2007 | My Field Journal | Matthew L Niemiller

Cades Cove, GSMNP (15 November 2007)

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:41:36 -0500

Graham and I went up to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Blount Co., TN, to look for ambystomatids in Gum Swamp. Weather was cold because of the passage of a major front the night before. Temps were in upper 40s when we first arrived around 1:30 pm but fell to the upper 30s by 4:30 pm and snow showers were in the air. The Valley and Ridge around Knoxville received a considerable amount of rain last night (1.5 - 2.5") but the mountains apparently were spared. Gum Swamp was very dry and in serious need of rain. We found a few Ambystoma opacum clutches, two with attending females and two without. Here are the totals:

Ambystoma opacum (Marbled Salamander) 2 adult females and 4 clutches

Ambystoma talpoideum (Mole Salamander) dead adult under a log

Plethodon serratus (Southern Redback Salamander) 3

Notophthalmus v. viridescens (Redspotted Newt) 1

Other wildlife:

Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) 30+ (Hunters should be allowed into Cades Cove for at least one week during the year)

Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey) 13

Some pics:

Notophthalmus v. viridescens (Redspotted Newt) eft

Ambystoma opacum (Marbled Salamander) female w/ eggs

Ambystoma opacum eggs

Plethodon serratus (Southern Redback Salamander)

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer eating lichen

Orlando, Florida area (01 - 04 Nov 2007)

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 11:38:07 -0500

Graham Reynolds and I attended the Sigma Xi Conference this year in Orlando, Florida. Rather than stay in a fancy hotel, we stayed at his aunt and uncle's farm in Seminole County outside of Orlando. Troy and Terry are good people (Terry's also a good cook) and their hospitality is much appreciated. We were able to get in some herping and fishing on the farm. Although we didn't see many snakes with the passing of a major cold front (once again), we did find several amphibian and lizard species.

Species List:

Frogs:

Acris gryllus dorsalis (Florida Cricket Frog) 4

Bufo quercicus (Oak Toad) 1

Bufo terrestris (Southern Toad) 30+

Eleutherodactylus p. planirostris (Greenhouse Frog)

Gastrophryne c. carolinensis (Eastern Narrowmouth Toad) 2

Hyla cinerea (Green Treefrog) 10+

Hyla squirella (Squirrel Treefrog) 20+

Osteopilus septentrionalis (Cuban Treefrog) 10+

Rana catesbeiana (American Bullfrog) 1

Rana s. sphenocephala (Florida Leopard Frog) 20+

Scaphiopus h. holbrooki (Eastern Spadefoot) 4

Lizards:

Anolis carolinensis (Green Anole) 30+

Anolis s. sagrei (Cuban Brown Anole) 50+

Eumeces fasciatus (Five-lined Skink) 2

Eumeces laticeps (Broadhead Skink) 1

Hemidactylus fernatus (Common House Gecko) 10+

Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink) 1

Snakes:

Coluber constrictor priapus (Southern Black Racer) 1

Opheodrys aestivus (Rough Green Snake) 1

Crocodilians:

Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) 1

Turtles:

Apalone ferox (Florida Softshell) 2

Chelydra serpentina osceola (Florida Snapping Turtle) 1

Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) 2

Here are some pics:

Anolis s. sagrei (Cuban Brown Anole)

Hyla squirella (Squirrel Treefrog)

Rana s. sphenocephala (Florida Leopard Frog)

Scaphiopus h. holbrooki (Eastern Spadefoot)

Eleutherodactylus p. planirostris (Greenhouse Frog)

Anolis s. sagrei (Cuban Brown Anole)

Hemidactylus frenatus (Common House Gecko)

Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise)

Bufo quercicus (Oak Toad)

Bufo terrestris (Southern Toad)

Gastrophryne c. carolinensis (Eastern Narrowmouth Toad)

Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink)

Opheodrys aestivus (Rough Green Snake)

Rough Green Snake head shot

Some other flora and fauna:

Gopher Tortoise burrow

Anartia jatrophae (White Peacock Butterfly)

Plethodon welleri (Weller's Salamander)

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:35:04 -0400

My advisor Ben found some P. welleri in ne TN this past weekend. Here are a few shots I took.

Putnam County, TN Caving (25 Oct 2007)

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:09:04 -0400

Surveyed two caves in Putnam Co, TN outside of Cookeville along the Cumberland Plateau for cavefish and salamanders with Brian Miller, his son Joshua Miller, Mark Thurman with TWRA, and Thany Mann. First went to TPU431, a spring cave in the St. Louis Limestone. It was a pretty diverse cave with:

Typhlichthys subterraneus (Southern Cavefish) 2

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (Spring Salamander) 1

Eurycea longicauda longicauda (Longtail Salamander) 1

Eurycea lucifuga (Cave Salamander) 15

Rana palustris (Pickerel Frog) 4

Orconectes australis (A Cave Crayfish) 25

Outside of the cave, we found Plethodon dorsalis (Northern Zigzag Salamander) and a couple Desmognathus conanti (Spotted Dusky Salamander) in the stream.

