The Missouri Herpetological Association held its fifth annual fall field trip on the weekend of 24 - 26 Sep 2010 at Current River State Park, Shannon County, Missouri. The original field trip announcement will be retained for historical purposes.
Eight members, representing three different institutions, caught or observed more than 116 individual reptiles and amphibians, representing a total of 24 species. Several photographs are available of members and animals. Most collecting activity occurred on Sat 25 Sep 2010, but a few individual animals were caught on Friday. The entire weekend was characterized by cool evening temperatures and unseasonably cool, but mostly sunny, daytime conditions. Habitats searched included woodlands, glades, streams, ponds, rivers, and roads.
During the survey, a simple datasheet was used to record all finds. A copy of this document is in the standard portable document format (PDF), an ISO standard.
The total species list along with numbers of individuals can be seen below. The counts for a few species of anurans were augmented with calling individuals or larvae. The counts below that are designated with a plus (+) symbol are minimum estimates of the number of individuals observed for those species.
The MHA would like to thank the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for providing permission to use state park property for the field trip. Special appreciation is extended to Jim Newberry, park manager, for his hospitality during the weekend.
| Species | Common Name | Number | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salamanders (Caudata) | |||
| Ambystoma annulatum | Ringed Salamander | 1 |  |
| Ambystoma maculatum | Spotted Salamander | 1 | |
| Notophthalmus viridescens | Central Newt | 1 | |
| Plethodon albagula | Western Slimy Salamander | 11 | |
| Plethodon serratus | Southern Red-backed Salamander | 1 | |
| Frogs (Anura) | |||
| Anaxyrus fowleri | Fowler's Toad | 1 | |
| Acris crepitans | Northern Cricket Frog | 12 | |
| Pseudacris crucifer | Spring Peeper | 5+ | |
| Lithobates catesbeianus | Bullfrog | 20+ | |
| Lithobates palustris | Pickerel Frog | 1 | |
| Lithobates sphenocephalus | Southern Leopard Frog | 2 | |
| Lizards (Lacertilia) | |||
| Sceloporus consobrinus | Prairie Lizard | 30+ | |
| Plestiodon fasciatus | Common Five-lined Skink | 6 | |
| Scincella lateralis | Little Brown Skink | 6 | |
| Snakes (Serpentes) | |||
| Carphophis vermis | Western Wormsnake | 1 | |
| Coluber constrictor | North American Racer | 2 | |
| Diadophis punctatus | Ring-necked Snake | 2 | |
| Lampropeltis getula | Speckled Kingsnake | 1 | |
| Nerodia sipedon | Northern Watersnake | 2 | |
| Sistrurus miliarius | Western Pygmy Rattlesnake | 1 | |
| Turtles (Testudinata) | |||
| Sternotherus odoratus | Common Musk Turtle | 2 | |
| Graptemys geographica | Northern Map Turtle | 2 | |
| Terrapene carolina | Three-toed Box Turtle | 2 | |
| Trachemys scripta | Red-eared Slider | 3 | |