Topic: 2010 Wish Lists and Target Species
With the 2010 herping season now underway, I was just curious what people had for wish lists and target species. I'll start by listing the remaining species I have yet to find in AR, which will be a basis for targeting for the next couple of years.
* = Primary target for 2010.
01 Rocky Mountain Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii woodhousii)
...Could be tough to find a "pure" specimen in AR.
02 Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea) *
...Might have to sneak over into OK for a "close enough" specimen.
03 Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii)
...Not sure on this one; might have to take a shot at it some spring break if it rains hard...probably not this year.
04 Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
...Yes, for all the people that seem to turn these up, I have yet to claim my own.
05 Ozark Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) *
...Have an "in" for these; plan to knock it off the list this summer.
06 Red River Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus louisianensis) *
...Pretty much know where and how to find these, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
07 Western Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia nettingi)
...Know some people who would probably help me find these, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
08 Texas Coralsnake (Micrurus tener tener) *
...Will continue to try for these tricky little buggers until successful.
09 Slowinski's Cornsnake (Pantherophis slowinskii)
...Just talked to Kelly about these recently. Apparently there aren't any specimens for AR, so it probably deserves "hypothetical status" anyway.
10 Variable Groundsnake (Sonora semiannulata semiannulata) *
...Know the spots for these; should make an attempt or two for them this spring.
11 Mississippi Green Watersnake (Nerodia cyclopion)
...Know some people who could help me with these, they're just far away and trickier to find.
12 Graham's Crayfish Snake (Regina grahamii)
...Don't really have many leads on turning up one of these.
13 Western Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus)
...Know a spot or two where these have been found, just haven't had success with them yet.
14 Great Plains Skink (Plestiodon obsoletus) *
...Same as 02.
15 Southern Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis obtusirostris) *
...Same as 02.
16 Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) *
...Might join in for some turtle trapping this summer for these?
17 Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria)
...Don't really have much for leads on these.
18 Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata)
...Same as 02, though I'd really like to turn one up in AR.
19 Razor-backed Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus)
...Have a spot for these, just have to make the time for them.
20 Midland Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica mutica)
...Don't have a motorboat and these are on bigger rivers.
If I'm not working on this list, I'll be spending the spring (at least) in search of Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes. I also have a longer list of species I'd like to get better photographs. So, I'll have more than enough to keep me busy!
I figure if I can knock off WDR, get at least 3-4 from my list above, and get improved photographs for a few others...it will be a successful year. If I can ever get my Coralsnake, I've got to try for all the venomous in AR in a single year. I think that would be cool.