Afterwards, we headed to TPU128 developed in the St. Louis Limestone. This cave lacked the amphibian diversity of the other cave but a large population of southern cavefish was observed:

Typhlichthys subterraneus (Southern Cavefish) 117

Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead) 2

Pimephales sp.

Eurycea lucifuga (Cave Salamander) 3

Orconectes australis (A Cave Crayfish) 50+

Troglobitic Phalangid 3

We also saw two YOY Plethodon dorsalis on the moss-covered bluff walls at the entrance.

Some photographs:

Typhlichthys subterraneus (Southern Cavefish)

A Troglobitic Phalangid

Eurycea lucifuga (Cave Salamander)

Plethodon dorsalis (Northern Zigzag Salamander)

Quiz: Can you name this species?

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:22:12 -0400

Final got around to taking a few shots of a unique salamander. What species/subspecies is this?

Great Smoky Mountain National Park (23 Oct 2007)

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:01:43 -0400

Graham, Stesha, and I went up to the park to run the roads for some amphibians since we received a decent, albeit limited, amount of rain yesterday. We had some pretty good success ending up with 11 species without having to flip a log or rock. Our totals:

Desmognathus conanti (Spotted Dusky Salamander) 10+

Desmognathus monticola (Seal Salamander) 1

Eurycea longicauda longicauda (Longtail Salamander) 1

Eurycea wilderae (Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander) 8

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi (Blue Ridge Spring Salamander) 1

Plethodon glutinosus (Northern Slimy Salamander) 3

Pseudotriton ruber schenki (Black-chinned Red Salamander) 4

Bufo americanus americanus (Eastern American Toad) 10+

Rana catesbeiana (American Bullfrog) 1

Rana clamitans melanota (Green Frog) 3

Rana sylvatica (Wood Frog) 1

Some pics:

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi (Blue Ridge Spring Salamander)

Rana sylvatica (Wood Frog)

Eurycea longicauda longicauda (Longtail Salamander) gravid female

Plethodon glutinosus (Northern Slimy Salamander)

Salamanders of Tennessee

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:09:04 -0400

Thought that I would post some of my favorite photographs of salamanders from Tennessee.

Ambystoma barbouri (Streamside Salamander)

Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamander) gravid female

Ambystoma talpoideum (Mole Salamander)

Ambystoma texanum (Smallmouth Salamander)

Ambystoma tigrinum (Eastern Tiger Salamander)

Amphiuma tridactylum (Three-toed Amphiuma)

Aneides aeneus (Green Salamander)

Desmognathus abditus (Cumberland Dusky Salamander)

Desmognathus conanti (Spotted Dusky Salamander) female with hatchlings

Desmognathus monticola (Seal Salamander)

Desmognathus quadramaculatus (Blackbelly Salamander)

Desmognathus santeetlah (Santeetlah Dusky Salamander)

Desmognathus wrighti (Pygmy Salamander)

Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined Salamander)

Eurycea lucifuga (Cave Salamander)

Eurycea wilderae (Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander)

Hemidactylium scutatum (Four-toed Salamander)

Gyrinophilus gulolineatus (Berry Cave Salamander)

Gyrinophilus palleucus palleucus (Pale Salamander)

Gyrinophilus palleucus necturoides (Big Mouth Cave Salamander)

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi (Blue Ridge Spring Salamander)

Necturus maculosus (Common Mudpuppy) juvenile

Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (Eastern Newt) eft

Plethodon glutinosus (Northern Slimy Salamander)

Plethodon glutinosus (Northern Slimy Salamander) juvenile with gold streak

Plethodon jordani (Jordan's Salamander)

Pseudotriton montanus (Mud Salamander)

Pseudotriton ruber ruber (Northern Red Salamander)

Siren intermedia nettingi (Western Lesser Siren)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (18 Oct 2007)

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:33:35 -0400

Headed up to the Chimneys area to look for some salamanders with hopes that it would rain. Once again, the weather did not cooperate. However did find a few sallies and some serpents DOR on the Hwy 73 between Gatlinburg and Treemont. Also saw several cool inverts. If anyone has an id for some the species, please let me know. Here is the list:

Desmognathus imitator (Imitator Salamander)

Desmognathus ocoee (Ocoee Salamander)

Desmognathus quadramaculatus (Blackbelly Salamander)

Desmognathus santeetlah (Santeetlah Dusky Salamander)

Elaphe spiloides (Midland Rat Snake)

Nerodia sipedon sipedon (Northern Watersnake)

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen (Northern Copperhead)

And some pics:

Desmognathus quadramaculatus (Blackbelly Salamander)

Desmognathus imitator (Imitator Salamander) dark phase

Brachoria sp. (millipede)

Missouri and Illinois (11 - 13 Oct 2007)

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:27:28 -0400

My lab mate, Graham Reynolds, and I set out for Missouri and Illinois on 10 Oct 2007 to visit my master's roommate, Brad (Bones) Glorioso, and his fiance Melita in Jackson, MO. Of course, doing some herping was top priority. After getting a late start, Graham and I stopped at Cedars of Lebanon State Forest to search for some snakes and lizards in the cedar glades. Unfortunately, the prolonged drought and recent passage of a cold front limited our success. Species seen during the 2 hour trip included:

Sceloporus undulatus (Eastern Fence Lizard)

Aspidoscelis s. sexlineata (Six-lined Racerunner)

Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog)

Notophthalmus v. viridescens (Eastern Newt)

After that disappointment we headed to Jackson, MO.

