Name a state or two (or all 50) and what one species you would love to find there. Give a reason for your pick: Is it a lifer? Your favorite of all time? So rare in the state it hasn't been documented in decades? A threatened species? a population that needs study?

I'll go with the provinces because there are less of them

British Columbia - Crotalus oreganus. Every time I visit the weather is poor and I miss out on these guys. BC has a tonne of more rare or prized species, but this one eats at me because it's something I should have had in the bag years ago.

Alberta - Heterodon nascicus. My home province, this is the rarest herp of all; perhaps even harder to find than the racer, which hasn't technically been considered a native species yet.

Saskatchewan - Spea bombifrons. This would be a lifer, and one of the few herps in Sask. that would be for me.

Manitoba - Plestiodon s. septentrionalis. I have this on my lifer list with a big fat asterix next to it. Found them scurrying about in the brush, but could not even glimpse close enough to know what species it were, should their be more than one lizard in the province.

Ontario - Sistrurus catenatus. As discussed in another thread, Ontario is Canada's Florida. Lots of species (comparitively), but this one stands out as the one to find for me.

Quebec - Lithobates septentrionalis. A big ol' frog that has always eluded me when I've been in range.

New Brunswick - Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus. I love garters, and the east coast is so damn far away I depict this to be a once in a life time opportunity should I ever be in the area.

Nova Scotia - Ambystoma maculatum. Is there a cooler place to add such a beauty to the lifer list?

Prince Edward Island - Pseudacris crucifer. This is actually a frog I really want to add to the lifer list, but I saved this small anuran for our smallest province.

Newfoundland and Labrador - Dermochelys coriacea . In the iceberg province wouldn't this be awesome?

Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut Territories - Lithobates sylvaticus. Just because it'd be cool to say you've herped the arctic circle!

Ian

Ohio - Kirtland's Snake. The only snake species found in the state that I haven't seen in some capacity. My current white whale.

Obviously, Coluber constrictor flaviventris or mormoni, in Arizona.
I believe there are relict populations in the wilds of Eastern Arizona.

florida- indigo and pine the indigo just because of rarity/beauty/size the pine just because they are cool

southwest usa- many jump out at me, but the ridge-nose would be my top because of it's pretty head pattern.

wisconsin- i just picked up my sauga on thursday. very awesome snake. interesting choice of habitat, absolutely stunning head pattern

-ben

New Mexico - California Kingsnake
New Mexico - Eastern Hognose
New Mexico - Gila Monster

Texas- I will go with a smooth green. I don't think there has been one documented here in a long time.

Chris

Florida - Stilosoma......because of their "rarity" and the fact that an old friend's obsession with them rubbed off on me. They're very unusual snakes, too, and their habitat provides good opportunities for observing many other interesting species.

Ohio - Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta.......assuming they're still in Ohio.....because I spent many hours looking for one and never did make a 100% confirmed sighting.

Utah- can never tire of seeing gila monsters or sidewinders in redrock but I am after the utah Blind Snake. Never seen one.
Nevada- Panamint rattlesnakes with different color variety for a composite photo
California-haven't done much of any herping there so I need the crotes: NORPACs, SOPACs, Red Diamond, Speckleds.

NE South Carolina: Pine & EDB. I know the pines are here and where they are. I know that the EDBs were at one time and should still be hanging on in the protected longleaf forest.

Anywhere: Indigo.

OK here goes....

Sinaloa: Crotalus tigris (state record, and southernmost specimen)

Nayarit: Coleonyx fasciatus (Would love to see these further south)

Jalisco: Crotalus willardi (I know these guys are here.. .just gotta find one)

Colima: Rhinophrynus dorsalis (Would be the coolest frog in Colima... for me)

Michoacán: Crotalus lannomi or Crotalus ericsmithi (Would solve the biggest problem in longtail taxonomy right now... are they, or are they not the same species)

Just a few from my part of the world...

Cheers,

Don Cascabel

Baja California del sud

Lampropeltis catalinensis

I've been fortunate enough to find pretty much everything I've really wanted to see in other places where I've spent much time, but I haven't gotten to do nearly as much herping here in TX as I would have liked. So...

TX: gray-banded kingsnake (buttermilk racer would actually be a close second, and I assume would be a lot easier to find if I get a chance to go look for them; Mexican milk snake ranks pretty high on my wish list, too)

What can I say? I like pretty things.

