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NewsletterNewsletter

Number 22

2009

Copyright 2009 Missouri Herpetological Association

Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (22), 2009 1

_MISSOURI HERPETOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER NO. 22_

Contents

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................2 ANNOUNCEMENTS............................................................................................................................................2 ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MHA.............3

POPULATION ECOLOGY AND METAPOPULATION DYNAMICS OF TURTLES ON MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS. T. AUSBERGER, K. SHEEHAN, C. ZIRKLE AND M.S. MILLS. INFLUENCE OF PRIOR EXPOSURE TO PREDATOR CUES ON THE OZARK ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius. J. PARSONS, A. MATHIS, AND A. CRANE. LANDMARK LEARNING BY THE OZARK ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius. A. CRANE AND A. MATHIS. MORPHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN THE OZARK SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius, FOLLOWING INFECTION WITH THE CHYTRID FUNGUS. A. MATHIS AND A. CRANE. DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY OF THREE MISSOURI SNAKE SPECIES. B.S. KOSEVA, A.H. DEBROT, D.R. ELLIOT, C.M. OWENS, AND C.E. MONTGOMERY. THE ECOLOGY OF A SNAKE COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN MISSOURI. P.J. MUELLEMAN AND C.E. MONTGOMERY. DETERMINANTS OF CONTEST OUTCOME AND THE USE OF AGGRESSIVE CALL IN THE GRAY TREEFROG, Hyla versicolor. M.S. REICHERT AND H.C. GERHARDT. ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE CONSERVATION IN OKLAHOMA. D.B. LIGON, B.FILLMORE AND D. MOORE. SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE RELATIVE MASS OF THE TESTIS AND SEXUAL SEGMENT OF THE KIDNEY IN THE OPHIDIA. R.D. ALDRIDGE, B.C. JELLEN AND D.S. SIEGEL. THE SUITABILITY OF ROADSIDE DITCHES AS HABITAT FOR AQUATIC SALAMANDERS. T.L. CRABILL AND R.A. SEIGEL. ONTOGENETIC CHANGES IN HABITAT USE AND SPATIAL PATTERNS IN THE COTTONMOUTH, Agkistrodon piscivorus. A. MUENSCH, B. GREENE, E. MENZEL AND A. CRANE.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES

NEW HERPETOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR MISSOURI IN 2009. R.E. DANIEL, B.S. EDMOND AND J.T. BRIGGLER .............................................................................................................7 NEW SIZE RECORDS FOR TWO MISSOURI TURTLES R.E. DANIEL …………………………..…… 9

ASSOCIATION EVENTS IN 2009. B.S. EDMOND ……………………………………………...……………. 10 ADDITIONS TO THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF REFERENCES ON THE HERPETOFAUNA OF MISSOURI. R.E. DANIEL ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 Cover art: Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus by Tom R. Johnson. Although presumed to have a statewide

distribution, this species has yet to be reported from much of the northern plains ecoregions or from the Mississippi Alluvial plain of the bootheel. The first reported observation of this species in Madison County appears among the new herpetological records appearing in this issue.


INTRODUCTION The Twenty-second Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association was held 26-27 September 2009 at Missouri State University Bull Shoals Field Station, Taney County, Missouri. This organization is designed to provide herpetologists in Missouri and surrounding states with an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas regarding current efforts in research and other professional activities. High on the list of priorities is to provide students, involved in research at either the graduate or undergraduate level, (1) the chance to interact with senior herpetologists, and (2) an outlet to present, in a semi-formal setting, the results of their labors. This newsletter is the result of a decision made at the inaugural meeting to provide a means of publicly acknowledging papers presented at this and subsequent annual meetings. Further, the newsletter will inform the herpetological community of new distribution records of Missouri’s herpetofauna, additions to the bibliography dealing with the state herpetofauna and provide an outlet for the publication of short notes dealing with the natural history of Missouri amphibians and reptiles.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 23rd Annual Meeting of the Missouri

Herpetological Association

The Twenty-third Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association will be held on 16-17 October 2010 at Reis Biological Station, Crawford County, Missouri. A “call for papers” and registration materials will be sent electronically in mid-July. For more information please contact Jeff Briggler at: Missouri Department of Conservation P.O.Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 (573) 751-4115 E-mail: [email protected]

MHA Spring Field Trip

The 2010 spring field trip will be held April 24-25 at Sam A. Baker State Park in northern Wayne County. The fall field trip this year will be held in late September at Montauk State Park in southwest Dent County. Beginning this year the fall field trip will not be held in conjunction with the annual meeting. Information about the field trips will be sent to MHA members and posted on the MHA website in mid March and mid August. The field trips are open to any one with an interest in amphibians and reptiles.

MHA on the Net

The Association has an official site on the Internet. Point your browser to http://www.moherp.org/ for copies of current and past publications and to view photos and information from past field trips and meetings. Send ideas, suggestions, comments, and content to the Webmaster ([email protected]).