Early in the morning on 11 Oct 2007, Bones, Graham, and I set turtle traps in the lake and in the Mississippi River at Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County. Afterwards, we headed over to Snake Road in Union Co., IL, to look for some snakes. Again, the weather wasn't cooperating and no snakes were found. We find several amphibians all around water. Species seen included:

Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog)

Eurycea l. longicauda (Longtail Salamander)

Eurycea lucifuga (Cave Salamander)

Rana clamitans clamitans (Bronze Frog)

Plethodon serratus (Southern Redback Salamander)

Chrysemys picta (Painted Turtle)

Eurycea lucifuga subadult

On the way back to MO from Snake Road, we encountered a Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) on the Hwy 146. Next we head back to Trail of Tears State Park and searched some upland habitat, creeks, and the turtle traps. Totals included:

Notophthalmus v. louisianensis (Central Newt) larvae

Hyla chrysoscelis/versicolor (Gray Treefrog)

Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog)

Sceloporus consobrinus (Prairie Lizard)

Rana c. clamitans (Bronze Frog)

Rana catesbeiana (Bullfrog)

Rana sphenocephala (Southern Leopard Frog)

Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink)

Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster (Yellowbelly Watersnake)

Graptemys pseudogeographica (False Map Turtle)

Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster (Yellowbelly Watersnake)

Hyla chrysoscelis/versicolor (Gray Treefrog)

Graptemys pseudogeographica (False Map Turtle)

Later we briefly searched some ponds at Apple Creek Conservation Area and turned up a Bufo americanus charlesmithi (Dwarf American Toad) and several Rana sphenocephala (Southern Leopard Frog). The next morning on 12 Oct 2007 we head up towards St. Louis because Bones had an interview with MDC. While in the interview, Graham and I tried to herp but didn't come up with much. Only a single Ambystoma texanum (Smallmouth Salamander) in a dried vernal pond.

Ambystoma texanum (Smallmouth Salamander)

Afterwards, we headed south to check out some glade sites in Jefferson County in hopes of turning up a few snakes and maybe some Collared Lizards. We didn't do too bad. Species seen include:

Tropidoclonion lineatum (Lined Snake) - 4

Diadophis punctatus arnyi (Prairie Ringneck Snake) - 3

Masticophis flagellum flagellum (Eastern Coachwhip) - 1

Coluber constrictor flaviventris (Yellowbelly Racer) - 1

Lampropeltis getula holbrooki (Speckled Kingsnake) - 1

Sceloporus consobrinus (Prairie Lizard) - TMTC

Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink) - TMTC

Bufo americanus charlesmithi (Dwarf American Toad) - 2

Plethodon albagula (Western Slimy Salamander)

Eurycea lucifuga (Cave Salamander)

Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog)

Tropidoclonion lineatum (Lined Snake)

Lampropeltis getula holbrooki (Speckled Kingsnake)

Diadophis punctatus arnyi (Prairie Ringneck Snake) YOY

Masticophis flagellum flagellum (Eastern Coachwhip) Juvenile

Coluber constrictor flaviventris (Yellowbelly Racer) Juvenile

Plethodon albagula (Western Slimy Salamander)

The next day, 13 Oct 2007, we headed to a sand prairie remnant in SE Missouri before heading to Mingo National Wildlife Reserve near Puxico, MO. On the drive down to Mingo, we saw the highlight of the trip alive on the road, a magnificently colored Heterodon platyrhinos (Eastern Hognose Snake). We also saw two DOR C. constrictor flaviventris (Yellowbelly Racer) that day. At Mingo, we searched both upland and lowland habitats. Unfortunately, most of the snakes had bagged it in for the year and many of the vernal pools were dry making it difficult to locate numbers of ambystomatids. However, we did find:

Rana catesbeiana (Bullfrog)

Rana c. clamitans (Bronze Frog)

Rana sphenocephala (Southern Leopard Frog)

Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog)

Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamander)

Ambystoma opacum (Marbled Salamander)

Ambystoma talpoideum (Mole Salamander)

Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis (Central Newt) eft

Nerodia fasciata confluens (Broadband Watersnake)

Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma (Western Cottonmouth)

Sceloporus consobrinus (Prairie Lizard)

Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink)

Terrapene carolina triunguis (Three-toed Box Turtle)

Chrysemys dorsalis (Southern Painted Turtle)

Heterodon platyrhinos (Eastern Hognose Snake)

Ambystoma opacum (Marbled Salamander)

Nerodia fasciata confluens (Broadband Watersnake)

Some other wildlife and scenery:

Forbesichthys agassizii (Spring Cavefish)

Photo by Graham Reynolds

Centruroides vittatus (Striped Scorpion)

Junonia coenia (Buckeye Butterfly)

Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral Butterfly)

Argiope trifasciata (White-backed Garden Spider)

Mingo National Wildlife Reserve