Habitats of Bankhead National Forest AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF Large Creek/River BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST Temporary Pond Pond: Permanent wetlands, either natural Amphibians and Reptiles of Open Grassy Upland Pine Small Creek Abundance (beaver ponds) or human impoundments, e.g. Bankhead National Forest Hardwood Checklist Summer Winter Brushy Creek Lake. Usually large areas of open Spring Pond water with pond lilies and aquatic vegetation. Fall Common Name Scientific Name Turtles Temporary Pond: Wetlands usually full during Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera P + P P P winter and spring but dry during summer. Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina* C + + + + C C C Usually small with no outlet (isolated) and no Common Map Turtle Graptemys geographica U + + U U U large predatory fish. They are excellent breeding Alabama Map Turtle Graptemys pulchra P + P P P habitats for certain amphibians. Usually shallow Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum U + + + U U U and grassy but can be very small ditches. Alligator Snapping Turtle Macrochelys temminckii ? + ? ? ? River Cooter Pseudemys concinna* C + + C U U Large Creek: Example: Sipsey Fork. 30-60 feet Flattened Musk Turtle Sternotherus depressus U + + U U U wide, with deep pools and heavy current. Large Red Milk Snake Stinkpot Sternotherus odoratus* U + + + U U U logs and snags are excellent for basking turtles. Bankhead National Forest, comprising nearly 182,000 Yellow-bellied Slider Trachemys scripta* C + + + C C C acres, represents one of the largest tracts of contiguous Often contain large boulders and flat rocks. Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina* A + + + C A C forest in Alabama. The unique mixture of moist hardwood forests and drier pine uplands boasts a wide Small Creek: Small creeks draining upland Lizards variety of amphibians (26 species) and reptiles (46 Green Anole Anolis carolinensis* A + + + A A C areas; seepage areas. Shallow creeks only 3-6 feet species). At the heart of the forest, the Sipsey Six Lined Racerunner Aspidoscelis sexlineatus* P + P P wide with large cobbles. Good breeding habitat Wilderness comprises nearly 26,000 acres of protected, Coal Skink Eumeces anthracinus* R + + R R for stream-breeding salamanders. forested habitat. Green salamanders abound throughout Five-lined Skink Eumeces fasciatus* C + + + C C U the seemingly endless blufflines of the Sipsey Southeastern Five-lined Skink Eumeces inexpectatus* U + + U U U Hardwood Forest: Mostly with trees such as Wilderness. Two species, the Black Warrior Waterdog Broad-headed Skink Eumeces laticeps* C + + C C U oaks and hickories. Usually moist leaf litter on and the Flattened Musk turtle, are endemic to the Black Slender Glass Lizard Ophisaurus attenuatus* R + R R forest floor. Some forests support a diverse Warrior River drainage, which finds it source in the Ground Skink Scincella lateralis* C + + C C C assemblage of trees. Often younger forests forest. Bankhead National Forest also represents one of Eastern Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus* C + + + C C U the only areas where Red Milksnakes, Scarlet contain many pines. Kingsnakes, and Scarlet Snakes can all be found in the * denotes detection of this species since 2005 same habitat This checklist is based on an intensive survey A = abundant (observation practically guaranteed in Upland Pine: In dry ridge sites. Often with from 2005-2009 by Alabama A&M University appropriate habitat) thick undergrowth of vines and brier and graduate student Bill Sutton, as C = common (observed frequently in appropriate habitat) The best way to use this checklist is to plan your U = uncommon (observed infrequently in appropriate habitat) accumulation of woody debris. herpetological adventure; we have included information well as collections from Auburn University scientists. R = rare (only recorded one to three times in Bankhead on habitat and seasonal abundance so you can determine National Forest) Open Grassy: Breaks in the forest, often man- the best strategy to view wildlife. You can also keep P = occurs near BNF and probably occurs here made and managed (wildlife openings, food track of what you see and make notes, and if you visit The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in ? = occurs near BNF and may be present here plots). the forest repeatedly you can compare your checklists 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- or keep adding new finds to an old one. Do not collect native wildlife, it is illegal. Do not release unwanted tal or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Rock Outcrop/Caves: Large sandstone Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communica- pets or exotic animals. tion of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should escarpments and their underlying limestone contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).To layers. Cracks in these rocks, with their moist file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil You may find something never recorded from this Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, surfaces and moss growth, are home to Forest or for this area of Alabama. If you think you’ve SW, Washington, DC 20250- 9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and spectacular amphibians, including green and cave found a new record, contact the Forest Service at (334) TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Red Salamander salamanders. 