Wanted

We still need artwork for future cover illustrations. Any species native to the state is acceptable; however, species described from Missouri type specimens and state species of conservation concern are particularly desirable. The species described from Missouri type specimens that haven't appeared on past covers are: Eurycea spelaea, Nerodia fasciata confluens, Carphophis vermis. Anyone wishing to contribute drawings for future issues can send submissions to Richard Daniel at: Division of Biological Sciences 114 Lefevre Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 E-mail: [email protected]


POPULATION ECOLOGY AND METAPOPULATION DYNAMICS OF TURTLES ON MISSOURI WESTERN

STATE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS

Teresa Ausberger1, Kristen Sheehan2, Colton Zirkle3 and Mark S. Mills1

1Department of Biology, Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, MO 64507; 2Benton High

School, St. Joseph, MO 64504; 3Central High School, St. Joseph, MO 64501

We have initiated a proposed long-term

study of the population ecology of turtles in nine ponds on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Our goals for the summer of 2009 were as follows: 1) to determine species composition in all nine campus ponds, 2) to permanently mark all individuals in order to initiate studies on population dynamics, growth, and movement of turtles among ponds or nearby water bodies (e.g., Otoe Creek), 3) to relate physical and biological properties of the ponds to turtle species composition and abundance. To date we have marked 42 turtles representing four species: 21 Chelydra serpentina, 13 Chrysemys picta, 7 Trachemys scripta, and 1 Apalone spinifera. The ponds differ in their size, depth, temperature, composition of bottom sediments (e.g. hard clay vs. silt), amount and make-up of vegetation in and surrounding the ponds, and presence and abundance of fishes among other factors. The ponds also vary greatly in their relative impact from this urban environment. For example, Pond 1 receives nearly all of its water from parking lot run-off and Pond 8 is spring fed. We have captured 2 snapping turtles in Pond 1 compared with 9 turtles of three species in Pond 8. We will test to determine if correlations exist between any of these pond attributes and turtle species composition or abundance.

INFLUENCE OF PRIOR EXPOSURE TO PREDATOR CUES ON THE OZARK ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon

angusticlavius.

Jenny Parsons, Alicia Mathis and Adam Crane

Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897

Detection of chemical cues is important

for avoidance of predation for many prey animals. Previous experiments have shown that Ozark zigzag salamanders (Plethodon angusticlavius) make behavioral changes when in direct contact with predatory chemical cues. We predicted that prior exposure to a predator cue would also affect the subsequent behavior of these salamanders. We collected chemical cues from ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus) which are known predators of these salamanders. During testing salamanders were removed from their home chambers and exposed them to the either the predator cue or to blank water (control treatment). After 5 min of exposure, salamanders were gently rinsed to remove any snake cues and were then returned to their home chambers. Their behaviors were recorded for an additional 5 min. Salamanders that had been previously exposed to snake cues spent significantly more time in escape behavior and performed more chemosensory sampling (nose-tapping) than salamanders in the control treatment. These results suggest that salamanders avoid areas where they have had previous encounters with predators. LANDMARK LEARNING BY THE OZARK

ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius

Adam Crane and Alicia Mathis

Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897

Although salamanders have been shown

to be able to learn some information through classical conditioning, spatial learning has been largely unstudied. We tested whether salamanders could learn to locate foraging areas through navigational landmarks. Training and testing arenas were large square Petri dishes. We trained 10 salamanders (Plethodon angusticlavius) to use landmarks (small rocks) to

Abstracts of Papers Presented at the

22nd Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological

Association

Reis Biological Station 26-27 September 2009


locate patches within the arena containing food (blackworms, Lumbriculus variegatus). At the corners of each arena were four plastic dishes, one containing blackworms and the other three empty. A rock was placed in front of the dish containing blackworms, and the location of the food-dish was randomly chosen for each training trial. A control group was also trained to feed on blackworms in the presence of a rock, but the rock was positioned randomly among the four dish locations so that the rock was not a reliable landmark for the worms. Although the length of the training period for individual salamanders varied (22-34 trainings per individual), the mean number of trainings for salamanders in the control and experimental groups was equal (30 training trials). During testing, no blackworms were present to eliminate any visual or chemical cues emanating directly from the prey. Individuals trained with the rock landmarks spent significantly more time in the area of the landmark than did control salamanders. This is the first report of salamanders learning to use landmarks in orientation. MORPHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL

CHANGES IN THE OZARK ZIGZAG SALAMANDER, Plethodon angusticlavius, FOLLOWING INFECTION WITH THE

CHYTRID FUNGUS

Alicia Mathis and Adam Crane Department of Biology, Missouri State

University, Springfield, MO 65897

For unrelated studies of salamander behavior, we collected Ozark zigzag salamanders (Plethodon angusticlavius) from sites in both Missouri and Arkansas. Unfortunately, in April 2009 there was an outbreak of disease among these laboratory animals, and over 50 died. Symptoms of disease included morphological (skin sloughing and loss of digits) and behavioral (raising the trunk legs or tail and apparently disoriented walking) effects. Six preserved specimens that had died following presentation of symptoms were sent to a genetic laboratory for testing for the presence of Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) or ‘chytrid,’ and 100% tested positive. Bd is an emerging amphibian disease that appears to be contributing to amphibian declines worldwide. In July 2009 we began treating the salamanders in our laboratory with an anti-fungal drug (intraconazole). These chemical treatments were

generally successful in stopping the Bd mortalities. We are uncertain as to how Bd became introduced to the animals in our laboratory. It seems likely that Bd came from either one or both of our collecting sites. Collection of swabs from field sites could reveal important information about the distribution of Bd in the Ozarks. We are not aware of any other studies that have found Bd in a terrestrial amphibian in the Ozarks.

DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY OF THREE MISSOURI SNAKE SPECIES

Boryana S. Koseva, Amanda H. DeBrot, Doug

R. Elliot, Chris M. Owens, and Chad E. Montgomery

Biology Department, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501

Optimal foraging theory predicts that a

snake will prey upon food items that maximize net energy gain because net energy intake directly affects an organism’s fitness, i.e. lifetime reproductive success. Digestive efficiency, the proportion of energy ingested absorbed through the gut wall, is an important component for determining the energy budget of an organism because not all energy ingested is available to the organism to do work. We determined the effect of prey type, prey mass, and snake body mass on the digestive efficiency of the Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon), the Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), and the Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis. obsoleta). We used snakes that represented the full range of adult body sizes for the respective species. We used prey types typically encountered in the wild by the respective species. Prey items included tadpoles and fish for N. sipedon and T. sirtalis and quail eggs and mice for P. obsoleta.

THE ECOLOGY OF A SNAKE COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN MISSOURI

Peter J. Muelleman and Chad E. Montgomery

Biology Department, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501

We conducted a mark recapture study

of the snake community on the property of Premium Standard Farms, Daviess County, near Trenton, Missouri from spring, 2008 to present.


We located snakes opportunistically within the rocky field and forest habitats surrounding the runoff reservoir of the property. For all captured snakes we measured snout-vent length, tail length, and weight. We marked snakes by PIT tagging or by tail clip if less than 20 grams. To date we have captured 150 individuals from seven species, including the threatened Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). Additionally in 2008, two adult female timber rattlesnakes that gave birth and three offspring from each litter were radio tracked to determine if neonates follow their mother to overwintering dens.

DETERMINANTS OF CONTEST OUTCOME AND THE USE OF THE AGGRESSIVE CALL IN THE GRAY

TREEFROG, Hyla versicolor

Michael S. Reichert and H. Carl Gerhardt Division of Biological Sciences, University of

Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211

Anuran amphibians are excellent models for studies of acoustic communication. Most of these studies have focused on the acoustic criteria of advertisement calls used by females to assess potential mates. However, other signals in the vocal repertoires of the same species have received little attention. In particular, many male frogs produce a distinctive aggressive call that is associated with aggressive interactions with other males. Although many species have aggressive calls, relatively few studies have examined their behavioral significance. Most importantly, we do not know what is being signaled by aggressive calls, and whether these signals are related to the outcome of aggressive contests. We have developed a methodology to stage aggressive interactions in the laboratory, and have begun applying it to describe the use of aggressive calls in aggressive interactions in the gray treefrog, Hyla versicolor. Our preliminary results indicate that body mass was an important determinant of the outcome of aggressive calling interactions, but not physical fights. When competitors were approximately equal in mass, the winner tended to be the individual that instigated aggressive calling. Thus, the aggressive call may serve a dual function: as a signal of body mass, and a conventional signal resolving contest outcomes when mass asymmetries are insufficient to resolve the interaction.

ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE CONSERVATION IN OKLAHOMA

Day B. Ligon1, Brian Fillmore2 and Dan

Moore3 1Department of Biology, Missouri State

University, Springfield, MO 65897; 2Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, Tishomingo, OK 73460;

3Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078

An alligator snapping turtle population

survey conducted in Oklahoma in the late 1990s revealed that the species no longer occurred in much of its historical range. The primary cause of such declines is postulated to be once-robust commercial turtle trapping combined with widespread river impoundment. A head-start program was initiated by Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery in response, and the first captive-bred hatchlings in the program were produced there in 2002. Since then, captive-reared juveniles have been reintroduced in two river systems. Additionally, 240 adult snapping turtles that were confiscated in Arkansas in 2006 have been translocated to the Washita River drainage in southern Oklahoma. Released turtles have been monitored via a combination of radio telemetry and mark-recapture techniques. These efforts have helped characterize habitat use patterns and produced confirmed sources of mortality of both adult and juvenile snapping turtles. Growth rates of captive-hatched juveniles that were released kept pace with growth of turtles maintained in captivity and fed ad libitum. Finally, nesting patterns and successful recruitment of offspring from translocated turtles has been observed.

SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE RELATIVE MASS OF THE TESTIS AND

SEXUAL SEGMENT OF THE KIDNEY IN THE OPHIDIA

Robert D. Aldridge, Benjamin C. Jellen and

Dustin S. Siegel Department of Biology, Saint Louis University,

St. Louis, MO 63103

Two major structures contribute to the ejaculate in squamates, the testis and the kidney. The testis produces sperm and the kidney produces fluids containing carbohydrates and proteins that are released during ejaculation. The


majority of North American male snakes have a reproductive cycle that is best described as post-ovulatory spermatogenesis in which sperm are produced in the summer months prior to hibernation and the spring mating season. Sperm are stored in the vas deferens during the winter. Because snakes are polygamous, the sperm of different males compete with one another to fertilize the ova. This intrauterine competition might select for those males who release more sperm during ejaculation to increase the chances of his success. However, because sperm are not being produced during the mating season, an increased ejaculate may limit the number of ejaculations a male can make. In this study we examine the relative importance of the testis and kidney mass by estimating the volume of tissue devoted to sperm production and kidney reproductive secretions in several snake taxa. Preliminary analysis suggests that the sexual portion of the kidney, at the time of mating, equals or exceeds the mass of the testis during peak sperm production. We propose that secretions of the sexual segment, in some snakes, create a viscous barrier to reduce the likelihood of sperm of subsequent matings from reaching the oviduct and may increase the ejaculate volume to facilitate the sperm movement in the oviduct.

THE SUITABILITY OF ROADSIDE DITCHES AS HABITAT FOR

SALAMANDERS.

Trisha L. Crabill and Richard A. Seigel Department of Biological Sciences, Towson

University, Towson, MD 21252 Roadside ditches are prevalent in many

areas and inhabited by a variety of wildlife. To better understand their role in supporting wildlife, we compared populations of sirens in roadside ditches to those in natural wetlands at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sirens were sampled from August 2005 – August 2006 at two ditch sites and at two swale sites. I used wire-mesh and crayfish traps to capture sirens and anesthetized animals in MS-222 to record morphological measurements and to mark with PIT tags. To compare survivorship between habitats, 10 sirens from each habitat type were implanted with radio transmitters. There was no difference between habitat types in the mean size of sirens captured, growth rates, Catch per Unit Effort, body condition or

survivorship. Considering the use of roadside ditches by a variety of wildlife and their potential to supplement declining, natural wetlands, resource managers should incorporate these habitats into management strategies.

ONTOGENETIC CHANGES IN HABITAT USE AND SPATIAL PATTERNS IN THE COTTONMOUTH, Agkistrodon piscivorus

Alex Muensch, Brian Greene, Evan Menzel

and Adam Crane Department of Biology, Missouri State

University, Springfield, MO 65897 Home range size and location are

among the most important aspects of animal ecology because they are affected by a multitude of factors. Individual differences in resource requirements often explain spatial pattern variation within populations. Understanding variation in snake home range size and movement patterns has been a common objective of numerous radiotelemetry studies which have often revealed proximate influences of resource distribution and behavioral interactions on spatial patterns. Recent studies on a stream-associated cottonmouth population in southwest Missouri have indicated that spatial variation can be explained by a combination of ecological factors. Despite considerable individual variation, there was a significant positive body size influence on home range size. Additional sources of individual variation were attributed to differential responses to habitat-specific resources related to prey distributions and thermoregulatory opportunities. Adult male home ranges were always centered on grassland habitat patches that contained dense populations of cotton rats, the most appropriately-sized rodent prey, while gravid females were typically associated with very small rocky outcroppings that provided optimal thermal regimes for gestation. Juvenile snakes occupied the smallest home ranges of all monitored snakes and remained in close proximity to the stream habitat. The clear resource-driven differences in home range size and location observed in this study suggest that understanding the location and dispersion of key resources and physiological challenges faced by different individuals should help elucidate the ecological causes of spatial patterns in comparative studies across aquatic systems and geographic locations.


NEW HERPETOLOGICAL

DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR MISSOURI IN 2009

Richard E. Daniel1, Brian S. Edmond2 and Jeffrey T. Briggler3

1Division of Biological Sciences, University of

Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 2

Computer Services, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897

3Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102

The following list represents new county records accumulated or brought to our attention since the publication of Johnson (2000), Daniel and Edmond (2000, 2001) and Daniel et al. (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). Publication of these records extends our knowledge of the amphibians and reptiles native to Missouri. In addition, recipients of this list have the opportunity to update checklists and distribution maps. Finally, the publication of this list allows us to acknowledge the contributions of the many individuals who have provided information or specimens. The specimens listed below represent the first reported occurrence of the species within a given county and are based on catalogued voucher specimens or photographs deposited in a public institution. Distribution records are presented in the standardized format of Collins (1989): common and scientific name, county, specific locality (unless withheld for species of special concern), legal description of locality, date of collection, collector(s), institution and catalogue number where the specimen is deposited. The specimens reported in this note have been deposited in the Dean E. Metter Memorial Collection, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Unless otherwise indicated, all distribution records are documented by post-metamorphic/hatchling fluid preserved specimens. We would like to extend our appreciation to M. Bowyer, S. Farrington, J. Girondo, D. Greenfield, K. Kelly, B. Krager, K. Lewis, K. Loraff, J. Mittlehauser, C. Montgomery, T. Nagel, M. Ormsby, J. Par, C.

