Paul Sattler

Department of Biology

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia 24506

Candler Mountain is one of a small group of mountains, including Jack, Long, and Tobacco Row Mountain in the Piedmont province of central Virginia. It lies on the southwest edge of the City of Lynchburg with its western slope within the city and its eastern slope in Campbell County. Lynchburg Municipal Airport is about 2 km to the SW of its southern end. It is bounded on the west by US 460, on the north by US 501, the east by Co. Rt. 677, and the south by Co. Rt. 670. Candler Mountain is just east of Liberty University's campus. Most of the mountain is covered by hardwoods with some pines mixed in. One of the peaks was burned in the summer of 1985 and is currently undergoing succession with grasses and young pines predominating.

What makes Candler Mountain particularly interesting is the diversity of herps found there. A number of Campbell County records for common species have come from Candler Mountain and were reported in earlier issues of this journal. It would appear that Campbell County has not previously received a systematic survey, as so many distribution records for relatively common species have been reported in the recent past. The large diversity of species can probably be attributed to the relatively undeveloped condition of this area. It is, therefore, unfortunate that much of Candler Mountain is slated for urban development. Although the development is being planned as "environmental friendly" with attempts to maintain a complete forest canopy cover, one can not help but think that yet another important natural area will soon be gone.

Methods and Materials:

Candler Mountain has not been surveyed in a systematic fashion. There are several areas where intense research projects or class surveys took place over short periods of time. This report represents a summary of five years of field observations. Where unvouchered observations were made, the exact date of observation may not be known.

All collections were make by use of hand or net capture. Specimens were taken for county record vouchers or a small number of specimens for the Liberty University teaching collection. Many specimens were captured, identified and released.

Several areas were surveyed more extensively than most. Camp Hydaway, on Co. Rt. 677 1.0 km N of Co. Rt. 670 was surveyed extensively in May of 1990, 1992 and 1994 as part of a Vertebrate Natural History field course. It has also been surveyed in recent years by Liberty's ecology class. Numerous observations were made during a multiple year mark-recapture study of Sceloporus undulatus at an old sawmill site on the southern end of the mountain, approximately 1.5 km NNW of Lake Hydaway. Opossum creek runs down the valley between Candler and Jack Mountains, being fed by tributaries coming off both mountains. Lake Hydaway is a two hectare lake in Camp Hydaway on the southeast side of the mountain, formed by damming Opossum Creek. There is a small unnamed pond on the eastern side of Co. Rt. 677, opposite Lake Hydaway.

Results:

An account of each species observed is given below. The geographic area and microhabitat where the species was observed is indicated, as well as comments on its relative abundance. Lastly, a summary table is presented, listing all species expected from Campbell Co., based on records from Tobey (1985) and Mitchell (1994) indicating those actually observed, those not found, and those which represent county distribution records.

Turtles

Terrapene c. carolina (eastern box turtle): Box turtles occur commonly

in all terrestrial areas of Candler Mountain.

Chelydra s. serpentina (common snapping turtle): Snapping turtles were

observed only from Lake Hydaway, and in low numbers.

Chrysemys p. picta (eastern painted turtle): Numerous hatching painted

turtles, and shells from adults were observed in Lake Hydaway and the small unnamed pond opposite Hydaway on Co. Rt. 677.

Pseudemys c. concinna (river cooter): Two hatchling river cooters were

collected from the beach area of Lake Hydaway in May 1994.

 

Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus (northern fence lizard): Fence lizards

are very common and numerous from all the forested areas of Candler Mountain. Mitchell (1994) lists Campbell County among those with unvouchered records. Two specimens are being submitted to the Virginia Museum of Natural History to verify this record.

Eumeces fasciatus (five-lined skin): Five-lined skinks are also very

common and numerous from all forested areas.

Eumeces laticeps (broad-headed skink): Broad-headed skinks were

captured for positive identification only from the old sawmill site on the southern end of the mountain. Large skinks were also observed on trees around Lake Hydaway and probably occur in low numbers, but were never captured for positive identification. Mitchell (1994) cites unvouchered records for Campbell County. Photographs of an adult female are being submitted to verify this county record.

