2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

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I would be able to attend the 2016 NAFHA meeting in Mena, Arkansas on the following dates:

April 8-10
3
6%
April 15-17
9
18%
April 22-24 (full moon)
9
18%
April 29-May 1
24
47%
I would not be able to attend on any of these dates
6
12%
 
Total votes: 51

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chrish
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2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by chrish »

The SC Chapter would like to announce the location of the 2016 Annual NAFHA meeting in Mena, Arkansas and the surrounding areas. This area has tremendous herping potential including the species listed below. It is a pretty impressive of list, including endemics as well as a mix of eastern and western species.

We have narrowed down the weekends listed in the preceding poll. We would like the opinions of potential attendees in order to maximize the number of people who can attend. Please choose ALL the weekends for which you might be able to attend.

It is worth noting that early April in AR can be cool which could limit reptile activity. So if you are thinking of attending but only to see reptiles, you might not want to pick the earliest dates. Of course amphibian activity will depend on available moisture.

Kory has kindly gone through the list of possible species, giving a feel for the likelihood of seeing a particular species.

"Obviously, results may vary, but I've tentatively rated the likelihood of finding each species based on the time of year, location, and personal experience. 10 = almost certain to find, 5 = estimated 50% shot, 1 = almost impossible to find. For the amphibians, first ranking is if it rains, second if it's dry. For the turtles, ranking is for likelihood to see with a little effort, not necessarily catch. Specifically targeting species with narrow habitat requirements is a necessity for some on the list and people will have to pick and choose what they most want to see. The entire slate of Ouachita Mt. salamander endemics can be found in a single weekend, but it's kind of like playing the Amazing Race to do it!"

Frogs & Toads -
Dwarf American Toad - Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi...8/6
Fowler's Toad - Anaxyrus fowleri...8/6
Blanchard's Cricket Frog - Acris blanchardi...10/9
Cope's Gray Treefrog - Hyla chrysoscelis...8/6
Green Treefrog - Hyla cinerea...7/5
Spring Peeper - Pseudacris crucifer...9/7
Cajun Chorus Frog - Pseudacris fouquettei...9/7
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad - Gastrophryne carolinensis...7/5
American Bullfrog - Lithobates catesbeianus...10/9
Green Frog - Lithobates clamitans...10/9
Pickerel Frog - Lithobates palustris...7/5
Coastal Plains Leopard Frog - Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius...9/7
Hurter's Spadefoot - Scaphiopus hurterii...2/1

Salamaders -
Ringed Salamander - Ambystoma annulatum...2/1, 6 for dip-netting larva
Spotted Salamander - Ambystoma maculatum...8/6
Marbled Salamander - Ambystoma opacum...6/4
Small-mouthed Salamander - Ambystoma texanum...4/2
Ouachita Dusky Salamander - Desmognathus brimleyorum...10/10
Many-ribbed Salamander - Eurycea multiplicata...9/9
Four-toed Salamander - Hemidactylium scutatum...3/2 (higher if habitats specifically targeted)
Western Slimy Salamander - Plethodon albagula...10/10
Caddo Mountain Salamander - Plethodon caddoensis...9/8 (hitting prime spots)
Fourche Mountain Salamander - Plethodon fourchensis...7/6 (hitting prime spots)
Kiamichi Slimy Salamander - Plethodon kiamichi...8/7 (hitting prime spots)
Rich Mountain Salamander - Plethodon ouachitae...9/8 (hitting prime spots)
Southern Red-backed Salamander - Plethodon serratus...10/8
Red River Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus louisianensis...1/1
Central Newt - Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis...8/6
Western Lesser Siren - Siren intermedia nettingi...2/2 (higher with tenacity dip-netting)

Lizards -
Western Slender Glass Lizard - Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus...1
Eastern Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus collaris...2
Northern Green Anole - Anolis carolinensis carolinensis...5
Prairie Lizard - Sceloporus consobrinus...10
Southern Coal Skink - Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis...5
Common Five-lined Skink - Plestiodon fasciatus...10
Broad-headed Skink - Plestiodon laticeps...8
Little Brown Skink - Scincella lateralis...10
Prairie Racerunner - Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis...8

Snakes -
Eastern (Southern/Osage) Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix...7
Northern (Western) Cottonmouth - Agkistrodon piscivorus...8
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox...2 (but could be more like 6 if willing to pay the price)
Timber Rattlesnake - Crotalus horridus...5
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake - Sistrurus miliarius streckeri...4
Northern Scarletsnake - Cemophora coccinea copei...1
North American Racer - Coluber constrictor...8
Eastern Coachwhip - Coluber flagellum flagellum...6
Prairie Kingsnake - Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster...6
Western Milksnake - Lampropeltis gentilis (syspila x amaura)...9
Speckled Kingsnake - Lampropeltis (getula) holbrooki...7
Northern Rough Greensnake - Opheodrys aestivus aestivus...7
Great Plains Ratsnake - Pantherophis emoryi...6
Western Ratsnake - Pantherophis obsoletus...8
Flat-headed Snake - Tantilla gracilis...9
Western Wormsnake - Carphophis vermis...9
Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus...10
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake - Heterodon platirhinos...5
Rough Earthsnake - Haldea striatula...7
Gulf Swampsnake - Liodytes rigida sinicola...2
Mississippi Green Watersnake - Nerodia cyclopion...1?
Plain-bellied Watersnake - Nerodia erythrogaster...8
Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake - Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer...2 (but much higher if willing to travel out a bit)
Midland Watersnake - Nerodia sipedon pleuralis...7
Midland Brownsnake - Storeria dekayi wrightorum...7
Red-bellied Snake - Storeria occipitomaculata ssp....5
Orange-striped Ribbonsnake - Thamnophis proximus proximus...5
Eastern Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis...6
Western Smooth Earthsnake - Virginia valeriae elegans...6

