western Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma mavortium, in Canada, prepared under contract with Environment Canada. This report was overseen and edited by Kristiina Ovaska, Co-chair of the COSEWIC Amphibians and Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee. For additional copies contact: COSEWIC Secretariat c/o Canadian Wildlife Service Environment Canada Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Tel.: 819-953-3215 Fax: 819-994-3684 E-mail: COSEWIC/[email protected] http://www.cosewic.gc.ca Également disponible en français sous le titre Ếvaluation et Rapport de situation du COSEPAC sur la Salamandre tigrée de l’Ouest (Ambystoma mavortium) au Canada. -
COTTONMOUTH Agkistrodon Piscivorus
COTTONMOUTH Agkistrodon piscivorus Agkistrodon is derived from ankistron and odon which in Greek mean “fishhook” and “tooth or teeth;” referring to the curved fangs of this species. Piscivorus is derived from piscis and voro which in Latin mean “fish” and “to eat”. Another common name for cottonmouth is water moccasin. The Cottonmouth is venomous. While its bite is rarely fatal, tissue damage is likely to occur and can be severe if not treated promptly. IDENTIFICATION Appearance: The cottonmouth is a stout- bodied venomous snake that reaches lengths of 30 to 42 inches as adults. Most adults are uniformly dark brown, olive, or black, tending to lose the cross banded patterning with age. Some individuals may have a dark cheek stripe (upper right image). The cottonmouth has the diagnostic features of the pit-viper family such as a wedge-shaped head, sensory pits between the eyes and nostrils, and vertical “cat-like” pupils. Juveniles are lighter and more boldly patterned with a yellow coloration toward the tip of the tail (lower right image). Dorsal scales are weakly keeled, and the subcaudal scales form only one row. Cottonmouths also have a single anal Mike Redmer plate. Subspecies: There are three subspecies of the cottonmouth. The Western Cottonmouth (A. p. leucostoma) is the only subspecies found in the Midwest. The term leucostoma refers to the white interior of mouth. Confusing Species: The non-venomous watersnakes (Nerodia) are commonly confused with Cottonmouths across their range, simply because they are snakes in water. Thus it is important to note that Cottonmouths are only found in southernmost Midwest. -
Cottonmouth Snake Bites Reported to the Toxic North American Snakebite Registry 2013–2017
Clinical Toxicology ISSN: 1556-3650 (Print) 1556-9519 (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ictx20 Cottonmouth snake bites reported to the ToxIC North American snakebite registry 2013–2017 K. Domanski, K. C. Kleinschmidt, S. Greene, A. M. Ruha, V. Berbata, N. Onisko, S. Campleman, J. Brent, P. Wax & on behalf of the ToxIC North American Snakebite Registry Group To cite this article: K. Domanski, K. C. Kleinschmidt, S. Greene, A. M. Ruha, V. Berbata, N. Onisko, S. Campleman, J. Brent, P. Wax & on behalf of the ToxIC North American Snakebite Registry Group (2019): Cottonmouth snake bites reported to the ToxIC North American snakebite registry 2013–2017, Clinical Toxicology, DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2019.1627367 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2019.1627367 Published online: 13 Jun 2019. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 38 View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ictx20 CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2019.1627367 CLINICAL RESEARCH Cottonmouth snake bites reported to the ToxIC North American snakebite registry 2013–2017 K. Domanskia, K. C. Kleinschmidtb, S. Greenec , A. M. Ruhad, V. Berbatae, N. Oniskob, S. Camplemanf, J. Brente, P. Waxb and on behalf of the ToxIC North American Snakebite Registry Group aReno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA; bSouthwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA; cBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; dBanner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA; eEmergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA; fAmerican College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ, USA ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Introduction: The majority of venomous snake exposures in the United States are due to snakes from Received 9 April 2019 the subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers). -
Multi-National Conservation of Alligator Lizards
MULTI-NATIONAL CONSERVATION OF ALLIGATOR LIZARDS: APPLIED SOCIOECOLOGICAL LESSONS FROM A FLAGSHIP GROUP by ADAM G. CLAUSE (Under the Direction of John Maerz) ABSTRACT The Anthropocene is defined by unprecedented human influence on the biosphere. Integrative conservation recognizes this inextricable coupling of human and natural systems, and mobilizes multiple epistemologies to seek equitable, enduring solutions to complex socioecological issues. Although a central motivation of global conservation practice is to protect at-risk species, such organisms may be the subject of competing social perspectives that can impede robust interventions. Furthermore, imperiled species are often chronically understudied, which prevents the immediate application of data-driven quantitative modeling approaches in conservation decision making. Instead, real-world management goals are regularly prioritized on the basis of expert opinion. Here, I explore how an organismal natural history perspective, when grounded in a critique of established human judgements, can help resolve socioecological conflicts and contextualize perceived threats related to threatened species conservation and policy development. To achieve this, I leverage a multi-national system anchored by a diverse, enigmatic, and often endangered New World clade: alligator lizards. Using a threat analysis and status assessment, I show that one recent petition to list a California alligator lizard, Elgaria panamintina, under the US Endangered Species Act often contradicts the best available science. -
