Graham Reynolds and I decided to take a break from our academic obligations and headed to Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee for some herping. We left early Friday morning and stopped at a cave in Decatur County to look for cavefish. Afterwords, we headed the rest of the way to Reelfoot and arrived just in time to get dumped on by about 2 inches of rain and the threat of tornadoes. Fortunately the skies soon cleared and we were able to get out and look for a few things and drive around the lake.
During the day, we found:
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma (Western Cottonmouth) 1 DOR Nerodia fasciata confluens (Broad-banded Watersnake) 2
Thamnophis proximus proximus (Western Ribbonsnake) 2
Apalone spinifera spinifera (Eastern Spiny Softshell) 1
Chrysemys dorsalis (Southern Painted Turtle) TMTC
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii (Mississippi Map Turtle) TMTC
Kinosternon subrubrum (Eastern Mud Turtle) 1
Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared Slider) TMTC
Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog) TMTC
Bufo fowleri (Fowler's Toad) 1
Rana clamitans clamitans (Bronze Frog) 4
That night, another storm cell came in and dumped another 1-2 inches. We headed out for some amphibians and weren't disappointed:
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma (Western Cottonmouth) 6 DOR
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster (Yellow-bellied Watersnake) 1 juvenile
Ambystoma talpoideum (Mole Salamander) 1
Amphiuma tridactylum (Three-toed Amphiuma) 1
Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog) TMTC and calling
Bufo americanus charlesmithi (Dwarf American Toad) TMTC
Bufo fowleri (Fowler's Toad) TMTC and calling
Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope's Gray Treefrog) TMTC and calling
Hyla cinerea (Green Treefrog) TMTC
Pseudacris feriarum feriarum (Upland Chorus Frog) calling
Rana catesbeiana (American Bullfrog) 1 DOR
Rana clamitans clamitans (Bronze Frog) TMTC
Scaphiopus holbrookii (Eastern Spadefoot) TMTC and calling
The next day, the skies cleared and it was noticeably cooler and drier. However, some low clouds rolled into the area around midday and decreased reptile activity. We still managed to see quite a bit:
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma (Western Cottonmouth) 1
Lampropeltis getula holbrooki (Speckled Kingsnake) 1 DOR
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster (Yellow-bellied Watersnake) 7
Nerodia fasciata confluens (Broad-banded Watersnake) 3
Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer (Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake) 12
Nerodia sp. (Unknown watersnake) 6
Opheodrys aestivus aestivus (Northern Rough Greensnake) 2
Storeria dekayi wrightorum (Midland Brownsnake) 2
Thamnophis proximus proximus (Western Ribbonsnake) 3
Eumeces fasciatus (Common Five-lined Skink) 2
Scincella lateralis (Little Brown Skink) 3
Chelydra serpentina serpentina (Eastern Snapping Turtle) 1
Chrysemys dorsalis (Southern Painted Turtle) TMTC
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii (Mississippi Map Turtle) TMTC
Pseudemys concinna concinna (Eastern River Cooter) 1
Sternotherus odoratus (Stinkpot) 1
Terrapene carolina carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) 1
Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared Slider) TMTC
Amphiuma tridactylum (Three-toed Amphiuma) 1
Plethodon mississippi (Mississippi Slimy Salamander) 1
Acris crepitans (Eastern Cricket Frog) TMTC
Rana clamitans clamitans (Bronze Frog) 3
Rana sphenocephala utricularia (Southern Leopard Frog) 1
Some photographs:
Scaphiopus holbrookii (Eastern Spadefoot)
Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope's Gray Treefrog)
Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope's Gray Treefrog)
Hyla cinerea (Green Treefrog)
Rana clamitans clamitans (Bronze Frog)
Ambystoma talpoideum (Mole Salamander)
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster (Yellow-bellied Watersnake)
Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer (Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake)
Opheodrys aestivus aestivus (Northern Rough Greensnake)
Storeria dekayi wrightorum (Midland Brownsnake)
Scincella lateralis (Little Brown Skink)
Chrysemys dorsalis (Southern Painted Turtle)
Pseudemys concinna concinna (Eastern River Cooter)
Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared Slider)