Important Bulletin!

A while ago, I provided you all with a list of all the reptiles and amphibians I have seen in the field. There are a couple of problems with this list. First of all, since it is going on three years old, it is outdated. In addition, I made some inclusions in the original list that were a bit speculative. At this point, I believe I should include only animals that meet the following criteria:

1. I personally observed the animal in the field. This allows me to include animals that I was not the first to come upon or was not the one that lifted the rock to find, etc.
2. The animal was alive. I will not be including animals found dead on the road.
3. The animal was positively identified.

That last one is probably the most restrictive. It will remove a few of my previous listers, and prevent me from adding a couple more--most notably some sort of skink (probably a Broadhead) that the boys and I observed in TN last year, but not closely enough to be absolutely sure it wasn't a Five-lined sporting its "breeding colors".

However, in the interest of accuracy and honesty, I feel that adhering to these principles is best, and now present you with the updated and amended list.

REPTILES

TURTLES

Common Snapping Turtle, WI- 1980
Eastern Box Turtle, OH- 2003
Ornate Box Turtle, WI- 2005
Eastern Painted Turtle, OH- 2005
Midland Painted Turtle, WI- 1991
Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle, WI- 1991

LIZARDS

Green Anole, FL- 1988
Northern Fence Lizard, KY- 1999
Praire Racerunner, WI- 2006

SNAKES

Lake Erie Water Snake, OH- 2007
Northern Water Snake, WI- 1995
Queen Snake, OH- 2007
Northern/Midland Brown snake, OH- 1999
Midland/Texas Brown Snake, WI- 2003
Northern Red-bellied Snake, OH- 2006
Eastern Garter Snake, WI- 1990
Maritime Garter Snake, ME- 1993
Chicago Garter Snake, WI- 1990
Plains Garter Snake, WI- 1980
Butler's Garter Snake, WI- 2003
Northern Ribbon Snake, OH- 2004
Northern Ringneck Snake, OH- 2005
Blue/Yellow-bellied Racer, WI- 2006
Smooth Green Snake, OH- 2005
Western Fox Snake, WI- 2005
Eastern Milk Snake, WI- 1991
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, OH- 2005


AMPHIBIANS

SALAMANDERS

Red-spotted Newt, OH- 2007
Spotted Dusky Salamander, TN- 2007
Northern Dusky Salamander, OH- 2005
Imitator Salamander, TN- 2007
Ambystomatid hybrid, OH- 2005
Spotted Salamander, OH- 2007
Smallmouth Salamander, OH- 2006
Eastern Tiger Salamander, WI- 1991
Redback Salamander, OH- 2005
Jordan's Salamander, TN- 2007
Southern Redback Salamander, TN- 2007
Northern Two-lined Salamander, OH- 2007
Southern Two-lined Salamander, OH- 2005
Long-tailed Salamander, TN- 2007
Blue-Ridge Two Lined Salamander, TN- 2007
Northern Spring Salamander, OH- 2006
Blue Ridge Spring Salamander, TN- 2007

TOADS AND FROGS

American Toad, WI- 1980
Fowler's Toad, WV- 2005
Gray Treefrog, OH- 2004
Spring Peeper, OH- 2006
Western Chorus Frog, OH- 2006
Bullfrog, OH- 1997
Green Frog, OH- 2005
Wood Frog, WI - 2005
Northern Leopard Frog, WI- 1991
Pickerel Frog, WI- 1991
Blanchard's Cricket Frog, OH- 2005

Some interesting stats on the numbers above. I added 7 species or subspecies to my list in 2006 and 11 (9 of them salamanders!) in 2007, giving me a totals of 6 turtles, 3 lizards, 18 snakes, 17 salamanders, and 11 frogs/toads, or 55 herptiles. Again these numbers are modest to poor compared to those of other people who like to do what I do; this is merely the present status of a lifetime project.

Species I think I have a good chance of adding this year on outings in Ohio and South Carolina include the Eastern Fox Snake, Black Kingsnake, Eastern Kingsnake, Corn Snake, Hog-nosed Snake, Copperhead, Southern Toad, and American Alligator. I also still hope to verify continued populations of Marbled Salamanders and Four-toed Salamanders in my home Ohio County.

Wish me luck.