Gerry

I couldn't think of any Texas herps earlier but upon reflection, Pituophis ruthveni is a no-brainer, and a close second would be Pantherophis guttata slowinskii.

Those are good choices too, Mark. I'd be happy to see the Louisiana pine in LA rather than TX, though.

And before anybody points out that the request was for only one species per state, I'll point out that TX is an awfully big state!

Gerry

There are many places I would like to fulfill my wishlist, but these are snakes in my state or states I visit somewhat frequently.

Arizona - Crotalus willardi obscurus and Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi. Both would be lifers and both tough to find in AZ.

California - Crotalus stephensi. Beautiful snake that is far away from the part of California I regularly visit. I am a huge speck fan, so panamints easily fall into place. Next year for sure!

New Mexico - Crotalus willardi obscurus. Next door will probably be a lot easier.

Indiana - Sistrurus catenatus catenatus. I love Massasaugas even though I have never seen them! I hear Indiana is tough place to find them but I would rather see a saugs than timbers. Though, I would rather hike for timbers than saugs. I am not a big fan of saug habitat.

New Jersey- Queensnakes of course, or Scarletsnake.
Mexico- Bothriechis rowleyi, what a cute snake.
Arizona- Texas Lyresnake

There is at most some Chihuahuan lyre (there's no such thing as a Texas lyre ) influence in the Sonoran lyres of extreme southeastern AZ - for many years I kept a big female I caught there which had no head markings whatsoever, for example - but it's not believed the Chihuahuan lyre itself comes as far west as AZ.

Gerry

robusta

Indeed, that would be something!

Gerry

What's "robusta?" (A quick google search taught me the difference between Arabic and Columbian coffee.)
Tim

Tantilla robusta......a Mexican Tantilla known from just one specimen (I believe).

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/63957/0

Washington - Striped whipsnake (I also need a ringneck to close out the state list IN the state)
Oregon - "common" kingsnake
California - San Joaquin coachwhip
Nevada - Regal Ringneck (or a gila)
Illinois - Mudsnake
Florida - Florida rainbow snake
Any state - an unidentified to science species of any herp would be awesome.

Eurycea robusta. A troglobitic salamander similar to E. rathbuni and E. waterlooensis but known only from the holotype. Apparently four specimens washed up
from a newly drilled well in the Blanco River. They were put in a bucket but a bird ate three of them. The River reclaimed the site, burying the well.

I'd like to find a Smooth Green snake in Kentucky.

Oh, any ol' robusta will do but I was referring to Eurycea robusta. Hemidactylium would be cool, too.

Andy

Too many robustas! But I'll take the Mexican one, just because of all the other neat stuff to see down there.

I hadn't heard of the one on the Blanco but it doesn't surprise me.....there are probably more blind salamanders out there in the Texas Hill Country waiting to be discovered.

Massachusetts - blandings, box turtle and copperhead
Vermont - timber
Wisconsin - wood turtle

I have hoped to see all USA herp taxa alive in the field.
Those below are still needed, and time is winding down<LOL> Any help would be appreciated. Can travel. dick

Eastern
(TX) Cemophora c. lineri
(TX) Eurycea robusta
(TX) Eurycea tridentifera
(AL)Graptemys nigrinoda delticola
(WV)Gyrinophilus subterraneus
(TX) Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis
(TX) Notophthalmus meridionalis
(MS)Plethodon ainsworthi
(AL) Pseudemys alabamenis (adult)
(AL) Graptemys nigrinoda delticola

Western
(CA)Batrachoseps major aridus
(AZ)Craugastor (Eleutherodactylus) augusti cactorum
(CA) Gambelia copei
(UT)Leptotyphlops humilus utahensis
(OR)Taricha granulosa mazamae

Dick,

You have really blown me away, with your dedication. I have the same goal as you but not enough time.

When I registered, I had three. I found one today (Micrurus tener) herping all over it's area (where I live) for ten years, and finally found one. I know it shouldn't have been so hard to find, but luck just never brought one my way until we had our big storm just last week.

So, here's the other two, both from my own state, Texas

Crotalus lepidus klauberi

Crotalus molossus molossus

Edit: I forgot one...