Turtles -
Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina...5
Ouachita Map Turtle - Graptemys ouachitensis...3
Mississippi Map Turtle - Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni...2
Eastern River Cooter - Pseudemys concinna concinna...5
Three-toed Box Turtle - Terrapene triunguis...7
Red-eared Slider - Trachemys scripta elegans...8
Mississippi Mud Turtle - Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis...4
Razor-backed Musk Turtle - Sternotherus carinatus...2
Eastern Musk Turtle - Sternotherus odoratus...4
Spiny Softshell - Apalone spinifera ssp....4

Additional Species within 100 miles -
Western Bird-voiced Treefrog - Hyla avivoca avivoca...4/2 (or much higher if they have started calling); ~55 miles from Mena
Gray Treefrog - Hyla versicolor...0 (don't think these are in the mix within 55 miles)
Strecker's Chorus Frog - Pseudacris streckeri...3/1 (if specifically targeted); vic. Arkansas River
Western Narrow-mouthed Toad - Gastrophryne olivacea (rare)...2/1 (if specifically targeted); vic. Arkansas River
Crawfish Frog - Lithobates areolatus...1/<1
Wood Frog - Lithobates sylvaticus...0; not in the mix within 55 miles
Plains Spadefoot - Spea bombifrons (rare)...0; ~65 miles from Mena, vic. Arkansas River
Mole Salamander - Ambystoma talpoideum...2/1; ~55 miles from Mena
Three-toed Amphiuma - Amphiuma tridactylum...2/2 (higher with tenacity dip-netting); ~55 miles from Mena
Dark-sided Salamander - Eurycea longicauda melanopleura...0; not in the mix within 55 miles
Cave Salamander - Eurycea lucifuga...0; not in the mix within 55 miles
Dwarf Salamander - Eurycea quadridigitata...1/1; not reliably in the mix within 55 miles
Oucahita Streambed Salamander - Eurycea subfluvicola (rare/very restricted locality)...0; ~75 miles from Mena and only with AGFC escort
Oklahoma Salamander - Eurycea tynerensis...0; not in the mix within 55 miles
Ozark Zigzag Salamander - Plethodon angusticlavius...0; not in the mix within 55 miles
American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis...3 (much higher w/ a canoe and/or specifically targeted); ~55 miles from Mena
Texas Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma cornutum...<1; historical
Great Plains Skink - Plestiodon obsoletus (rare)...1
Southern Prairie Skink - Plestiodon septentrionalis obtusirostris (rare)...1
Mediterranean Gecko - Hemidactylus turcicus...0; have not been reported, but could occur in Mena or Queen W. SP
Variable Groundsnake - Sonora semiannulata semiannulata...2
Western Mudsnake - Farancia abacura reinwardtii...3; ~55 miles from Mena
Broad-banded Watersnake - Nerodia fasciata confluens...5; ~55 miles from Mena
Graham's Crayfish Snake - Regina grahamii...2; ~55 miles from Mena
Queensnake - Regina septemvittata...0; not in the mix within 55 miles
Alligator Snapping Turtle - Macrochelys temminckii...1
Southern Painted Turtle - Chrysemys dorsalis...6; ~55 miles from Mena
Western Chicken Turtle - Deirochelys reticularia miaria...<1; vic. Arkansas River
Northern Map Turtle - Graptemys geographica...2; ~55 miles from Mena
Ornate Box Turtle - Terrapene ornata...1
Midland Smooth Softshell - Apalone mutica mutica...3; vic. Arkansas River
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Noah M
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by Noah M »

How long will the poll run for?
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ksuglennj
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by ksuglennj »

I voted for later to increase chance for snakes and decrease likelihood of snow. We've had issues with snow on Arkansas Herpetological Society trips.

I rarely get on the forums these days, sorry. I've also been talking to Chris Williams when I first heard of the trip and many of us Arkansas folks have been talking. We will do the best we can to help out. We will schedule our annual spring trip to coincide with this event to encourage our participation.

Glenn
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Fundad
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by Fundad »

I have to try and make this.. Awesome..

Fundad
hellihooks
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by hellihooks »

Fundad wrote:I have to try and make this.. Awesome..

Fundad
Split Gas??? you can pretend you don't know me when we get there... :lol: :lol: :lol:
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chris_mcmartin
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by chris_mcmartin »

ksuglennj wrote:We will do the best we can to help out. We will schedule our annual spring trip to coincide with this event to encourage our participation.
That's a fantastic idea. The AHS is a good group of folks. :thumb: Sure hope I can make it, work permitting.
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Noah M
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by Noah M »

I may actually be able to attend this. It will depend upon work, but Mena is about 15 hours away for me. That would be a long day, but doable in a weekend.
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ZantiMissKnit
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by ZantiMissKnit »

Fundad wrote:I have to try and make this.. Awesome..

Fundad
Please do. I'm going to try, too.
Coluber Constrictor
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Re: 2016 NAFHA Annual Meeting - Mena, Arkansas - Dates Poll

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

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