Raimond, R. Rimer and A. Trombley for generously providing specimens and photographs used in this note. AMPHIBIA: CAUDATA RINGED SALAMANDER Ambystoma annulatum Maries Co.: Spring Creek Gap Conservation Area (S3 T39N R8W); 22 April 2009; J. Par (digital photo, UMC 1676P). Webster Co.: Rt. ZZ, 0.8 mi. N Jct. Rt. F (S5 T31N R16W); 22 September 2009; D. Greenfield (digital photo, UMC 1793P). TIGER SALAMANDER Ambystoma tigrinum Douglas Co.: Co. Rd. 246 (S27 T26N R13W); 12 November 2009; S. Young (digital photo, UMC 1798P). FOUR-TOED SALAMANDER Hemidactylium scutatum Butler Co.: Wappapello National Guard Training Site (S21 T26N R7E); 16 October 2007; A. Trombley (digital photo, UMC 1656P). SOUTHERN RED-BACKED SALAMANDER Plethodon serratus Ripley Co.: Buffalo Creek at Rt. C (S20 T24N R1E); 22 March 2009; B. Edmond (digital photo, UMC 1663P). AMPHIBIA: ANURA AMERICAN TOAD Anaxyrus americanus Gasconade Co.: MO 19 Jct. Rt. H (S36 T46N R5W); 9 April 2009; B. Edmond, M. Bowe (digital photo, UMC 1673P). SPRING PEEPER Pseudacris crucifer Monroe Co.: Robert M. White Conservation Area (S25 T53N R9W); 7 March 2009; R. Daniel (UMC 8175). PICKEREL FROG Lithobates palustris Iron Co.: Taum Sauk Mountain State Park (S8 T33N R3E); 9 May 2009; MHA field trip, collector unknown (digital photo, UMC 1708P). WOOD FROG Lithobates sylvaticus Carter Co.: Mark Twain National Forest, FS 4822 (S13 T25N R1W); 10 March 2009; R. Rimer (egg masses, digital photo, UMC 1829P).

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES


REPTILIA: SQUAMATA (LIZARDS) COAL SKINK Plestiodon anthracinus Iron Co.: Taum Sauk Mountain State Park (S5 T33N R3E); 9 May 2009; MHA field trip, collector unknown (digital photo, UMC 1710P). Ripley Co.: Co. Rd. K-5, 2.0 mi. E Jct. Rt. K (S36 T25N R3E); 4 August 2009; M. Ormsby (digital photo, UMC 1726P). FIVE-LINED SKINK Plestiodon fasciatus Adair Co.: Thousand Hills State Park, Forest Lake (T62N R16W); 10 May 1963; J. Beary (UMC 8677). WESTERN SLENDER GLASS LIZARD Ophisaurus attenuatus Madison Co.: Mark Twain National Forest, Little Grass Mountain (S17 T32N R6E); 26 April 2009; R. Welly, L. Tracy, R. Daniel, B. Edmond, MU Herpetology Class (digital photo, UMC 1831P). REPTILIA: SQUAMATA (SNAKES) COACHWHIP Coluber flagellum Montgomery Co.: Danville Conservation Area (S8 T47N R5W); 29 September 2009; M. Ormsby (digital photo, UMC 1800P). PRAIRIE KINGSNAKE Lampropeltis calligaster Grundy Co.: 5 mi. N Trenton (T62N R24W); 4 May 1964; H.D. Crawford (UMC 8644). RED MILKSNAKE Lampropeltis triangulum Grundy Co.: 1 mi. N Edinburg (T61N R25W); 1 June 1964; D. Thomas, R. White (UMC 8635). EASTERN HOG-NOSED SNAKE Heterodon platirhinos Buchanan Co.: Co. Rd. 41 SW, approx. 2.3 air mi. WSW Kirschner (S34 T57N R36W); 30 April 2009; T. Nagel (digital photo, UMC 1786P). Clark Co.: (S14 T64N R6W); 2 June 1979; collector unknown (UMC 8689). Grundy Co.: Trenton (T61N R24W); 17 September 1963; H.D. Crawford (UMC 8641). DIAMONDBACK WATERSNAKE Nerodia rhombifer Grundy Co.: 1 mi. N Trenton (T61N R24W); 7 May 1964; H.D. Crawford (UMC 8696).