Amphibians Present in the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Amphibians present in the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The species list was generated from data compiled from NPS observations and during a 2001-2002 reptile and amphibian inventory conducted by Noah J. Anderson and Dr. Richard A. Seigel, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana. Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Association Smallmouth salamander Ambystoma texanum hardwood forests Three-toed amphiuma Amphiuma tridactylum swamp, marsh, restricted to aquatic habitats in hardwood forests Dwarf salamander Eurycea quadridigitata hardwood forests, marsh Eastern newt Notophthalmus viridescens found in and near aquatic habitats Southern dusky salamander Desmognathus auriculatus hardwood forests Lesser siren Siren intermedia swamp, marsh Northern cricket frog Acris crepitans all habitats Gulf coast toad Bufo valliceps all habitats Greenhouse frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris hardwood forests Eastern narrowmouth toad Gastrophryne carolinensis all habitats Bird-voiced treefrog Hyla avivoca hardwood forests, swamp Green treefrog Hyla cinerea all habitats Squirrel treefrog Hyla squirella swamp, hardwood forests Spring peeper Pseudacris crucifer swamp, hardwood forests Chorus frog Pseudacris triseriata hardwood forests, swamp Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana hardwood forests, swamp Bronze frog Rana clamitans all habitats Pig frog Rana grylio marsh Southern leopard frog Rana sphenocephala swamp, marsh Reptiles present in the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. -
Vernacular Name AMPHIUMA, ONE-TOED (Aka: Congo Eel, Congo Snake, Ditch Eel, Fish Eel and Lamprey Eel)
1/6 Vernacular Name AMPHIUMA, ONE-TOED (aka: Congo Eel, Congo Snake, Ditch Eel, Fish Eel and Lamprey Eel) GEOGRAPHIC RANGE Eastern Gulf coast. HABITAT Wetlands: slow moving or stagnant freshwater rivers/streams/creeks and bogs, marshes, swamps, fens and peat lands. CONSERVATION STATUS IUCN: Near Threatened (2016). Population Trend: Decreasing. Because of the limited extent of its occurrence and because of the declining extent and quality of its habitat, this species is close to qualifying for Vulnerable. COOL FACTS Amphiumas are commonly known as "Congo eels," a misnomer. First of all, amphiumas are amphibians, rather than fish (which eels are). This notwithstanding, amphiumas bear resemblance to the elongate fishes. It is easy to overlook the diminutive legs, and the lack of any external gills adds to the similarity between the amphiumas and eels. Amphiumas are adapted for digging and tunneling. They seem to spend most of the time in muddy burrows and are rarely observed in the wild. They never fully metamorphose and retain larval characteristics in varying degrees into adulthood: one pair of the larval gill slits is retained and never disappears, no eyelids, no tongue and the presence of 4 gill arches with a single respiratory opening between the 3 rd--4th arches. Amphiumas have two pairs of limbs, and the three species, all of which occur in the S.E. U.S, differ in regard to the number of toes at the ends of these limbs: one, two or three. These amphiumas possess tiny, single-toed limbs, one pair just behind the small gill opening at each side of the neck and another pair just ahead of the longitudinal anal slit . -
Agkistrodon Piscivorus)
BearWorks MSU Graduate Theses Fall 2019 Behavioral Aspects Of Chemoreception In Juvenile Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) Chelsea E. Martin Missouri State University, [email protected] As with any intellectual project, the content and views expressed in this thesis may be considered objectionable by some readers. However, this student-scholar’s work has been judged to have academic value by the student’s thesis committee members trained in the discipline. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. Follow this and additional works at: https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons Recommended Citation Martin, Chelsea E., "Behavioral Aspects Of Chemoreception In Juvenile Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus)" (2019). MSU Graduate Theses. 3466. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3466 This article or document was made available through BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University. The work contained in it may be protected by copyright and require permission of the copyright holder for reuse or redistribution. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF CHEMORECEPTION IN JUVENILE COTTONMOUTHS (AGKISTRODON PISCIVORUS) A Master’s Thesis Presented to The Graduate College of Missouri State University TEMPLATE In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science, Biology By Chelsea E. Martin December 2019 Copyright 2019 by Chelsea Elizabeth Martin ii BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF CHEMORECPTION IN JUVENILE COTTONMOUTHS (AGKISTRODON PISCIVORUS) Biology Missouri State University, December 2019 Master of Science Chelsea E. Martin ABSTRACT For snakes, chemical recognition of predators, prey, and conspecifics has important ecological consequences. -
Missouri State Wildlife Action Plan Missouri Department of Conservation Conserving Healthy Fish, Forests, and Wildlife 2015
