SALAMANDERS
Ambystoma maculatum
These guys are sporadically located in high quality hardwood dominated forests in East Texas.

Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spotted Salamander Egg Mass by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Ambystoma mavortium
In early July I went to visit my pal Scott Wahlberg, who was doing some lizard surveys in West Texas. This beautiful salamander was found in a caliche pit following a major rain event.

Barred Tiger Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Barred Tiger Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Barred Tiger Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Ambystoma opacum
Back in East Texas, it's always exciting running across one of these guys.

Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
One November day while looking for new places to explore, I spotted what looked like a high quality bottomland hardwood forest from the road. It was loaded with large trees and woody debris. On closer inspection, I could see that it had been ravaged by feral hogs. I turned several logs to see if the hogs left anything, and was lucky enough to turn up a couple of marbled salamanders. I couldn't help but wonder how many of their cohorts were consumed by these nasty invaders.

Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Ambystoma talpoideum
Despite putting in a fair bit of effort this winter, this was the only terrestrial adult I saw. I did see a number of neotonics and larvae.

Mole Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mole Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Ambystoma texanum
The only Ambystomatid found in the immediate area of my neighborhood, it's always fun looking for these guys. The diversity in Texas animals is impressive, and we have some real lookers.
The individual below was found at a Conservation Easement Area about 10 minutes from my house. In June of 2012, when the property was still being considered for a Conservation Easement, I was surprised to turn up a few recent metamorphs while performing an inventory to document the baseline conditions. About a month later the Houston area experienced a massive rain event, and local waterways were flooded for days. Shortly after the flood event I returned to the site to measure some potential county champion trees. I could see that flash floods had swept through the wetlands, washing out the majority of the area's ground cover, and depositing large amount of new woody debris. I worried for the salamanders and other herpetofauna, as flood waters remained for several days. In fact I've read studies that state that such floods can be devastating to salamander populations. I was pleasantly surprised when I turned up this large adult under the first log I rolled in late February of this year. The Conservation Easement was signed in December of 2012.

Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
The individual below was also found while monitoring a Conservation Easement Area, this one in the post oak savannah towards the western edge of what is commonly considered East Texas. It was found on a steep ravine.

Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
The following two animals were located in the Columbia Bottomlands, a unique and imperiled forest community in Southeast Texas.

Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Eurycea quadridigitata
An interesting looking individual from a high quality forested seep.

Dwarf Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Desmognathus cf. conanti
A soon to be verified (or possibly described) Desmog from East Texas. Desmognathus in East Texas have disappeared from the vast majority of previously known localities.

Dusky Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Dusky Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
FROGS
Anaxyrus debilis

Green Toad by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Anaxyrus cognatus

Great Plains Toad by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Anaxyrus fowleri

Fowler's Toad by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Anaxyrus speciosus

Texas Toad by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Scaphiopus hurterii

Hurter's Spadefoot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Hurter's Spadefoot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Spea bombifrons

Plains Spadefoot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Plains Spadefoot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Pseudacris streckeri
It was great finding these guys in abundance in a site in East Texas, as they have become quite rare in the region.

Strecker's Chorus Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Strecker's Chorus Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Pseudacris clarkii

Spotted Chorus Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Pseudacris fouquettei

Cajun Chorus Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Hyla cinerea

Green Tree Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Hyla squirella

Squirrel Tree Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Lithobates palustris
I was lucky to find a couple of these last winter. They appear to be less common in East Texas than other portions of their range.

Pickerel Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Pickerel Frog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Lithobates sphenocephalus

Southern Leopard Frogs by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
LIZARDS
Coleonyx reticulatus
This was the highlight of my trip to West Texas with Scott. A species found in only two counties in the U.S., it seems to be fairly abundant where it is found.

Reticulate Banded Gecko by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Plestiodon anthracinus
Another species that seems to be infrequently encountered in East Texas, coal skinks tend to be found in deep sand habitats such as longleaf pine savannahs and oak/farkleberry sandylands.

Coal Skink by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Plestiodon fasciatus

Five-lined Skink by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
SNAKES
Tantilla gracilis
Though it remains abundant elsewhere in the state, T. gracilis has become rare in Texas, as have most other species found in its preferred habitat - xeric sand ridges.

