The Missouri Herpetological Association held its fifth annual spring field trip on the weekend of 7 - 9 May 2010 at Sam A. Baker State Park, Wayne County, Missouri. The original field trip announcement will be retained for historical purposes.
Seven members, representing four different institutions, caught or observed more than 216 individual reptiles and amphibians, representing a total of 30 species. Several photographs are available of members and animals. Most collecting activity occurred on Sat 8 May 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.
A few species (including the Northern Red-bellied Snake and the Red-eared Slider) were new for the park. 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 Tim Turpin for his hospitality and for leading the group on Saturday.
| Species | Common Name | Number | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salamanders (Caudata) | |||
| Notophthalmus viridescens | Central Newt | 1 | |
| Hemidactylium scutatum | Four-toed Salamander | 3 | |
| Plethodon albagula | Western Slimy Salamander | 2 |  |
| Plethodon serratus | Southern Red-backed Salamander | 7 | |
| Frogs (Anura) | |||
| Anaxyrus americanus | American Toad | 64+ | |
| Anaxyrus fowleri | Fowler's Toad | 2 | |
| Hyla chrysoscelis | Cope's Gray Treefrog | 1 | |
| Acris crepitans | Northern Cricket Frog | 19+ | |
| Pseudacris crucifer | Spring Peeper | 4 | |
| Lithobates catesbeianus | Bullfrog | 37+ | |
| Lithobates clamitans | Green Frog | 3 | |
| Lithobates sphenocephalus | Southern Leopard Frog | 13+ | |
| Lizards (Lacertilia) | |||
| Sceloporus consobrinus | Prairie Lizard | 17+ | |
| Plestiodon fasciatus | Common Five-lined Skink | 2 | |
| Plestiodon laticeps | Broad-headed Skink | 1 | |
| Scincella lateralis | Little Brown Skink | 6+ | |
| Aspidoscelis sexlineata | Six-lined Racerunner | 1 | |
| Snakes (Serpentes) | |||
| Carphophis vermis | Western Wormsnake | 7 | |
| Coluber constrictor | North American Racer | 3 | |
| Diadophis punctatus | Ring-necked Snake | 2 | |
| Nerodia sipedon | Northern Watersnake | 1 | |
| Storeria occipitomaculata | Northern Red-bellied Snake | 1 | |
| Thamnophis sirtalis | Common Gartersnake | 1 | |
| Crotalus horridus | Timber Rattlesnake | 1 | |
| Turtles (Testudinata) | |||
| Chelydra serpentina | Eastern Snapping Turtle | 1 | |
| Graptemys geographica | Northern Map Turtle | 1 | |
| Pseudemys concinna | River Cooter | 6+ | |
| Terrapene carolina | Three-toed Box Turtle | 5 | |
| Trachemys scripta | Red-eared Slider | 3+ | |
| Apalone spinifera | Spiny Softshell | 1 | |