2013 in Review

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ThatFrogGuy
Posts: 744
Joined: April 15th, 2011, 1:29 pm
Location: Southern Indiana
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2013 in Review

Post by ThatFrogGuy »

2013 was my best year of herping to date. I got to meet a lot of cool people and even more cool herps.

As usual, my year started out with the coming of warm(ish) rains in January. An early attempt to find some Ambystomatids failed, but I did manage to turn up this zigzag.
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Northern Zigzag Salamander (Plethodon dorsalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Colder temps after the rains kept me inside. A week later, I revisited a vernal pool on a warm sunny 50 degree day. Hundreds of Jefferson's Salamanders and newts were congregating under the melting ice in the shallows, it was quite a sight to see.

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Today's catch by
Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Beneath the Ice by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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January Salamanders by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr



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Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

In February, Andrew Hoffman was kind enough to show me Streamside Salamanders. We also poked around some flatwoods and found some other Ambystoma and duskies.

Streamside in-situ under a rock
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Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Habitat
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Creek by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) and Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

In March, I got to observe amphibian breeding activity at night for the first time. I was at the vernal on the first real warm rain, and it was an awesome experience. The forest floor was alive with countless wood frogs making their way to the pond.

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Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer crucifer) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

A few straggler Jeffs were among the spotteds and frogs.
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Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) & Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer crucifer) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

I also managed to discover a new population of smallmouth salamanders (for me) in my county.
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Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

The area actually used to be a farm, but it's in a very low area and wasn't productive, so farmers attempted to drain the water in these canals. Though they were unsuccesful, they know serve as breeding grounds for many amphibians.
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Ditch by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Midland Chorus Frog (Psuedacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

In late March, I got the opportunity to go with Andrew and a few other crawfish frog researchers. Before that though, me and Andrew poked around some flatwoods in search of Four-toed salamanders.

Eventually, we found some-a lifer for me!
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Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

There were 3-4 females communally nesting under one patch of moss.
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Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Onto the crawfish frogs...we turned up one in a trap and heard one vocalizing in daylight. We also came across some eggs and later a map turtle in a stream.
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Northern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata circulosa) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata circulosa) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata circulosa) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

My first snake of the year was a feisty water snake, followed shortly by a garter.
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Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

In a creek near my house, Two Lined salamanders are very common. However, I had never seen them nesting. This spring I put in substantial effort to change that.
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Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Orangethroat Darter (Etheostoma spectabile) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern American Toads (Bufo americanus americanus) in amplexus by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern American Toad (Bufo americanus americanus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern American Toads (Bufo americanus americanus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern American Toad (Bufo americanus americanus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanota) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern American Toad (Bufo americanus americanus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Midwestern Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus helenae) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Racer (Coluber constrictor) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Black King Snake (Lampropeltis getula nigra) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Black King Snake (Lampropeltis getula nigra) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chysoscelis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifiga) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifiga) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Longtailed Salamander (Eurycea longicauda longicauda) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

I took a trip to SC this summer, stopped in TN on the way.
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Southeastern Five Lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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American Toad (Bufo americanus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cumberland Sliders (Trachemys scripta troostii) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

SC
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Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Back home..I was happy to finally get my lifer copperhead.
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Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Ouachita Map Turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Crayfish in Burrow by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Snake Eggs by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Snake Hunting by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifiga) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Midwestern Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus helenae) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Northern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Five Lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens ) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Racer (Coluber constrictor) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Bull Frog (Rana catesbeina) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

In October we and some friends herped MO/IL over a long weekend.
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Prairie Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus arnyi) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Dwarf American Toad (Bufo americanus charlesmithi) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Three-toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Western Slimy Salamander (Plethodon albagula) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Lined Snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Plains Leopard Frog (Rana blairi) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Highlight of the trip
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Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Cave Salamanders (Eurycea lucifiga) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Back Home:
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Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Southern Two Lined Salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Zigzag Salamander (Plethodon dorsalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

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Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

If you made it through, thanks for looking.

-Zach
User avatar
MattSullivan
Posts: 419
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 2:07 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: 2013 in Review

Post by MattSullivan »

nice dude. Super jealous of the tiger and streamside sals, both are a goal for me next year
User avatar
Cole Grover
Posts: 746
Joined: June 8th, 2010, 10:06 am
Location: Montana

Re: 2013 in Review

Post by Cole Grover »

Nice post, Zach! As a hard-core Lampro-dork, I really like seeing the variety of milks out your way. That said, I think my favorite photos in this post were of the several Thamnophis proximus and that pair of Cave Salamanders.

-Cole
User avatar
ThatFrogGuy
Posts: 744
Joined: April 15th, 2011, 1:29 pm
Location: Southern Indiana
Contact:

Re: 2013 in Review

Post by ThatFrogGuy »

Thanks guys!
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