Reptile and Amphibian Observations, Floyd County, Virginia

 

Shay Garriock

Melody Kirkendall

Shawn Carter

 

P0 Box 64, Eggleston, VA 24086.

23942C McCoy Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060.

3248 Old Cedar Field Dr., Blacksburg, VA 24060.

 

The following species list was compiled from May 12 to August 20, 1996 in Floyd Co., Virginia while conducting field work for a bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) project at VA Tech. The only exception to this was Rana sylvaticus, heard calling in early March, 1996. Listed species were sighted or heard incidentally, or found by visual searching. Site visitation frequencies varied as did searching intensity, and the number of sighted individuals for each species was not tallied in most cases. This survey, therefore, only provides information on some of the species present in Floyd County. Exact locations of five sites (A-E) are not provided because of the bog turtle's state-endangered status. Sites A-E are upland meadow bogs bordered by pasture and or mixed deciduous forest

 

The following literature was used to aid in species identification: Conant,

R. and J. Collins, 1991. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians,

Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Company,

Boston, New York; Martof, B.S. et al., 1980. Amphibians and Reptiles

of the Carolinas and Virginia. The University of North Carolina Press,

Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Mitchell, J.C., 1994. The Reptiles of

Virginia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.

 

Species

A

MO1

TR2

B

C

D

E

BM3

ID

Desmognathus f. fuscus

 

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

visual

Desmognathus monticola

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

x

visual

Eurycea guttolineata

 

 

 

x

 

x

 

 

visual

Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

visual

Hemidactylium scutatum

 

 

 

x

x

 

 

 

visual

Notophthalmus v. viridescens

x

x

x

 

x

x

 

 

visual

Plethodon c. cinereus

 

 

x

x

x

 

 

x

visual

Plethodon cylindraceus

 

 

x

 

x

 

 

x

visual

Plethodon wehrlei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

x

visual

Pseudotriton r. ruber

 

x

x

x

 

 

 

 

visual

Buro americanus

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

visual

Hyla chrysoscelis

x

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

vocal

Hyla versicolor

 

 

x

x

 

 

 

 

vocal

Pseudacris crucifer

 

 

x

x

x

 

 

 

vis/voc

Rana catesbeiana

 

 

x

x

x

x

 

x

vis/voc

Rana clamitans melanota

 

 

x

 

 

x

 

 

vocal

Rana palustris

 

 

 

 

 

x

 

 

visual

Rana sylvaticus

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

vocal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elaphe o. obsoleta

 

 

x

 

x

 

 

 

visual

Regina septemvittata

 

 

 

x

x

 

 

 

visual

Nerodia s. sipedon

 

x

x

x

x

x

 

 

visual

Thamnophis sp

x

 

 

 

x

x

 

 

visual

Thamnophis s. sauritus*

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

visual

Thamnophis s. sirtalis*

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

visual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chelydra serpentina

x

 

x

x

x

x

x

x

visual

Clemmys muhlenbergii

x

 

 

x

x

x

x

x

visual

Terrapene c. carolina

x

 

x

x

 

 

 

 

visual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eumeces fasciatus4*

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

visual

 

1)All species identified at the Moses site (MO) were found on 18 June 1996 along a tributary of West Fork Dodd Creek, 1.6 km northwest of Rt.8 and VA 714 intersection in south central Floyd County (Woolwine quadrangle). The cover type is mixed deciduous forest

2)The Traynham site (TR) is a 50 acre farm located on VA 747 0.8 km east of VA 750 in western Floyd County (Alum Ridge quadrangle). The habitat is characterized by white pine forest and pasture. There are also three springs and a small pond on the property.

3) Six species were found on the south facing slope of Buffalo Mountain during a nighttime visual survey on 31 July 1996. Buffalo Mountain is located 7.0 km south of Willis, VA(elevation = 1210 m). The cover type is mixed deciduous forest.

4 )On 4 August a female five-line skink was found guarding her nest 100 m E of the Blue Ridge Parkway (mile 169.6) in south western Floyd Co. (not listed in table). A second five-lined skink was seen at site A on 17 August 1996.

* Indicates distribution record for Floyd County.

 

Catesbeiana 1996, 16(2):44-45