Flat-headed Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Flat-headed Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Diadophis punctatus
This is the only herp I photographed while visiting Shenandoah with some good friends. Herping wasn't really the focus of the trip, though I managed to turn up a few other species.

Northern Ringneck Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Heterodon platirhinos

Eastern Hognose Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Eastern Hognose Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Storeria dekayi

Marsh Brown Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Thamnophis marcianus

Checkered Gartersnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Pantherophis bairdi
In my opinion one of the most beautiful snakes in the country. Photos can't do it justice.

Baird's Ratsnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Baird's Ratsnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Bogertophis subocularis

Trans-Pecos Ratsnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Trans-Pecos Ratsnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Lampropeltis alterna
This dark snake was tough to photograph, as all substrate in the immediate area was very bright.

Gray-banded Kingsnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Masticophis flagellum
This was a bit unusual, I nearly stepped on this pair.

Eastern Coachwhips by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Eastern Coachwhip by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Rhinocheilus lecontei

Long-nosed Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Long-nosed Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Cemophora coccinea
Another snake that can be difficult to find in East Texas. Though they may be locally abundant, there appear to be few sites that support this species.

Northern Scarlet Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Northern Scarlet Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Northern Scarlet Snake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Trimorphodon vilkinsonii

Chihuahuan Lyresnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Chihuahuan Lyresnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Agkistrodon piscivorous

Western Cottonmouth by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
This animal was found on a windy, 50 degree December day in the middle of a pipeline right-of-way while monitoring a Conservation Easement Area.

Western Cottonmouth by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Crotalus horridus
Certainly one of our country's iconic herps, it's always a thrill coming across one of these in its element.

Canebrake Rattlesnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Crotalus atrox

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
OTHER ANIMALS

Ocellated Tiger Beetle by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Periodical Cicada by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Periodical Cicada by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Painted Grasshopper by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Texas Leafcutter Ant by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Eight-spotted Forester Moth by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Polyphemus Moth by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Polyphemus Moth by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Striped Bark Scorpion by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Barred Owl by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Bay-breasted Warbler by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Prothonotary Warbler by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Hooded Warbler by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Nine-banded Armadillos by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Nine-banded Armadillo by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

White-tailed Deer by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
PLANTS
Orchids are some of our most iconic native plants.
The Kentucky (or Southern) Lady's Slipper is rare throughout its range. In Texas it has been documented in only a few locations, and population estimates indicate that the number of individual stems might be in the hundreds.

Kentucky Lady's Slipper by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Kentucky Lady's Slipper by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Kentucky Lady's Slipper by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
The following orchid was from my trip to Shenandoah.

Lily-leaved Twayblade Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
An attractive Spiranthes from a high quality coastal prairie.

Spring Ladies' Tresses by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
There is some debate about the validity of the following taxon. Some suggest that it is not distinct enough to be considered separate from Spiranthes praecox.

Woodland Ladies' Tresses by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
One of Texas's rarest plants, known from only a few sites.

Chapman's Fringed Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Snowy Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Grass Pink Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wetland Pine Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Rose Pogonias by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Rose Pogonia by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Green Adder's-Mouth Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Cranefly orchids are easiest to find in the winter and early spring, when their presence is betrayed by a single green leaf on the forest floor. In late summer, when they finally bloom, they can be difficult to spot, as their dull coloration blends with dried leaves.

Crane-Fly Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Cranefly Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Crane-fly Orchid by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
The following group of flowers are typically known as spring ephemerals or early spring bloomers. They grow in early spring prior tree leaf-out while high levels of sunlight are still available on the forest floor. Many of these species are typical of eastern deciduous forests, and reach the western and southern extent of their range in East Texas, where they are often uncommon.

Jack-in-the-pulpit by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Jack-in-the-pulpit by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Jack-in-the-Pulpit by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Jack-in-the-Pulpit by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Green Dragon by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Green Dragon by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Sabine River Wakerobin by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Sabine River Wakerobin by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Louisiana Wakerobin by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Bloodroot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Bloodroot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mayapple by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mayapple by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mayapples by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mayapple by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

White Trout Lily by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Arrowleaf Violet by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Common Blue Violet by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spring Beauty by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Lousewort by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wild Hyacinth by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Crossvine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Some carnivorous plants:

Horned Bladderwort by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Small Butterwort by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Carnivorous Flora by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
The following are other species typical of pitcher plant bogs and other herbaceous seep areas.