Drymarchon melanurus erebennus

In California. The only So called Sub Species of zonota that still escapes my efforts L. zonota parviruba
Any Range extension of the Yellow-eyed ensatina into higher sierra elevations above their known foothill range.
In Maryland. The Coastal Plains Milksnake
Arizona. Micruroides euryxanthus still escapes my efforts

I'd love to find a coral in Alabama.

Ohio- Clonophis kirtlandii
WI-Rana septentrionalis or Plestiodon septentrionalis

It is a race for a Kirtland's.

And what about Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis?

Tantilla oolitica. (Either of the two counties will do.)

Tim

I'd like to see every Lampropeltis zonata subspecies.

Imperial county CA Thee Baja Rat Snake!!

It will be very interesting to see what the most sought after finds are in each state/province/etc. once a lot of people start dropping in their wish list...
Thanks for including Canada and Mexico provinces guys I didn't think of that.

I can tell you what I have never seen in my home state of Utah
Spotted Leaf nose snake
Utah Blind Snake
Blackhead Snake
painted Desert Glossy Snake
Lyre Snake
a black or Yellow phase Red Coachwhip (Most I have seen are reddish tan to reddish brown)
Variable Groundsnake
Relict Leopard Frog

Thanks. Mr. Bartlett for sharing, I use your books all the time. I hope you complete your quest for all of North America, what an accomplishment that would be.

Let's see...

Snakewise, I would like to find:

BSC - Lampropeltis getula on Isla Santa Catalina to show that catalinensis is a totally BS taxon.
TX - Thamnophis radix
WA - Antaresia perthensis (oh, you thought I meant the other WA?)
CA - Senticollis rosaliae

It's on like Donkey Kong!



Seen it in OH. WI is probably a lost cause for that species. Unless any of the stellar WI guys
cares to correct me.

Dick,

Some of these Texas things are are doable -

(TX) Cemophora c. lineri - these take luck, I think. I stumbled across one, but I don't know if there is sure way other than roadhunting in their range and getting lucky.
(TX) Eurycea robusta - you might want to cross this one off the list, or at least put it waaaay down there

(TX) Notophthalmus meridionalis - I don't think this species is that hard to find. I know you have some valley contacts, so maybe they could help.

The fact that your list is down to these few is astonishing.

You might have the highest US lifelist in history?

Chris

A Nevada Diadophis.

I've pretty much given up actively searching but still want to see one.

I've seen a few Clonophis in Ohio but never a short-nosed, Butlers, or Plains gartersnake. I would like to see those.

Texas:
Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni) Because they have so far eluded me.
Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis) To prove they really do still exist in Texas.

California:
Baja California Rat Snake (Bogertophis rosaliae) To support the validity of the one known specimen from California (a DOR) collected in Imperial County, California in 1984.

Arizona:
Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) because it is only known in Arizona from a single specimen collected in Apache County back in 1927.

-Gerald

In Indiana, a Regina septemvittata. In Illinois, a Nerodia rhombifer. Simply because they are cool and I want to find them.

I would really like to find a Dipso in Utah..... a Utah Co. L. t. taylori would be nice too.

-Thomas

My only two left for southern Florida: Lampropeltis calligaster occipitolineata and Tantilla oolitica. I have 2-4 years to find these two, then it's northward-ho.

Many thanx for your response, Chris.
I appreciate the thoughts.
I actually do have pretty reliable spots for a couple each of the TX and AL species, but it seems as if a greater degree of lethargy than ever before is being encountered--and not always successfully countered. There was a time I would travel pretty much on a whim--it now takes concerted thought. But I do hope to see a few additional taxa as I am able. Andy G. has kindly offered to help me with E. tridentifera so I do have far more hope for it than I ever did for E. robusta. I guess I'll try to talk Dave Hillis into allowing me to see the single remaining preserved example. That will probably be my only chance of even seeing one. Many folks have tried on numerous ocasions to find P. ainsworthi, all unsuccessfully. I don't know whether anyone has tried a nocturnal approach. Some Plethodon can be perplexingly difficult to scare up by day. I'll have to check with Jeff Boundy and a couple of other one-time searchers on this.
Thanx again and hope all is well with you. Cheers/Dick

Just noticed your comment, Justin. Thanx/dick

I'd like to find a Gila, Regal ringneck, and a Bullsnake in Eastern Ca. I figure one trip should do it... jim

I've got one word for you: Diadophis punctatus acricus.

Tim