Missouri State Wildlife Action Plan Missouri Department of Conservation CONSERVING HEALTHY FISH, FORESTS, AND WILDLIFE 2015 Missouri State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Missouri is a national leader in fish, forest, and wildlife conservation due to Missouri citizens’ unique and proactive support of conservation efforts. The Conservation Department continues to build on our 79- year legacy of citizen-led conservation by outlining strategic priorities for the future to help us successfully manage fish, forest, and wildlife. Each of these priorities ties directly back to the heart of our mission: to manage and protect the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state and to provide opportunities for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about those resources. - Robert L. Ziehmer, Director Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 FOREWORD issouri supports an abundant natural heri- examples of the state’s original natural communities tage, ranking 21st in the nation in terms of and outstanding biological diversity. The Depart- Mits numbers of native animal and plant spe- ment’s science-based efforts, aimed at understand- cies. There are over 180 native fish species, includ- ing life-history needs and habitat system dynamics, ing the endemic Niangua darter, that ply the state’s have benefited a variety of Missouri species, includ- aquatic habitats. More than 100 species of native ing recovery efforts of the American burying beetle, amphibians and reptiles occur in a myriad of habitats Ozark hellbender, eastern hellbender, eastern collared from mountain-top glades to lowland swamps. Mis- lizard, prairie massasauga rattlesnake, greater prai- souri supports nationally significant river and stream rie-chicken, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, pallid and systems, some of the largest forested tracts left in the lake sturgeons, Niangua darter, Topeka shiner, Virgin- Midwest, a high density of cave and karst features, ia sneezeweed, geocarpon, and Missouri bladderpod. -
Successful Reproduction of the Mole Salamander Ambystoma Talpoideum in Captivity, with an Emphasis on Stimuli Environmental Determinants
SHORT NOTE The Herpetological Bulletin 141, 2017: 28-31 Successful reproduction of the mole salamander Ambystoma talpoideum in captivity, with an emphasis on stimuli environmental determinants AXEL HERNANDEZ Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, University Pasquale Paoli of Corsica, Corte, 20250, France Author Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT - Generating and promoting evidence-based husbandry protocols for urodeles, commonly known as newts and salamanders, is urgently needed because most of the up-to-date ex situ programs are focused on frogs and toads than Urodela. Data on biology, life history, ecology and environmental parameters are lacking for many species and are needed to establish suitable husbandry and breeding conditions in captive environments. Two adult females and two adult males, of the mole salamander Ambystoma talpoideum successfully reproduced in captivity. It was found that reproduction of this species depends on various complex stimuli: including natural photoperiod 12:12, rainwater (acidic to neutral pH) and an aquarium full of various debris. Additionally high temperature variations ranging from 2 °C to 17 °C (a decrease followed by an increase) between November and February showed that it is possible to breed adults in aquariums provided the right stimuli are applied at the right moment of time in winter. A. talpoideum shows an explosive breeding mode as previously reported for the whole genus Ambystoma. INTRODUCTION with an emphasis on the environmental determinant stimuli involved. These data may assist in improving breeding these ince the 1980s, the current global amphibian extinction salamanders under artificial conditions. crisis has been discussed and acknowledged (Wake, A. -
Summary Report of Freshwater Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in U.S
Summary Report of Freshwater Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4—An Update April 2013 Prepared by: Pam L. Fuller, Amy J. Benson, and Matthew J. Cannister U.S. Geological Survey Southeast Ecological Science Center Gainesville, Florida Prepared for: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia Cover Photos: Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix – Auburn University Giant Applesnail, Pomacea maculata – David Knott Straightedge Crayfish, Procambarus hayi – U.S. Forest Service i Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................ vi INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Overview of Region 4 Introductions Since 2000 ....................................................................................... 1 Format of Species Accounts ...................................................................................................................... 2 Explanation of Maps ................................................................................................................................ -
Expanded Description of a Chinese Endemic Snake Opisthotropis Cheni (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae)
Asian Herpetological Research 2010, 1(1): 57-60 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2010.00057 Expanded Description of a Chinese Endemic Snake Opisthotropis cheni (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae) LI Cao1, LIU Qin1 and GUO Peng 1, 2* 1 Department of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, Sichuan, China 2 Chendgu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China Abstract Based on seven newly-collected specimens, we provide an expanded description for the rare Chinese snake Opisthotropis cheni. The new specimens are consistent with the type series in scale counts and body dimensions. How- ever, two individuals lack yellow cross-bands that are apparent in the type specimens. A key to the ten Chinese species of Opisthotropis is provided. Keywords snake, Opisthotropis cheni, morphology, China 1. Introduction 070140, 071041, 071046-071050) (Table 1), collected from the Nanling National Nature Reserve in Ruyuan The genus Opisthotropis Gǘnther (1872) is comprised of County, Guangdong Province, China (Figure 1), were 17 currently recognized species, and is widely distributed morphologically examined in this work. The specimens in eastern, southern, and southeastern Asia (Uetz, 2010). were preserved in 8% formalin for initial fixation, and Members of this genus are all small aquatic snakes, later transferred to 75% ethanol. All specimens were de- mainly inhabiting rapidly flowing streams or small rivers. posited at Yibin University (YBU), Sichuan Province, Ten species of Opisthotropis occur in China (Zhao, China. 2006). Snout-vent length (SVL) and tail length (TL) were Zhao (1999) described Opisthotropis cheni based on measured using a meter ruler to the nearest millimeter, four specimens collected from Mt.