Scincella lateralis (ground skink) Ground skinks were found under logs

in several areas, including the old sawmill site, and are relatively common. However, no vouchers are apparently available from Campbell County (Mitchell, 1994). Therefore, Campbell County and Candler Mt. in particular should be searched for a voucher specimen for this species.

Cnemidophorus s. sexlineatus (six-lined racerunner): Racerunners are

uncommon in central Virginia. A breeding population apparently exists on Candler Mt., as a gravid female was captured in May 1995 along the power line right-of-way NE of the unnamed pond across Co. Rt. 677 from Camp Hydaway.

 

Storeria o. occipitomaculata (northern red-bellied snake): The red-bellied

snake is rare in central Virginia. A new county record was reported (Sattler, 1990) from just W of Lake Hydaway. At least one other specimen was observed in June of 1993 just W of the unnamed pond, suggesting there is a breeding population on Candler Mountain.

Carphophis a. amoenus (eastern worm snake): Worm snakes are

common on the mountain, being found under logs, rocks and other debris.

Elaphe o. obsoleta (black rat snake): The black rat snake is relatively

common in this area. It is generally found in forested areas where they forage.

Elaphe g. guttata (corn snake): Corn snakes are becoming rarer due to

collecting for pets. Since Candler Mountain has been relatively undeveloped, there has been a thriving population in this area. They have been found in several forested areas, particularly under large pieces of wood around abandoned houses.

Coluber c. constrictor (northern black racer): Racers are also fairly

common in this area. Several adults have been observed around Camp Hydaway and throughout the forested areas.

Nerodia s. sipedon (northern water snake): Water snakes are common

along the shore of Lake Hydaway. Some specimens have been observed along Opossum Creek, under rocks along the shore.

Thamnophis s. sirtalis (eastern garter snake): Garter snakes are not

common in central Virginia, but can be found particularily along streams. At least one specimen was observed along a tributary to Opossum Creek.

Regina septemvittatla (queen snake): Queen snakes were observed in

shrubs and small trees overhanging a pool of Opossum Creek at its exit from Lake Hydaway.

Diadophis punctatus edwardsii (northern ringneck snake): Ringneck

snakes are quite common throughout Virginia. Numerous specimens have been observed under logs in forested areas of the mountain. Mitchell (1994) does not report a voucher from Campbell County. A specimen is being submitted to the Virginia Museum of Natural History as a voucher.

Thamnophis s. sauritus (eastern ribbon snake): Ribbon snakes have not

been reported from Campbell Co. (Tobey, 1985; Mitchell, 1994). One specimen was captured in May 1990 along the shore of the unnamed pond along Co. Rt. 677. Unfortunately, the specimen escaped from its container, so the species remains unvouchered.

Opheodrys aestivus (rough green snake): Rough green snakes are fairly

common in Campbell County although they are difficult to observe because of their arboreal life and camouflaged coloration. A Campbell County record was reported (Hayslett, 1993) from the northern shore of Lake Hydaway. A second specimen from the same area and a third from about 1.5 km west of Lake Hydaway were also observed.

Heterodon platirhinos (eastern hognose snake): The hognose snake has

not been reported from Campbell County (Mitchell, 1994). One specimen was observed from the burned peak on Candler Mountain by an ecology class, however, a voucher was never collected.

Lampropeltis g. getula (eastern kingsnake) : Mitchell (1994) reported

that kingsnakes have been observed from Campbell County, but no vouchers have ever been collected. A single specimen was observed along the shore of the unnamed pond along Co. Rt. 677 by an ecology class, but not collected. Thus, the presence of this species remains unverified.

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen (northern copperhead): The copperhead

is not uncommon in this area. However, only a single specimen has been observed in five years. This adult was observed at least three times in a two week period at the old sawmill site about 1.5 km NW of Lake Hydaway.

 

Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog): Bullfrogs are very common around the

shore of Lake Hydaway, especially the southeastern shore which is shallow and contains numerous cattails and sedges.

Rana clamitans melanota (green frog): Green frogs are common along

the shore of Lake Hydaway, and Opossum Creek going into and from the lake.

