1 Topic by ksuglennj

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Topic: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

So the captian and I headed out with hopes of finding 3 new county records. We plan to do this by fnding a cave in Franklin Co. Well we found our cave, but we only it 1/3 of our target species. We got a Cave Sallie (no Grottos or Dark-sided).

http://comp.uark.edu/~gmannin/HerpPosts/2007/Cave1.jpg

2 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

Computer problem, so this is the rest of my post.

I also flipped my first snake of the year. Just a little ringneck and not a good picture, but still the first. I also flipped a fence lizard and a 5 lined skink.

http://comp.uark.edu/~gmannin/HerpPosts/2007/ringneck1.jpg

To me one of the cooler finds was when Kory flipped two Ozark Zigzags (each with different color stripes, alomost the trifecta).

http://comp.uark.edu/~gmannin/HerpPosts/2007/zigzagmerge.jpg

Last a closing shot near the cave.

http://comp.uark.edu/~gmannin/HerpPosts/2007/scene1.jpg

I hope Kory will post some of his pictures and report, because he found things I did not photo graph.

Glennnnnnnnn

3 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

I'm working through the pictures right now.  It may be tomorrow night before I get them posted.

This is what I recall finding for the day:

Cave Salamander = 4 or 5 (New County Record for Franklin Co.)
Ozark Zigzag Salamander = 30+
Oklahoma Salamander = 30+
Western Slimy Salamander = ~3
Spotted Salamander Larvae = 30+
Unknown Ambystomid Larvae = 30+
Unknown Eurycea Larvae = 2

Spring Peepers = 10+ seen, 100+ calling
Dwarf American Toad = 1 calling
Bullfrog or Green Frog = 1
Wood Frog Tadpoles = 100+
Unknown Ranid Tadpoles = 30+

Five-lined Skink = 2
Eastern Fence Lizard = 1

Ringneck Snake = ~4
Plainbelly Water Snake = 1 (juvenile)
Unknown Nerodia = 1

On the Ozark Zigzags (for those who don't know), they come in three major color morphs: orange striped, yellow striped, and patternless.  Orange striped individuals are the most common by a large margin.  If I were to guess the ratios, I would say it's probably something like 50 orange to 5 yellow to 1 patternless.  By the end of the day, we had found examples of all three.  (No pics of the patternless specimen unfortunately.)

The Cave Sallies were the highlight of the day and we were a little disappointed, after a LOT of effort looking, in not finding a Dark-sided Sallie.  All in all, a good day...though I'm paying for it now with some muscle aches and pains!  HA!   cool

Kory Roberts: Email | Facebook | Flickr | Last.fm | YouTube

kaptainkory's Website

4 Reply by Stormcrow73

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

Very cool pics of the P. augusticlavius!  I've never had the chance to observe these so I didn't know anything about the 2 color forms.  Both of those in the pics look like males.

5 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

Thanks-

I will take your word on that they are males. I can only sex Ambystomatids in breeding condition.

Kory, My hands are tore up and sore, but worth the pain.

Glennn

6 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

A small selection of pics:

http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/12662-2/2C3V5996.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/12677-2/2C3V6011.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/12712-2/2C3V6045.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/12707-2/2C3V6043.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/12727-2/2C3V6055.jpg

You can see a few more on the gallery updates page.

Kory Roberts: Email | Facebook | Flickr | Last.fm | YouTube

kaptainkory's Website

7 Reply by Stormcrow73

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

ksuglennj wrote:

Thanks-

I will take your word on that they are males. I can only sex Ambystomatids in breeding condition.

Glennn

Glenn, I'm far from certain about this species, but males of most plethodontid species develop a pair of cirri from their upper lip during breeding season.  Both of those specimens appear to have them.

8 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

Stormcrow73 wrote:
ksuglennj wrote:

Thanks-

I will take your word on that they are males. I can only sex Ambystomatids in breeding condition.

Glennn

Glenn, I'm far from certain about this species, but males of most plethodontid species develop a pair of cirri from their upper lip during breeding season.  Both of those specimens appear to have them.


Thanks for the information. I will keep this in mind when out and about. I am just some poor lizard guy, who seems to learn more and more about sallies over the last 6-7 years.

Glenn

9 Reply by Stormcrow73

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Re: Some Ozark Nat Forest finds

Sexing sals is error prone for many species.  You can also look for the mental gland under the chin.  Males will often develop noticable crescent shaped patches under their chins during breeding season.  Here's a link to an EXCELLENT picture showing prominent cirri.  Most species do not develop them to this extent.  http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Euryc … eata.shtml  I'm pretty certain that Desmognathus develop no cirri at all. 

It's good to keep learning!!  I definitely want to start learning more about good old lizards!