2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

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kaptainkory
Posts: 187
Joined: June 28th, 2010, 11:33 pm
Location: Bella Vista, Arkansas

2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by kaptainkory »

This should wrap things up for 2014. The January to July report can be reviewed here. Overall, it was a really good year, even though I actually kind of burned myself out toward the end. There were some key misses I worked hard for that kind of aggravated me, so this will be my motivation for next year. Hopefully, I can make some good progress with specimen depositions, photo organization, herp atlas records, and such like before spring rolls around again!

To follow-up on my previous report, here are some better photos of that Plains Spadefoot I found in mid-July.
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Plains Spadefoot by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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In late July, I got out for a little midsummer's night cruising. Pygs were the top target and I found 3 or 4.
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Western Pygmy Rattlesnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Southern Copperhead, Juvenile by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Just a Common Five-Lined Skink.
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Common Five-lined Skink, Female by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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I made a last warm season run to the Arkansas River Valley. I had hoped for better, but went ahead and photographed a couple of the more common finds.
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Three-toed Box Turtle by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Eastern Coachwhip, Juvenile by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Common Gartersnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Bullfrog from closer to home.
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American Bullfrog by kaptainkory, on Flickr

This young Cave Salamander hung out by my front porch for a few nights. This night it was perched on part of the fence!
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Cave Salamander by kaptainkory, on Flickr

They just grow up so fast! Sniff, sniff.
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Eastern Tiger Salamander, Metamorph by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Through some connections, I was able to meet up with a guy who had some hatchling Alligator Snappers for me to photograph! (Too bad we didn't have a Common Snapper on hand for some comparison shots.)
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Alligator Snapping Turtle, Hatchling by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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In late September, a couple turned up a hatchling leucistic Ring-necked Snake in northwest Arkansas. I was able to obtain the specimen and really gave it my best effort to keep it, but it died anyway. :( (The specimen will be deposited to museum.)
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Ring-necked Snake, Hatchling, Leucistic by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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In mid-October, I met up with Patrick on a rainy night and we did pretty well with the Ringed Salamanders.
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Ringed Salamander by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Ringed Salamander by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Ringed Salamander, Female and Male Pair by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Also in mid-October, Alex let me borrow to photograph a couple of Mediterranean Geckos he'd captured on the university campus.
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Mediterranean Gecko by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Mediterranean Gecko by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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I got talked into taking a small contingent--Bob, Mitchell, and Philip--to a pretty guarded locality of mine to find Groundsnakes. Philip *really* wanted to find one of these; well, the others did, too, I suppose. I'd only looked in the spring, so the cold, rainy weather of October really dented my optimism...but it was the only day we could all work into our schedules. It didn't take long...
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Variable Groundsnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Eastern Collared Lizard, Juvenile by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Ringed Salamander by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Variable Groundsnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Variable Groundsnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Yellow-bellied Racer, Juvenile by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Variable Groundsnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Variable Groundsnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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In the later part of October, Kyle and Peter visited from Missouri to try their hand at some swamp herping in Arkansas. We also met up with Chris, Cyndi, Dawn, and Erica for the effort. All told, the herping stunk!!! HA! Not a single target species was to be found, but, it was good to meet some new herpers and get out for a bit. The weather was nice, so there's that!
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Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Three-toed Box Turtle Eating Muscadine by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Marbled Salamander by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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Another exciting find turned up in late October, a second (state record) specimen of Lined Snake from very close to the first locality from last year!!! I was able to obtain the specimen for photographs.
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Lined Snake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

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2014 Herp Species List
Dwarf American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi)...MAR 16...Madison Co.
Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)...MAR 28...Johnson Co.
Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi)...FEB 16...Madison Co.
Western Bird-voiced Treefrog (Hyla avivoca avivoca)...APR 12...Faulkner Co.
Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)...APR 13...Logan Co.
Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)...MAY 26...Sevier Co.
Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)...APR 27...Benton Co.
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)...FEB 21...Benton Co.
Cajun Chorus Frog (Pseudacris fouquettei)...MAR 02...Clark Co.
Strecker's Chorus Frog (Pseudacris streckeri)...MAR 28...Johnson Co.
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)...JUN 10...Garland Co.
Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea)...JUN 26...Sebastian Co.
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)...FEB 22...Benton Co.
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)...MAR 16...Madison Co.
Coastal Plains Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius)...JAN 01...Benton Co.
Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons)...MAR 28...Johnson Co.

Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma annulatum)...MAY 25...Polk Co.
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)...MAR 16...Madison Co.
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)...APR 19...Faulkner Co.
Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)...APR 13...Logan Co.
Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)...JUL 02...Benton Co.
Ouachita Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus brimleyorum)...JUN 10...Garland Co.
Dark-sided Salamander (Eurycea longicauda melanopleura)...OCT 10...Washington Co.
Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifuga)...MAY 10...Benton Co.
Many-ribbed Salamander (Eurycea multiplicata)...JUN 14...Garland Co.
Oklahoma Salamander (Eurycea tynerensis)...APR 06...Franklin Co.
Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)...JUN 13...Garland Co.
Western Slimy Salamander (Plethodon albagula)...APR 06...Franklin Co.
Ozark Zigzag Salamander (Plethodon angusticlavius)...JAN 12...Benton Co.
Rich Mountain Salamander (Plethodon ouachitae), Rich Mountain Variant...MAY 26...Polk Co.
Central Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis)...JUN 28...Sebastian Co.
Western Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia nettingi)...APR 12...Faulkner Co.

Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)...MAY 10...Benton Co.
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)...APR 12...Faulkner Co.
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)...JUL 06...Cross Co.
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri)...JUL 26...Benton Co.
North American Racer (Coluber constrictor ssp.)...MAY 27...Polk Co.
Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster)...MAY 26...Sevier Co.
Speckled Kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki)...JUL 06...Cross Co.
Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum ssp.)...MAY 26...Polk Co.
Northern Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus aestivus)...MAY 11...Benton Co.
Great Plains Ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi)...JUN 28...Sebastian Co.
Western Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus)...APR 12...Franklin Co.
Variable Groundsnake (Sonora semiannulata semiannulata)...MAY 10...Carroll Co.
Flat-headed Snake (Tantilla gracilis)...APR 12...Faulkner Co.
Western Wormsnake (Carphophis vermis)...MAY 10...Carroll Co.
Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus ssp.)...APR 09...Benton Co.
Western Mudsnake (Farancia abacura reinwardtii)...APR 19...Conway Co.
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)...APR 12...Madison Co.
Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster ssp.)...MAY 12...Benton Co.
Broad-banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata confluens)...APR 12...Faulkner Co.
Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer)...JUN 24...Conway Co.
Midland Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis)...APR 28...Benton Co.
Graham's Crayfish Snake (Regina grahamii)...APR 26...Washington Co. *
Midland Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi wrightorum)...APR 13...Logan Co.
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata ssp.)...MAY 05...Benton Co.
Orange-striped Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus proximus)...MAY 27...Miller Co.
Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)...APR 28...Benton Co.
Rough Earthsnake (Virginia striatula)...JUN 28...Sebastian Co.
Western Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae elegans)...MAY 28...Polk Co.

Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris)...MAY 10...Carroll Co.
Northern Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis)...OCT 19...Pulaski Co.
Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus)...MAY 10...Carroll Co.
Southern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis)...MAY 28...Nevada Co.
Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)...MAR 27...Benton Co.
Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)...JUN 16...Garland Co.
Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis)...MAR 02...Clark Co.
Prairie Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis)...MAY 10...Carroll Co.

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)...APR 01...Benton Co.
Southern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis)...APR 26...Conway Co.
Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)...APR 28...Benton Co.
Ouachita Map Turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis)...JUN 26...Crawford Co.
Mississippi Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii)...APR 12...Faulkner Co.
Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna)...MAY 26...Sevier Co.
Three-toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis)...MAY 10...Benton Co.
Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)...APR 01...Benton Co.
Mississippi Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis)...APR 12...Conway Co.
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera ssp.)...JUN 26...Crawford Co.

* = Top target for 2014
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chris_mcmartin
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by chris_mcmartin »

Awesome! I like how you formatted your post to have a couple of large "highlight" shots followed by a series of smaller thumbnails.

I wonder why they call them "variable" ground snakes? :lol:

What county was the collared lizard from?
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Rich in Reptiles
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by Rich in Reptiles »

Wow! So many NEAT photos and species! I think my favorite is the series of alligator snapper photos, their texture is just amazing!
Soro
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by Soro »

I really like your pictures here! The ringed sallies, racer, ground snake, alligator snapper, and, of course, coachwhip shots are great!

And it was good meeting up with you. I would say being sick was a bigger bummer for me than not finding our target species. I know they are around, and that we have a chance to find them some other time.
NACairns
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by NACairns »

Wow that is a great haul A. annulatum. I know they are fall breeders but do you ever see adults active in the spring at all? Looks like a great second half of the year.
Thanks for sharing.
Nick
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NewYorkHerper16
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by NewYorkHerper16 »

Awesome post! Its really amazing how much diversity you have in Arkansas! I think my favorites were the ringed salamanders and the variable groundsnakes, both so beautiful!!
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IllinoisGuy
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by IllinoisGuy »

Love those ringed salamanders! Looks like you had a dynamite year.

-Edward
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pjfishpa
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by pjfishpa »

Great post! Love the format and the ringed salamanders.
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walk-about
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by walk-about »

Kaptainkory - Arkansas is indeed a magical place and your documentation of its herps is always so impressive and timely. The variation in those 'Variable' Ground snakes is always interesting. That W. Pyg is a real BEAUT!!! And the Ringed manders are always a treat to see. As others have said - love the format.

Rock ON!

Dave
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kaptainkory
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by kaptainkory »

Thanks all!!!
chris_mcmartin wrote:What county was the collared lizard from?
Carroll.
Soro wrote:And it was good meeting up with you. I would say being sick was a bigger bummer for me than not finding our target species. I know they are around, and that we have a chance to find them some other time.
I'll try to keep you updated on spring rains.
NACairns wrote:I know they are fall breeders but do you ever see adults active in the spring at all?
Rarely, but if I target the better migration crossings I can sometimes see an individual or two.
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herpseeker1978
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by herpseeker1978 »

Love that ringneck! Bummer it didn't make it! They can be tough captives!

Thanks for posting!
Josh
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Gary2sons
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by Gary2sons »

Congrats on yet another great year of field herping! :thumb:

Always enjoy the variable ground snakes. I really think the ones from Missouri and Arkansas are some of the best looking ones in the entire country. We found a few in the same spot for the 3rd straight year. Haven't had time to scout any other locations but there has to be more. They do seem to be on the top of the ridge with nothing down lower in the spot we herp.

Like others have said I like the many photos with the belly shots especially. Very impressive!

Good luck this coming year!

Gary
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justinm
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by justinm »

Kory,

Your posts are unique, and wonderful. I love the formatting you do. The Ringed Salamanders are wonderful to see in large numbers. Great photos as well. Overall this is a fantastic post. You seriously put the time in and it shows.
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mfb
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Re: 2014 Arkansas Herping - Late July to THE END

Post by mfb »

Fantastic observations! I really liked the box turtle eating. Your photo brought back memories of watching eastern box turtles feasting on wild black raspberries in PA.

Also interesting about the geckos. I did not know that there was a population in Arkansas.
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