DEKAY’S BROWNSNAKE Storeria dekayi Buchanan Co.: Missouri Department of Conservation NW Regional Headquarters (S13 T57N R35W); 21 August 2009; R. Anderson (digital photo, UMC 1792P). RED-BELLIED SNAKE Storeria occipitomaculata Ripley Co.: Co. Rd. 160 W-7 0.6 mi NW Jct. US 160 (S17 T23N R2E); 12 September 2009; K. Kelly (digital photo, UMC 1781P). Off Co. Rd. K-5 (S35 T25N R3E); 24 August 2009; A. O’Conner (digital photo, UMC 1815P). WESTERN RIBBONSNAKE Thamnophis proximus Adair Co.: MO 149, 0.1 mi. N Jct. Sand Creek Bottom Rd. (S29 T64N R16W); 20 April 2008; C. Montgomery (UMC 8648). PLAINS GARTERSNAKE Thamnophis radix Grundy Co.: 1 mi. E Trenton (T61N R24W); 17 April 1964; H.D. Crawford (UMC 8638). WESTERN SMOOTH EARTHSNAKE Virginia valeriae Moniteau Co.: 3 mi. S Sandy Hook (S28 T46N R14W); 20 April 2008; B. Krager, J. Johnson, B. Whitfield (UMC 8160). COPPERHEAD Agkistrodon contortrix Lawrence Co.: Rt. N, 0.2 mi. S Jct. I-44 (S31 T29N R25W); 6 September 2009; B. Edmond, M. Bowe (digital photo, UMC 1734P). St. Francois Co.: St. Francois State Park (S25 T38N R4E); 7 May 2009; K. Lewis (digital photo, UMC 1694P). TIMBER RATTLESNAKE Crotalus horridus Iron Co.: Taum Sauk Mountain State Park (S8 T33N R3E); 9 May 2009; M. Cravens (digital photo, UMC 1713P). Sullivan Co.: Rt. YY, 0.1 mi. N Spring Creek (S22 T64N R18W); July 2009; C. Montgomery (UMC 8693). MASSASAUGA Sistrurus catenatus Audrain Co.: location withheld; 25 September 2009; collector’s name withheld (digital photo, UMC 1794P).


REPTILIA: TESTUDINES WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE Chrysemys picta Crawford Co.: MO 8 Jct. Meramec Farms Rd. (S8 T37N R5W); 8 May 2009; J. Briggler (digital photo, UMC 1827P). Phelps Co.: Mark Twain National Forest, FS 1567 (S12 T36N R10W); B. Edmond, R. Daniel (shell, UMC 8166). MO 72, 0.3 mi. SE Jct. Rt. O (S18 T37N R7W); 10 May 2009; R. Daniel, K. Cannon (UMC 8711). MO 72 Jct. Co. Rd. 162 (S4 T36N R7W); 10 May 2009; R. Daniel, K. Cannon (digital photo, UMC 1771P). 14790 Co. Rd. 2310, St. James (S13 T38N R7W); 21 May 2009; J. Gironda (digital photo, UMC 1789P). NORTHERN MAP TURTLE Graptemys geographica Iron Co.: Big Creek (S9 T30 N R4E); 8 May 2009; B. Edmond, M. Bowe (digital photo, UMC 1696P). FALSE MAP TURTLE Graptemys pseudogeographica Dunklin Co.: Old channel St. Francis River (S29 T22N R8E); 26 May 2009; M. Bowyer, T. Lescher (digital photo, UMC 1791P). RED-EARED SLIDER Trachemys scripta Montgomery Co.: MO 94 JCT. RT. P (S31 T46N R5W); 8 September 2009; R. Daniel (digital photo, UMC 1775P).

Literature Cited Collins, J.T. 1989. New records of amphibians

and reptiles in Kansas for 1989. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (78): 16-21.

Daniel, R.E. and B.S. Edmond. 2000. New and previously unreported distribution records of amphibians and reptiles in Missouri for 2000. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (13): 14-19.

Daniel, R.E. and B.S. Edmond. 2001. New and previously unreported distribution records of amphibians and reptiles in Missouri for 2001. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (14): 7-12.

Daniel, R.E., B.S. Edmond and J.T. Briggler. 2002. New and previously unreported distribution records of amphibians and reptiles in Missouri for 2002. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (15): 9-15.

Daniel, R.E., B.S. Edmond and J.T. Briggler. 2003. New and previously unreported herpetological records from Missouri for 2003. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (16): 11-15.

Daniel, R.E., B.S. Edmond and J.T. Briggler. 2004. New herpetological records from Missouri for 2004. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (17): 9-12.





Johnson, T.R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri (second ed.). Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.

NEW SIZE RECORDS FOR TWO

MISSOURI TURTLES

Richard E. Daniel Division of Biological Sciences, University of

Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211

Edmond and Daniel (2001, Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (14): 15-16.) provided the most recent compilation of maximum size records for Missouri amphibians and reptiles. During 2009 two turtles that exceeded these size maxima came to my attention. Both records are deposited in the Dean E. Metter Memorial Collection at the University of Missouri-Columbia. On May 12, 2009 Mark Zurbrink collected a large female Pseudemys concinna at the junction of US 54 and Nichols Rd. near the Lake Regional Health Center in Osage Beach in Camden Co. The carapace length of 33.6 cm was larger than the previous record specimen


collected in Taney Co. The specimen was photographed and released (UMC 1787P). A series of Kinosternon flavescens recently transferred to the University of Missouri collection contained a male with a carapace length of 13.2 cm. The specimen (UMC 8603) was collected from the Rose Pond Conservation Area located approximately 5 miles SSE of Wayland in Clark Co. on May 23, 1980.

