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