2012 NAFHA SC Chapter Spring Field Trip (Photos & Species List)

This weekend a group of 10 herpers from Houston, Dallas, Louisiana, & Arkansas took part in the SC Chapters spring field trip. Based out of Lake Livingston SP, we herped a variety of localities in SE Texas and observed a total of 33 herp species including DORs (list at bottom).

Thanks to all of those who attended and especially Jeff Weinell for working to set this up.

Chris



Group shot Saturday Morning:

[Left to Right: The Bischoff family (Sam, Stephen, & Tim), Jeremy, Glenn (ksuglennj), Chris (gretzkyrh4), Jeff (jeffro), Alyssa, & Kyle (Soopaman)]

Random Herps & Herpers:

















Species List:

Snakes:
Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix (Southern Copperhead)
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma (Western Cottonmouth)
Coluber constrictor etheridgei (Tan Racer)
Crotalus horridus (Timber Rattlesnake) DOR
Farancia abacura (Western Mudsnake) DOR
Heterodon platirhinos (Eastern Hognose)
Masticophis flagellum (Eastern Coachwhip)
Micrurus tener (Texas Coral Snake)
Opheodrys aestivus (Rough Green Snake) DOR
Pantherophis obsoletus (TX/Western Ratsnake)
Pantherophis slowinskii (Kisatchie/East TX Corn Snake)
Nerodia erythrogaster flaviventris (Yellow Bellied Watersnake)
Nerodia rhombifer (Diamondbacked Watersnake)
Storeria dekayi (Dekay’s Snake)
Thamnophis proximus (Western Ribbon Snake)

Lizards:
Anolis carolinensis (Green Anole)
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus (Six Line Racerunner)
Plestiodon fasciatus (Five Lined Skink)
Plestiodon laticeps (Broadhead Skink)
Sceloporus undulatus (Eastern Fence Lizard)
Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink)

Amphibians:
Acris crepitans (Cricket Frog)
Anaxyrus woodhousii (Woodhouse Toad/East TX Toad)
Eleutherodactylus cystiganthoides (Rio Grande Chirping Frog) CALLING
Gastrophryne carolinensis (Eastern Narrowmouth Toad)
Hyla cinerea (Green Tree Frog) CALLING
Lithobates catesbeianus (Bullfrog)
Lithobates clamitans (Bronze Frog)
Lithobates sphenocephala (Southern Leopard Frog)
Ollotis nebulifer (Gulf Coast Toad)
Scaphiopus hurterii (Hurter’s Spadfoot)

Turtles:
Trachemys scripta (Red Eared Slider) DOR
Terrapene Carolina (Eastern Box Turtle)

I'll be glad to tack on some of my photos as well, if you'd like.

Looks like a good time...as usual, hate that I missed it, maybe next time!

Awesome list guys!! Looks like it was a blast.

Sorry that I couldn't make it but hopefully I'll be out next time!

Matt

Please do Kyle. I meant to put something about others adding their own pics above, but apparently forgot.

Chris

Here's some of my favorite pics out of the ones I got. I'm sure some other folks will have better ones:

My favorite snake I've been wanting to get my hands on for a while:


Coluber flagellum flagellum (Eastern Coachwhip) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

Coluber flagellum flagellum (Eastern Coachwhip) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

And the all too common Cottonmouth:

Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma (Western Cottonmouth) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

A deceptively happy looking hognose (another lifer for me):

Heterodon platirhinos (Eastern Hognose) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

Heterodon platirhinos (Eastern Hognose) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

Rather large gravid female Leopard Frog:

Lithobates sphenocephala utricularis (Souther Leopard Frog) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr


Eumeces fasciatis (Five-lined skink) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

Yet another rat snake road cruised by Jeff and Chris:

Pantherophis obsoleta lindheimeri (Texas Rat Snake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

And my second favorite find of the trip, thanks to Jeremy and Manning for turning this guy up:

Pantherophis slowinskii (Slowinksi's Corn Snake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr

Kyle

Great finds. That slowinski has outstanding color. I've seen quite a few from the area and that is by far the best i've seen yet. To bad about the horridus. I found a DOR juvie last week as well. Looks like it was a good trip.

Chris

I had a great time. Was good to see some old friends and meet some new folks. The Slowinksi's and coral were my highlights. Not sure when I will even get my photos off the camera. For now I will just enjoy others work.

Glenn

I had a great time as well. Good to see everyone.

I'd have to say the corn and the coral were my favorites too. And the head first dive for the coachwhip was pretty fun.

Looks like a great trip. Sorry I couldn't be there.

That coachwhip is interesting. Was it from around that area (SHNF)? Most of the ones I have seen around there were solid black.

It was from Tyler County.

Looks like a good time- sorry I missed it. Would've been several lifers for me as well...

Great Pics Kyle!

Hopefully a few others will plug in some pics when time allows (cough cough....glenn...cough).

With a little more planning, maybe we can put together an even larger group next time around.

Chris

I appreciate the invite, Chris, and I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it this time. Looks like you turned up some really neat stuff.