ASSOCIATION EVENTS IN 2009

Brian S. Edmond Computer Services, Missouri State University,

Springfield MO 65897

Introduction For the fourth year, the Missouri

Herpetological Association sponsored three official events: the traditional annual meeting and two field trips. A total of 45 individuals attended at least one of these events. Eleven scientific papers were presented during the twenty-second annual meeting and countless conversations, anecdotes, tales, and plans were exchanged among the members attending the various events.

More than 410 individual reptiles and amphibians were observed on the two field trips, representing 26 species (4 salamanders, 7 anurans, 6 lizards, 9 snakes, 1 turtle). Individual animals collected or photographed were deposited in the University of Missouri’s Dean E. Metter Memorial Collection and will thus be reported as new records where appropriate and used in future updates of R.E. Daniel and B.S. Edmond Atlas of Amphibian and Reptiles of Missouri (http://atlas.moherp.org/). Furthermore, an official field trip report was provided to the Department of Natural Resources, sponsor of the spring field trip at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.

Photos and details for all association events, past and future, can be found on the “Events” page of the Association’s web site (http://www.moherp.org/).

Spring 2009 Field Trip: Taum Sauk Mountain

State Park The spring field trip was held the

weekend of 8 - 10 May 2009 at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Iron County, Missouri. The purpose of the trip was a preliminary

herpetological survey of select portions of the park.

Nine participants caught more than 300 individual reptiles and amphibians, representing a total of 24 species. The majority of collecting activities occurred on Sat 9 May 2009, but some individual animals were caught on the preceding Friday. Most of the weekend was characterized by pleasant evening temperatures and warm daytime conditions. Saturday began cloudy and overcast, but the sun appeared late in the morning and the high temperature for the day approached 80oF. Habitats searched included woodlands, glades, streams, ponds, rivers, and roads. A thunderstorm producing extensive local wind damage occurred on Fri 8 May 2009 and several trees in the park were uprooted or otherwise permanently damaged. Many local residents in the areas remained without power as the group left the area Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Several new localities were documented for Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, including one unverified county record (i.e., previously reported county record that lacks a supporting voucher) (Great Plains Ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi)) and three new county records: Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris), Southern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus), and Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). The complete species list can be seen in Table 1. Several species of anurans were well-represented with calling individuals. The counts below that are designated with an asterisk (*) 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 throughout the park on Saturday.

Annual Meeting: Bull Shoals Field Station

The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association was held on 26 - 27 September 2009 at Bull Shoals Field Station near Kirbyville, Taney County, Missouri. A total of 34 members, representing 9 institutions and agencies, attended this years meeting. Eleven scientific papers were presented during the regular meeting. A short business meeting followed the last regular presentation.


Business meeting discussion topics included the date and location of the 2010 fall meeting.

The Association would like to extend a special appreciation to Alicia Mathis and Missouri State University for graciously hosting the meeting and allowing members to stay overnight gratis at the field station.

Fall 2009 Field Trip: Coy Bald, Hercules Glades Wilderness Area

The fall field trip was held on Sunday 27 September 2009 at Coy Bald, Hercules Glades Wilderness Area, Mark Twain National Forest,

Taney County, Missouri. The purpose of the trip was a brief survey of select portions of the area. Twenty participants caught or observed more than 110 individual reptiles and amphibians, representing a total of 14 species. The entire weekend was characterized by cool temperatures, including the morning of the field trip. Habitats searched included glades, wooded hillsides, shady ravines, and a portion of Long Creek. The complete species list can be seen in Table 1. Spring peepers were heard calling in several places and a freshly-hatched southern leopard frog egg mass was found in a roadside puddle.

Upper Photo: Crotaphytus collaris (Eastern Collared Lizard) from Taum Sauk State Park.

Lower Photo: Sonora semiannulata (Western Groundsnake) from Coy Bald, Hercules Glades Wilderness.


Table 1. List of species captured or observed during the Association's 2009 field trips. An asterisk (*) indicates that the number represents a minimum count for that species.

Species Common Name No Taum Sauk Mtn SP

Coy Bald

Salamanders (Caudata) Notophthalmus viridescens Central Newt 1 +

Eurycea longicauda Long-tailed Salamander 1 + Plethodon albagula Western Slimy Salamander 17 + + Plethodon serratus Southern Red-backed Salamander 3 +

Anaxyrus americanus American Toad 18* + +

Acris crepitans Cricket Frog 25* + + Hyla chrysoscelis Cope's Gray Treefrog 25* +

Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper 18* + + Lithobates clamitans Green Frog 12* + Lithobates palustris Pickerel Frog 3 +

Lithobates sphenocephalus Southern Leopard Frog 66* + +

Aspidoscelis sexlineata Six-lined Racerunner 1 + Plestiodon anthracinus Southern Coal Skink 1 +

Plestiodon fasciatus Common Five-lined Skink 14 + + Scincella lateralis Little Brown Skink 24 + +

Crotaphytus collaris Eastern Collared Lizard 13 + + Sceloporus consobrinus Prairie Lizard 110 + +

Carphophis vermis Western Wormsnake 9 + +

Diadophis punctatus Ring-necked Snake 10 + + Lampropeltis getula Speckled Kingsnake 2 +

Lampropeltis triangulum Red Milksnake 2 + Pantherophis emoryi Great Plains Ratsnake 1 + Sonora semiannulata Variable Groundsnake 1 +

Tantilla gracilis Flat-headed Snake 4 + Virginia striatula Rough Earthsnake 11 + Crotalus horridus Timber Rattlesnake 1 +

Terrapene carolina Three-toed Box Turtle 5 +


ADDITIONS TO THE

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF REFERENCES ON THE HERPETOFAUNA OF

MISSOURI

Compiled by Richard E. Daniel

Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211

The following is a list of references dealing with the biology of amphibians and reptiles from Missouri that have been brought to my attention since the publication of Johnson (2000), Powell and Daniel (2000), and Daniel (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). Readers are requested to notify the author of any additional references that should be included in future compilations. Crowhurst, R.S, J.T. Briggler, J.B. Koppelman,

K.M. Lohraff and J.A. Civiello. 2009. Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis: Multiple clutches. Herpetological Review 40(2): 195.

Daniel, R.E. 2008. Scavenging behavior of Thamnophis sirtalis. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (21): 15.

Daniel, R.E. 2008. New size records for four Missouri Snakes. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (21): 16.

Daniel, R.E. 2008. Additions to the bibliography of references on the herpetofauna of Missouri. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (21): 21-23.

Daniel, R.E., B.S. Edmond and J.T. Briggler. 2008. New Herpetological records from Missouri for 2008. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter (21): 9-14.

Dierenfeld, E.S., K.J. McGraw, K. Fritsche, J.T. Briggler and J. Ettling. 2009. Nutrient composition of whole crayfish (Orconectes and Procambarus species) consumed by hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). Herpetological Review 40(3): 324-330.

Mott, C.L., M.A. Steffen and S.A. Albert. 2009. Geographic Distribution: Storeria

dekayi. Herpetological Review 40(2): 239.

Pyron, R.A. and F.T. Burbrink. 2009. Systematics of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula: Serpentes: Colubridae) and the burden of heritage in taxonomy. Zootaxa. (2241): pp. 22-32.

Pyron, R.A. and F.T. Burbrink. 2009. Lineage diversification in a widespread species: roles for niche divergence and conservatism in the Common Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula. Molecular Ecology. 18: pp. 3443–3457.

Rittenhouse, T.A.G., R.D. Semlitsch and F.R. Thompson III. 2009. Survival costs associated with Wood Frog breeding migrations: effects of timber harvest and drought. Ecology. 90(6): pp. 1620-1630.

Sabatino, S.J. and E.J. Routman. 2009. Phylogeography and conservation genetics of the Hellbender salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). Conservation Genetics. 10: pp. 1235–1246.

Scheffers, B., E. McDonald, D. J. Hocking, C.A. Conner and R.D. Semlitsch. 2009. Comparison of two artificial cover objects for sampling herpetofaunal communities in Missouri. Herpetological Review 40(4): 419-421.

Semlitsch, R.D., B.D. Todd, S.M. Blomquist, A.J.K. Calhoun, J.W. Gibbons, J.P. Gibbs, G.J.Graeter, E.B, Harper, D.J. Hocking, M.L. Hunter Jr., D.A. Patrick, T.A.G. Rittenhouse and B.B. Rothermel. 2009. Effects of Timber Harvest on amphibian populations: understanding mechanisms from forest experiments. BioScience 59(10): 853-862.

Stone, M.D. and D. Moll. 2009. Abundance and diversity of seeds in digestive tracts of Terrapene carolina and T. ornata in southwestern Missouri. Southwestern Naturalist 54(3): 346-350.

Literature Cited Daniel, R.E. 2001. Additions to the bibliography

of amphibians and reptiles in Missouri. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter. (14): 17-18.

Daniel, R.E. 2002. Additions to the bibliography of amphibians and reptiles in Missouri.


Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter. (15): 39-40.

Daniel, R.E. 2003. Additions to the bibliography of references on the herpetofauna of Missouri. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter. (16): 19-20.






Johnson, T.R. 2000. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri (2nd ed.). Missouri Dept. Conservation. Jefferson City, MO.

Powell, R and R.E. Daniel. 2000. Additions to the bibliography of amphibians and reptiles in Missouri. Missouri Herpetological Association Newsletter. (13): 22-23.

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