Rana palustris (pickerel frog): Pickerel frogs are common along

Opossum Creek going into and from the lake. At least one egg mass was found in Lake Hydaway which produced pickerel frogs upon metamorphosis, showing that they breed in the lake.

Acris c. crepitans (cricket frog): Cricket frogs are abundant along the

shores of Lake Hydaway, especially the southeastern one with abundant aquatic vegetation.

Pseudacris c. crucifer (spring peeper): Spring peepers are also found

around the lake with large numbers along the SE shore.

Hyla versicolor (gray treefrog): Campbell County is in the overlap zone

between H. versicolor and H. chrysoscelis, with H. versicolor found in Campbell County (J.C. Mitchell, personal communication). They call from around both Lake Hydaway and the unnamed pond across Co. Rt. 677 from Camp Hydaway.

Bufo a. americanus (American toad): American toads are found

commonly throughout Candler Mountain. They breed in Lake Hydaway, the unnamed pond, and numerous small bodies of water which collect spring rains.

 

Ambystoma maculatum (spotted salamander): Spotted salamanders occur

throughout central Virginia. Egg masses and breeding adults were observed in a depression along a stream entering the NW of Lake Hydaway.

Desmognathus f. fuscus (northern dusky salamander): Dusky

salamanders are common along Opossum Creek.

Desmognathus monticola jeffersoni (Virginia seal salamander): Seal

salamanders are also common from Opossum Creek and its tributaries. They are sympatric with northern dusky salamanders at least in the stream entering the NW of Lake Hydaway. Tobey (1985) does not indicate this species for Campbell County, however, several specimens are available (J.C. Mitchell, personal communication).

Eurycea cirrigera (southern two-lined salamander): Two-lined

salamanders are very common in all the streams on and around Candler Mountain. Although Tobey (1985) indicates Eurycea bislineata (the northern two-lined salamander) for Campbell County, Ghitea and Sattler (1990) studied the distribution of this species pair and indicate that Eurycea cirrigera occurs in Campbell County.

Eurycea longicauda guttolineata (Three-lined salamander): Three-lined

salamanders have been observed along Opossum Creek leading into Lake Hydaway, and under debris such as boards along the shore of both Lake Hydaway and the unnamed pond across Co. Rt. 677.

Pseudotriton r. ruber (red salamander): Larval red salamanders were

frequently observed in the stream entering the NW of Lake Hydaway. A few adults were collected from the woods around this stream, under logs and rocks.

Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus (northern spring salamander): Larval

spring salamanders were collected from a stagnant man-made pond on the southwestern slope of Candler Mountain. A cinderblock wall dammed a ravine forming a small woodland pool about 10 m in diameter. The pool's bottom consisted of deep mud and contained many leaves. This was only about 10 m east of US 460 and would have occurred within the City of Lynchburg.

Plethodon c. cinereus (red-backed salamander): Although the red-backed

salamander is very common in central Virginia, it is much more scarce on Candler Mountain. It has been collected on rare occasion under rocks or logs on the hillsides overlooking the western shore of Lake Hydaway.

Plethodon cylindraceous (white-spotted slimy salamander): The slimy

salamander is found throughout Campbell County. It is not uncommon to find them under logs on moist hillsides or ravines on Candler Mountain.

Notophthalmus v. viridescens (red-spotted newt): Red-spotted newts are

abundant in Lake Hydaway. They used to be so in the unnamed pond across Co. Rt. 677. However, in recent years the adult population in this pond has declined noticeably due to unknown reasons. Because water from this pond drains across Co. Rt. 677 into Lake Hydaway, it was feared that a similar decline might occur there as well. However, as of May 1994 the population was still numerous.

 

Discussion and Conclusions:

In addition to the above species which were observed, there are several others which were expected but not found. More extensive searching could reveal the presence of these species. Sternotherus odoratus (common musk turtle) and Kinosternon subrubrum (eastern mud turtle) are frequently found in larger streams and rivers. Since there are only streams on Candler Mt., these species may not occur on the mountain.

Eumeces inexpectatus (southeastern five-lined skink) has been reported (Tobey, 1985) from NW of Lawyers in Campbell County, which is approximately 10 km south of Candler Mountain. Although no vouchers are available from the county, this is another species for which herpetologists working in this area should be looking.