727-2652. Brochure prepared by Sean P. Graham, Bill Sutton, and David A. Steen Large Creek/River Amphibians and Reptiles of Temporary Pond Open Grassy Upland Upland Pine Small Creek Abundance Amphibians and Reptiles of Bankhead National Forest Hardwood Checklist Summer Winter Spring Pond Bankhead National Forest Fall Common Name Scientific Name Snakes Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus* C + + + C C U Rock Outcrop/Cave Large Creek/River Temporary Pond Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platyrhinos* U + + U U U Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus* C + + C C C Green Salamander Upland Pine Small Creek Abundance Hardwood Black Racer Coluber constrictor* C + + + C C C Checklist Summer Winter Spring Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea* U + + U U Pond Fall Corn Snake Elaphe guttata* U + + U U U Common Name Scientific Name Grey Rat Snake Elaphe spiloides* C + + + C C U Salamanders Mole Kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster ? + + + ? ? ? Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum* U + + U U U Black Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula nigra* C + + + C C U Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum* C + + + C C C Scarlet Kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides* R + + R Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum ? + U Red Milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum syspila* U + + U U Green Salamander Aneides aeneus* A + + A U A Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum ? + + ? ? ? Southern Two-lined Salamander Eurycea cirrigera* C + + + + C C C C Brownback Salamander Eurycea aquatica ? + Northern Watersnake Nerodia sipedon* U + + + + U U U Long-tailed salamander Eurycea longicauda* U + + + U Plain-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster U + + + + U U U Cave Salamander Eurycea lucifuga U + + U Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus* C + + + C C U Southern Zigzag Salamander Plethodon ventralis* C + + + A C A Pine Snake Pituophis melanoleucus P + + P P P Slimy Salamander Plethodon glutinosus* C + + + C C C Queen Snake Regina septemvitatta R + + R R R Seepage Salamander Desmognathus aeneus ? + ? ? Brown Snake Storeria dekayi* U + + U U U Spotted Dusky Salamander Desmognathus conanti* C + + C C C Redbelly Snake Storeria occipitomaculata* R + + R R R Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus U + + U U Southeastern Crowned Snake Tantilla coronata* R + + R R R Eastern Newt Notophthalmus viridescens* C + + + + C C U C Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis* C + + + C C U Red Salamander Pseudotriton ruber* U + + + U U U Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus P + + + + P P P Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis ? + ? ? ? ? Smooth Earth Snake Virginia valeriae* U + + U U U Mudpuppy Necturus maculosus ? + ? ? ? ? Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus* U + + U U U Black Warrior Waterdog Necturus alabamensis U + U U U Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix* A + + A A A Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus* U + + U U U Frogs and Toads Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius ? + + ? ? ? Green Frog Rana clamitans* A + + + + + A A U Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana* A + + + + A A Pickerel Frog Rana palustrus* C + + + + + C C U Southern Leopard Frog Rana sphenocephala* C + + + + C C C C * denotes detection of this species since 2005 Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea* U + + U U A = abundant (observation practically guaranteed in Cope's Gray Treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis* A + + + + A A U appropriate habitat) Barking Treefrog Hyla gratiosa* U + + U U C = common (observed frequently in appropriate habitat) Mountain Chorus Frog Pseudacris brachyphona* C + + + + C U A U = uncommon (observed infrequently in appropriate habitat) Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer* A + + + + C U A R = rare (only recorded one to three times in Bankhead Upland Chorus Frog Pseudacris feriarum P + ? ? National Forest) Northern Cricket Frog Acris crepitans* C + + + C C P = occurs near BNF and probably occurs here Southern Cricket Frog Acris gryllus U + U U Fowler's Toad Bufo fowleri* A + + + A C ? = occurs near BNF and may be present here Eastern Narrowmouth Toad Gastrophryne carolinensis* C + + + C C X = not recorded recently; possibly extirpated Eastern Spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii* C + + C Copperhead .