Survey of Reptiles and Amphibians

in Greensville County, Virginia

 (2004.  Catesbeiana 24(1): 3-16)

Jason Daniel Gibson

Division of Arts and Sciences

Danville Community College

Danville, Virginia 24541

Introduction

Greensville County is located to the south of Richmond and the east of South Hill in Southside Virginia along the North Carolina border (Fig. 1).  The county contains a total land area of 769 km² (297 mi²) (<0.4% is water) and lies in two physiographic provinces (Coastal Plain in the east and Piedmont in the west).  Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 301 bisect the county in a north-south direction and U.S. Route 58 bisects it in an east-west orientation. According to 2000 census data, 11,560 people inhabited this county, making it very rural in comparison to other counties in Virginia. Agriculture and silviculture comprise a large percentage of the occupations and land use in the county. The 2003 VHS spring survey focused on the southeastern portion of the county, which is drained by the Meherrin River and Fontaine Creek (swamp).  The Meherrin River is part of the Chowan Basin, which flows to Albemarle Sound. The survey area was entirely within the Coastal Plain portion of the county. The soils in the area are composed of Coastal Plain sediments deposited during higher sea levels of the Pliocene (Frye, 1986). A diversity of habitats are found in this area including upland hardwood forests, pine plantations, streams, vernal pools, road ruts and ditches, man-made ponds, swamps, springs, and riverine floodplain. The geology and hydrology of the county contribute to potentially high biodiversity.

Surveys by Hoffman and Mitchell (1996) have well documented the diversity of the anuran fauna of Greensville County. However, limited previous surveys of the county’s salamanders and reptiles have left gaps in our knowledge of these groups.  Greensville County was selected as the sampling site for the 2003 VHS spring survey due to the limited surveys conducted in this region of the state and because of the high potential for county records and range extensions for many species.

Fig. 1.  Location of Greensville County, Virginia.

Study Sites (See Fig. 2)

Site 1:  End of County Route 666

This site was mostly flooded during the survey period.  This property has some logged upland areas but most of the area lies in the Meherrin River floodplain. Due to recent heavy rains, the river was out of its banks. Large permanent swamps and vernal pools can also be found on this land.  Many hundreds of hectares of farmland and planted forests are also present.

Site 2:  Gibson farm and cabin

Agricultural land, pine plantations, swamps, ponds, a stream, roadside ditches, and riverine floodplain would best characterize this site. Access to much of this site was limited due to flooding. This site is along County Route 730, 4.2 km (2.6 mi) east of its intersection with U.S Route 301.

Site 3:  International Paper swamp and pine woods

This site, located at the intersection of County Routes 622 and 730, is largely a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation that surrounds a large swamp.  Many side ditches and ruts were found on the roads within the property.

Site 4:  Fontaine Creek

Surveyors entered Fontaine Creek (Fountains Creek) near the U.S. Route 301 bridge. This slow-moving creek flows due east into the Meherrin River. This creek/swamp is characterized by black gum (Nyssa sylvaticus). 

Navigation of this body of water is difficult due to the many snags.  During low water, travel from U.S. Route 301 downstream to the Meherrin River confluence would be nearly impossible.

Site 5:  County Route 676

This route was never viewed during the day so an accurate description is not possible. Roadside ditches and a small pond were seen during stops while road cruising at night. The anuran diversity along this route was impressive.

Materials and Methods

The survey was conducted from 31 May to 1 June 2003.  Four teams of 6-10 people sampled the above-listed sites. Permission to survey sites 1-4 was granted by local landowners and International Paper Company.  Terrestrial amphibians and reptiles were sampled by overturning rocks, cobble, logs, leaf litter, bark, and trash piles.  Male anurans were detected by listening for vocalizations.  Road cruising was conducted each night to collect animals crossing the road and to listen for calling anurans.  Aquatic species were found by dipnetting, trapping (turtles), and canoeing. Visual identifications were made in all habitats. Each specimen that was found was recorded, photographed (if needed), observed for unusual behavior, and inspected for abnormalities. Microhabitat was documented for each encounter.

Results

During the survey 19 species of amphibians (5 salamanders, 14 anurans) and 17 species of reptiles (6 turtles, 3 lizards, 8 snakes) were observed. Of these, Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (red-spotted newt) was the only species not previously recorded for Greensville County. Slight western range extensions were documented for Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster (Red-bellied water snake) and Hyla cinerea (Green treefrog). An annotated checklist of the species found during the survey follows.  Numbers in parentheses refer to sampling locations listed above and shown on the map (Fig. 2).  Table 1 summarizes the species found at each location.

Annotated Checklist

Amphibians

1.  Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted salamander) –  (5)

One metamorph was found crossing County Route 676 during night road cruising.

2.       Ambystoma opacum (Marbled salamander) –  (1)

One adult and one larva were found. The adult was found under a sheet of plyboard in a barn and the larva was dipnetted in a vernal pool.

3.  Desmognathus fuscus (Northern dusky salamander) –  (2)

One adult was found under a log adjacent to a spring-fed stream.

4.  Eurycea cirrigera (Southern two-lined salamander) –  (2)

Like the previous species, one adult was found under a log adjacent to a spring-fed stream.

5.  Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (Red-spotted newt) –  (1)

A red eft was found under a log in a cutover adjacent to a series of small vernal pools.  No adults were dipnetted in the vernal pools. This species was not previously recorded for Greensville County by Tobey (1985), Mitchell and Reay (1999), or the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wildlife database (2004).  A voucher photograph of the eft will be deposited in the VHS archives.

6.       Acris crepitans crepitans (Eastern cricket frog) – (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

This frog was abundant and found at every site. It was discovered in vernal pools, roadside ditches, ponds, Fontaine Creek, and along the margins of swamps, grassy pools, and walking trails. Males were heard vocalizing during the day and at night.

7.  Bufo americanus (American toad) –  (1, 2)

At site 1 during a night survey for calling anurans, one male was found in a flooded agricultural field.  Three adults were found under cover objects (cardboard and between a piece of bark and tree) at site 2.

8.       Bufo fowleri (Fowler’s toad) – (1, 5)

Fowler’s toads were found along the road at site 5 and heard vocalizing at night at site 1, where three adults were hand-captured.

9.       Gastrophryne carolinensis (Eastern narrow-mouthed toad) – (1, 2)

The eastern narrow-mouthed toad was encountered in a flooded field calling at night (site 1) and sitting by an ant trail (site 2).

10.   Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope’s gray treefrog) – (1, 2, 3, 5)

Only calling males of this species were found.  They called from trees and at the margin of ponds and pools during the day and at night.

11.   Hyla cinerea (Green treefrog) – (1, 3, 5)

Many males were heard calling during the night at sites 1 (swamp),          3 (pond), and 5 (pond). Mitchell and Reay (1999) plotted only one record for this species in Greensville County, although Hoffman and Mitchell (1996) had reported it from at least four sites in the southeastern portion of the county, including areas east of Claresville (near site 1 in Fig. 2) and two sites near Fontaine Creek along Route 624. The westernmost record in Virginia prior to this survey was near Taylors Millpond, southwest of Bryants Corner (VDGIF, 2004; ca. 5.5 km SSE of site 5 in Fig. 2).  Site 3 thus represents a slight western range extension for H. cinerea in the state.

12.   Hyla femoralis (Pinewoods treefrog) – (1, 5)

Males were heard vocalizing at night at sites 1 (one male) and 5 (several males). Site 1 is east of Route 730 in the Meherrin River floodplain, an area where Hoffman and Mitchell (1996) failed to detect this species.

13.   Hyla squirella (Squirrel treefrog) – (2)

Male squirrel treefrogs were heard calling from flooded agricultural fields at night. Three adult males were collected in the plastic tubing around planted trees.

14.  Pseudacris crucifer (Spring peeper) –  (1, 2, 3)

No calling males were heard during this survey but one adult and many metamorphs were found.  The adult was foraging in mature woods (site 1) and the metamorphs found at sites 2 and 3 were in woods surrounding a swamp and in ditches.

15.   Pseudacris feriarum (Southeastern chorus frog) – (2, 3)

Only metamorphs of this very secretive species were collected. They were found in small wet depressions beside dirt roads at sites 2 and 3.

16.   Rana catesbeiana (American bullfrog) - (2, 3)

Three tadpoles were dipnetted in a wooded swamp at site 2.  One juvenile was captured in a roadside puddle and many males were heard calling from a swamp at site 3.

17.   Rana clamitans melanota (Northern green frog) – (1, 2, 3, 5)

Many males were heard calling from ponds and swamps (day and night).  Three juveniles were captured at the edge of a swamp at site 3.

18.   Rana sphenocephala (Southern leopard frog) – (1, 3, 4)

Leopard frogs were heard calling from swamps and Fontaine Creek.

19.   Scaphiopus holbrookii (Eastern spadefoot toad) – (2, 5)

One juvenile eastern spadefoot toad was found in leaf litter beside a pond at site 2 and an adult was found on the road at night at site 5.

Reptiles

20.   Chelydra serpentina serpentina (Eastern snapping turtle) – (2, 3)

A female snapping turtle was discovered laying eggs beside a dirt road adjacent to a swamp at site 2.  Egg-laying was completed at 1211 h.  One juvenile snapping turtle was found in a roadside ditch at this same site.  Two adult turtles were caught in a trap set in a swamp at site 3.

21.   Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern painted turtle) – (1, 2)

A total of four eastern painted turtles were found during this survey.  One was observed laying eggs beside a dirt road. Upon finishing she immediately sought refuge in the swamp adjacent to the nest site. The other turtles were found by a pond, a stream, and on a dirt road.

22.   Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum (Eastern mud turtle) – (2)

Only one adult eastern mud turtle was found (on County Route 730). 

23.   Sternotherus odoratus (Eastern musk turtle) – (3, 4)

One adult eastern musk turtle was found in Fontaine Creek (site 4) and another was observed walking on a trail (site 3).

24.   Terrapene carolina carolina (Eastern box turtle) – (1, 2, 3, 4)

Eight box turtles were found during the survey. Habitats included a clearcut, dirt roads, edge of Fontaine Creek, grassy trails, and near agricultural fields. One gravid female (CL = 140 mm, PL = 135 mm, weight = 538 g) was captured at site 2.

25.   Trachemys scripta scripta (Yellow-bellied slider) – (2, 3)

Ten sliders were captured in traps set at sites 2 and 3.  The trap at site 2 was set in a small woodland pond and yielded one adult female.  Seven adults and two subadults were caught in the trap set in the middle of a swamp at site 3.

26.   Eumeces fasciatus (Five-lined skink) – (1, 2, 3)

Eight five-lined skinks (five adults, three juveniles) were found in log piles, under bark, and basking at the base of trees. One female (SVL = 7.8 cm and TL = 16.5 cm) was gravid. 

27. Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus (Northern fence lizard) –  (1, 2)

Seven fence lizards were found in log piles and along the edge of woods.  One male was seen chasing and biting a female.

28.  Scincella lateralis (Little brown skink) – (2)

One adult little brown skink was found scurrying in leaf litter at site 2.

29.   Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen (Northern copperhead) – (2)

A copperhead was found under a piece of metal beside a pond at site 2.

30.  Carphophis amoenus amoenus (Eastern wormsnake) –  (1, 2)

Six adult worm snakes were found under bark and piles of shingles at site 1.  Another wormsnake was found under a log at site 2.

31.   Coluber constrictor constrictor (Northern black racer) – (1, 2)

Six adult racers were found under cover objects (plyboard and a sheet of metal) and basking beside a road.

32.   Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta (Black rat snake) – (3)

One adult black rat snake was found basking in woods.

33.   Lampropeltis getula getula (Eastern kingsnake) – (2)

An adult male eastern kingsnake was captured on County Route 730. 

34.   Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster (Red-bellied water snake) –

      (1, 2, 3)

Red-bellied water snakes were the most commonly observed snake species during the survey. A total of eight were observed swimming in vernal pools, swamps, ditches, and one was found DOR on Route 730.  Mitchell (1994) and Mitchell and Reay (1999) plotted one record for this species in southeastern Greensville County (ca. 1.5 km SSW Claresville fide VDGIF, 2004) at the western periphery of its range in Virginia. The population at site 3 represents a slight western range extension.

Red-bellied water snake captured at site 2 (photograph by Jason Gibson).

35.  Nerodia sipedon sipedon (Northern watersnake) – (4)

Four adult northern watersnakes were observed at Fontaine Creek, the only documented location during the survey. 

36.   Opheodrys aestivus aestivus (Rough green snake) – (3)

A DOR green snake was recorded on County Route 622.

Discussion

This survey recorded most of the known anuran fauna for Greensville County, but collections for all other groups of reptiles and amphibians were generally lacking.  Weather and sampling techniques may have been responsible for this disparity in records for salamanders, turtles, lizards, and snakes.  Prior to the survey, Southside Virginia experienced heavy rains and flooding.  Much of the area selected for this survey was under water, being located in the floodplain of the Meherrin River.  The day of the survey was also rainy and cool.

Many of the most common salamanders (Plethodon spp. Pseudotriton spp. Eurycea guttolineata, and Desmognathus auriculatus) might have been discovered with more intensive efforts in overturning cover objects.  Necturus punctatus was probably not encountered due to its preference for cooler environmental conditions (Roble et al., 1999).  Baited minnow traps, if used, may have allowed for the capture of Amphiuma means and dipnetting more leaf packs may have allowed for the capture of Stereochilus marginatus.  Ambystoma mabeei has been found one county to the east and possibly exists in Greensville County.  More intensive efforts may expand its range to this area.  Anurans known for the county but not encountered include Acris gryllus, Bufo quercicus, and Rana palustris. Sampling for calling males during their respective breeding seasons might have resulted in documentation of these species. Acris gryllus might have been encountered but overlooked if surveyors did not use all morphological characteristics to accurately distinguish between A. crepitans. Two species, Pseudacris brimleyi (found in a northern adjoining county; Mitchell and Reay, 1999) and Pseudacris nigrita (a new state record; Hobson and Moriarity, 2003) may soon be added to the known fauna of Greensville County with future calling anuran surveys.  It is curious to note that Mitchell and Reay (1999) did not cite or use Hoffman and Mitchell’s (1996) research on the anurans of Greensville County for the Virginia herp atlas. 

With regard to not finding turtles known from the county, insufficient trapping and inadequate sampling of a variety of habitats probably explain why Clemmys guttata and Pseudemys concinna were missed. Lizard diversity was very underrepresented in this survey.  Possibly the rain and low temperatures were to blame. Aspidoscelis (= Cnemidophorus) sexlineatus was not found even though good habitat was sampled. This lizard is known to have the highest temperature preferences of any reptile in Virginia and the temperatures during this weekend, in all likelihood, were not suitable for activity by this species (Mitchell, 1994).  Eumeces inexpectatus and Eumeces laticeps should have been found but were not. Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus has been found in surrounding counties and may occur in Greensville County. Many common snakes known for the county (e.g., Diadophis punctatus, Farancia abacura, Heterodon platirhinos, Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata, Thamnophis sp. and Virginia striatula) were not found, again possibly due to weather or lack of sampling in appropriate microhabitats. Agkistrodon piscivorus is found in North Carolina counties adjoining the southern boundary of Greensville County (Palmer and Braswell, 1995) and may eventually be added to the known herpetofauna of this county.   

Greensville County is a very important region of Virginia due to its geology and hydrology. Lying in both the Piedmont and Coastal Plain allows for many varied microhabitats.  Since the drainage of this county empties into North Carolina, organisms from this region have dispersal routes into this part of Virginia.  Migration of organisms from the east and south in the geologic past give Greensville County a unique fauna that needs to be researched and explored further.  Regrettably, there are many threats to the continued existence of organisms of this area.  Agriculture and silvicuture, if not managed properly, threaten to reduce the biodiversity of this region. Unfortunately, the reptiles and amphibians of the region are very sensitive to fluctuations in the local economy.  As the economy collapses, landowners are forced to timber and otherwise alter the landscape to generate income. Greensville County has very limited public land set aside for the conservation of its biodiversity. Efforts by wildlife managers in the future should focus on acquiring land and working with existing landowners to put land in trust.  Education of the landowners and farmers would go a long way in preserving the many species of reptiles and amphibians in this unique area.

Table 1. Summary of the herpetofauna observed during the 2003 VHS Spring Survey. Numbers in the first row refer to the site locations described in the text and shown in Fig. 2; M&R = Mitchell and Reay (1999), and H&M = Hoffman and Mitchell (1996).  The asterisk denotes a new county record.