There are two snakes (Storeria dekayi, brown snake, and Lampropeltis calligaster, mole snake) which have been documented from Campbell County. These species should be present on Candler Mt. as suitable habitat is available. Two additional species (Tantilla c. coronata, the southeastern crowned snake and Lampropeltis t. triangulum, the eastern milk snake) have been documented from at least two adjacent counties, on either side of Campbell county. These species should also be present in this area.

Among the amphibians, Rana sylvaticus (wood frog) and Bufo woodhousii fowleri (Fowler's toad) could be present on Candler Mountain. Fowler's toad have been documented from this area of Campbell County (Tobey, 1985). The wood frog has also just been documented from northern Campbell County (Hayslett, 1995) and could occur on Candler Mountain and breed in any of the several ponds or small lakes in the area.

There are several salamanders documented from adjacent counties (Tobey, 1985) and are possibly present. Plethodon hoffmani (the Valley and Ridge salamander) occurs just west of Campbell County. Ambystoma opacum (the marbled salamander) occurs just east of Campbell County. Hemidactylium scutatum (the four-toed salamander) has been found both to the east and west of Campbell County. At least one of the ponds included in this survey has extensive spagnum mass beds, the preferred habitat of four-toed salamanders, growing along its shore. Thus, herpetologists working on Candler Mt. or northern Campbell County should be alert for the presence of all these species.

The Candler Mountain area harbors four of the six species of turtles, five of the six species of lizards, and fourteen of the eighteen species of snakes likely to occur in Campbell County. This gives twenty-three of the thirty possible reptile species. I also recorded the presence of seven of the nine species of frogs and toads, and ten of the thirteen species of salamanders which are likely to occur in Campbell County. This gives seventeen of the twenty-two possible amphibian species. Altogether, there are forty of the fifty-two possible herp species present on Candler Mountain. I attribute this biological diversity to the ecological diversity present. There are streams, ponds and small lakes, lowland marshy areas, and dry ridgetops. These extremely variable habitats coupled with the undeveloped state of the mountain have combined to produce a herpetologist's heaven. Only the future can show what will be preserved as development of this area proceeds. This manuscript is intended to document what was present before development began.

Table 1. Summary of the herpetofauna of Candler Mountain, Campbell County, VA. Species are classified as those observed, those not observed but expected in the area based on published range maps, and the Campbell County records based on specimens from Candler Mountain.

Species Observed Not Observed Co. Record

Terrapene c. carolina *

Chelydra s. serpentina *

Chrysemys p. picta *

Chrysemys c. concinna *

Sternotherus odoratus *

Kinosternon s. subrubrum *

Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus * *

Eumeces fasciatus *

Eumeces inexpectatus *

Eumeces laticeps * *

Scincella lateralis *

Cnemidophorus s. sexlineatus *

Diadophis punctatus edwardsii *

Storeria o. occipitomaculata * *

Storeria d. dekayi *

Carphophis a. amoenus *

Elaphe g. guttata *

Elaphe o. obsoleta *

Coluber c. constrictor *

Nerodia s. sipedon *

Thamnophis s. sauritus * No Voucher

Regina septemvittata *

Lampropeltis g. getulus * No Voucher

Notophthalmus v. viridescens *

Literature Cited

Ghitea, O. and P. Sattler, 1990. The distribution of two-lined

salamanders in Virginia. Catesbeiana 10 (1): 11-20.

 

Hayslett, M.S. 1993. Opheodrys aestivus (Rough green snake): Field

Note. Catesbeiana 13 (1):11.

 

Hayslett, M.S. 1995 Rana sylvaticus (Wood frog): Field Note.

Catesbeiana 15(2).

 

Mitchell, J. C. 1994. The Reptiles of Virginia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 352 pp.

Sattler, P.W. 1990. Storeria o. occipitomaculata (Northern red-bellied snake): Field Note. Catesbeiana 10(2):45.

Tobey, F. J. 1985. Virginia's Amphibians and Reptiles: A Distributional Survey. Virginia Herpetological Society, Purcellville, VA. 114 pp.