Louisianna and/or East Texas this weekend; last minute trip

[joeysgreen]

I work at Oklahoma State University and at the threat of snow tomorrow they closed it down... yeehaw, four day weekend! So I rented a car and am driving until I find reptiles. I was thinking of LA, hoping I might at least see a basking diamondback terrapin or something. No research done for this trip because planning started an hour ago and I leave tomorrow morning.

Please let me know what might be in target this season, what the weather is like if you're local, places/parks I should visit, or if you have suggestions for a different direction (more east?). I'm easy to please, and I"ll see what I see, but I'm also eager to make my snowed-in Okies jealous

Thanks in advance!

Ian

[Jeff]

The past few days, and next week, are lows in the 60s, highs in the mid 70s for southern Louisiana - shirt is optional. I could show you some spots. Otherwise, look for bottomland hardwood forest and look for trash dumps.

Jeff

[joeysgreen]

Sweet thanks. That weather sounds incredible.
Where in LA are you? Might be neat to meet up if you're free Sat or Sun.

Ian

[joeysgreen]

Thanks Jeff, it was a trip of a lifetime. I don't have a flicker or photobucket account so hopefully this FB link will take you to some of the pic's that turned out https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

Red eared slider
5 lined skink
Green frog
Dekay's Brown Snake
Green Anole (lifer)
Pygmy Salamander (lifer)
Marbled Salamander (lifer)
Little Brown Skink
3 lined Salamander (lifer)
Bullfrog
Cricket Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Green Tree Frog
Rio Grande Chirping Frog (lifer)
Spring Peepers - calling only
Black Pine Snake = dead (lifer)
Slimy Salamanders
Squirrel Tree Frogs (lifer)
Alligator (lifer)
Cottonmouth
Black Masked Racer (lifer)
Western Ribbon Snake
Mississippi Green Water Snake
Broad banded Water snake (lifer)
Diamondback water snake
Western Ratsnake

[sonora]

Hi Ian,
Sounds like a fun trip. Your "pygmy" salamander is actually a dwarf salamander (Eurycea quadridigitata).

Steve

[joeysgreen]

Thanks Steve. I can suck at common names sometimes

[durissus]

Have to ask about the Black Pine Snake you listed .... ( DOR I'm guessing ? )

This was in Louisiana ? Reason I ask is according to a 2010 report by Duran who was doing the field work on them at the time, the Black Pine hadn't been seen in LA in over 30 years , which would now make it almost 40 years.

If this was a Black Pine it is a very significant find.

[FrogO_Oeyes]

You're within about 12 hours drive of about ten different [some undescribed] species of "slimy salamander", so depending on where you've seen them before, you may have at least one more lifer.

[durissus]

Any info on your Black Pine ; adult/young, locality, etc ?

[Coluber Constrictor]

Cool post, but that's not the Atlantic Ocean.