Barbara's Buttons by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Procession Flower by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Racemed Milkwort by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Maryland Milkwort by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Candyroot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Drumheads by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Milkwort by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Helmet Flower by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Golden Colicroot by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
More interesting flora

Propeller Flower by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Propeller Flower by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Virginia Iris by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Swamp Leatherflower by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Cardinalflower by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Swamp Rose-Mallow by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Rare plants of longleaf pine uplands and oak/farkleberry sandylands:

Scarlet Catchfly by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Scarlet Catchfly by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

White Firewheel by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Gulf Blazing Star by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Gulf Blazing Star by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
More upland species:

Maryland Meadowbeauty by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Soft Greeneyes by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Carolina Larkspur by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wild Potato Vine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Some interesting plants of coastal prairies:

Trailing Krameria by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Berlandier's Yellow Flax by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Powderpuff by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Meadow Pink by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Some milkweed:

Butterfly Weed by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Butterfly Weed by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

White Milkweed by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Green Milkweed by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Hybrid Milkweed by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
One of my favorite wetland plants:

Lizard's Tail by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Some more good stuff:

Mountain Laurel by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Texas Azalea by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Purple Flowering Raspberry by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Littlehip Hawthorn by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Red Columbine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
A couple of plants from Zion National Park. I didn't get a chance to herp the area, but took a couple of nice hikes.

Golden Columbine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Golden Columbine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Columbine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Shooting Star by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
More stuff from East Texas:

Eastern Redbud by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Eastern Redbud by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Flowering Dogwood by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Flowering Dogwood by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Red Buckeye by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
The pyramid magnolia is rare throughout its range, and occurs in some interesting plant associations in East Texas:

Pyramid Magnolia by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Liverworts by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
HABITATS
East Texas
East Texas is primarily forested, and contains a diversity of different habitat types. The following are some of my favorites. Many of these areas are old growth, small pockets that have never been logged, or only selectively so. Others are mature second growth in near old-growth states.

Mesic Ravine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Beech-Magnolia Forest by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

American Beech by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Beech-Magnolia Forest by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Slope Forest by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Slope Forest by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

East Texas Ravine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mayapples by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
A very large mature black cherry. A rarity throughout the country, as this species has been heavily harvested, primarily for use in cabinetry.

Mesic Slope by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Cavity Tree by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Springhead by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Swimming Hole by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Colorow in the Rain by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spring Fed Stream by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Virginia Sweetspire by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Spring-fed Stream by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Baygall by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Baygall by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Baygall by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wet Forested Seep by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Rock Outcrop by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Catahoula Boulders by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mesic Sandy Loam Upland by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mesic Ravine by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Longleaf Pine Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Longleaf Pine Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Longleaf Pine Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Longleaf Pine Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Catahoula Boulders by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Longleaf Pine Upland by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Texas Leafcutter Ant Colony by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wetland Pine Savanna by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wetland Pine Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wetland Pine Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Hillside Seepage Bog by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Wet Herbaceous Seep by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Xeric Sandhill by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Fire by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Old Growth Cypress Slough by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Cypress Swamp by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Cypress Swamp by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Forested Wetland by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Bottomland Ridge by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Riparian Forest by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Columbia Bottomlands by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

East Texas Stream by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

East Texas Stream by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

East Texas Stream by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

American Hornbeam by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Ephemeral Stream by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Forest Edge by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Forest Clearing by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Coastal Prairie

Coastal Prairie by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Prairie Flora by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Coastal Prairie by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
West Texas

High Elevation Savannah by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Shenandoah

Cove Forest by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Sunset by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

High Elevation Pine - Oak Forest by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Yellow-Poplar by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Mountain Stream by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr
Zion

Zion Canyon by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Hanging Garden by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Maple Grove by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Virgin River by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Virgin River by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr