Field Herpetology: Biology 290
May Term 2003
Professor: Dr.
Office: Carver Science 304
Office hours: by appointment
Phone: 961-1821 (office), 440-3690 (home),
email: parmelee@simpson.edu Web site:
www.simpson.edu/~parmelee
Course Description
In this course we will become familiar with the identification and natural
history of reptiles and amphibians in
Course Objectives
- Identification and natural history of amphibians and reptiles in our area
- Identification of frogs by their vocalizations
- Basics of wildlife photography
- Handling of reptiles and amphibians, including venomous rattlesnakes
- Assist in snake surgery to implant radiotransmitters
- Radiotelemetry and ecological techniques
- Drift fence with pitfall and funnel trap construction
- Small mammal trapping and identification
- Turtle trapping and identification
Required Materials
- Oldfield,
B. and J. J. Moriarty. 1994. Amphibians and Reptiles native to
- Small notebook
Exams and Grading
The final grade for the course will be based on the following:
Practical exam: 25%, Paper: 30%, Field notebook: 15%, Participation: 30%
Attendance
There will be several night trips to study frogs, and other trips outside of our normal class time so a flexible schedule is necessary.
We observed 25 species of native amphibians and reptiles:
American toad, Bufo americanus
Grey treefrog, Hyla
versicolor/chrysoscelis
Western chorus frog, Pseudacris
triseriata
Spring peeper, Pseudacris
crucifer
Cricket frog, Acris crepitans
Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana
Northern leopard frog, Rana
pipiens
Plains leopard frog, Rana
blairi
Snapping turtle, Chelydra
serpentina
Painted turtle, Chrysemys
picta
Ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata
Northern prairie skink, Eumeces septentrionalis
Northern water snake, Nerodia
sipedon
Eastern garter snake, Thamnophis
sirtalis
Plain’s garter snake, Thamnophis radix
Brown snake, Storeria dekayi
Smooth earth snake, Virginia valeriae
Worm snake, Carphophis vermis
Smooth green snake, Lioclonorophis
vernalis
Racer, Coluber
constrictor
Bullsnake, Pituophis
melanoleucus
Fox snake, Elaphe vulpina
Milk snake, Lampropeltis
triangulum
Massasauga, Sistrurus
catenatus
Timber rattlesnake, Crotalus
horridus
Searching
for frogs calling at night
bag 'o treefrogs
Gray treefrogs mating
Building Drift fences:
Drift fence construction
Funnel traps for drift fence
We
just say "no" to crack
A dirty female rattlesnake later implanted with a radio transmitter
This female was a recapture from last year. We implanted a transmitter in
her as well.
The "tube" method of capturing rattlesnakes
Why we use a tube.
A beauty...
This box mysteriously arrived...
Do not try this at home, an Eastern coral snake, Micrurus f. fulvius
milking venom
Borneo Pit Viper, Trimeresures borneensis
Camping at
cooking with only tin foil and sticks
Lindsay
really likes smores...
Wapsi
greenbelt area in
We saw 7 Massasauga's (Sistrurus
catenatus), Terry
VanDeWalle is radiotracking this female.
Angry foxsnake (Elaphe vulpina)
Prarie skink (Eumeces
septentrionalis)
these skinks DO bite
Ornate Box Turtle, Terrepene ornata, Linn Co.,
Ornate Box Turtle, Terrepene ornata, Linn Co.,
excited about trapping a big snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina),
Brave Lisa...
Painted
turtle (Chrysemys picta)
with great color
The following were found on one hike in
Worm
snake (Carphophis amoenus)
Brown
snake (Storeria dekayi)
Milk
snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
Smooth
earth snake (
The toad-regurgitating Northern water snake (Nerodia
sipedon)
plus a baby Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus
horridus)