2008 Virginia Herpetological Society Spring Meeting & Survey
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The 2008 Virginia Herpetological Society spring meeting and survey at Colonial National Historic Park was a great success. We would like to thank Dorothy Geyer, Dan Smith and the rest of the staff at the Colonial National Historic Park for their gracious hospitality and help in planning the event. Thanks to Vinnie Passaro and Newport News Park for their hospitality. Newport News Park was an excellent place to camp! Special thanks to Susan Watson and Tim Christensen for their hard work in organizing and planning this event. Last but certainly not least, thanks to all the VHS team leaders and members that participated in the survey.

Species Summary for the VHS Spring 2008 Survey
Colonial National Historic Park

1.  Ringfield.  All observations were exclusively of reptiles (no amphibian species were found).   This site had the highest number of snake species observed compared to the other location.  Seven snake species were observed including Eastern ring-necked (Diadophis punctatus), Eastern wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus), Eastern ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), Northern black racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor), rough earthsnake (Virginia striatula), rough greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) and Northern brownsnake (Storeria dekayi dekayi).  Other reptiles included Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), Little brown skink(Scincella lateralis) and Common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus).

2.  Wormley Pond.  Wormley Pond had the highest number of turtle species observed compared to the other locations including Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina), Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), Redbelly turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris) and Eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta picta).  Other herpetofauna included rough greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus), green frog (Lithobates clamitans), common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), Eastern wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus), Northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata), Little brown skink(Scincella lateralis), Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri ), Northern black racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor), American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula getula), Northern brownsnake (Storeria dekayi dekayi), Eastern ring-necked (Diadophis punctatus), Northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), and Broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps).

3.  French Loop Encampment.  Herpetofauna species included marbled salamander larvae (Ambystoma opacum), common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina),  Eastern wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus), Little brown skink(Scincella lateralis), Green frog (Lithobates clamitans), Eastern ring-necked (Diadophis punctatus) and Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis). 

4.  West Tour Road.  Herptofauna species included Eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus), Southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus), red-bellied watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster), broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps), common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), green frog (Lithobates clamitans), Eastern gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), Eastern wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus), Eastern ring-necked (Diadophis punctatus), Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis), Southeastern five-lined skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus), Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina),  Spotted salamander larva (Ambystoma maculatum), Northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum), Eastern ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritis sauritis) and Northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata).

5.  Green Springs.  Herptofauna species included Southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus), Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri ), Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum), Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis), Northern brownsnake (Storeria dekayi dekayi), Brimley’s chorus frog (Pseudacris brimleyi), American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) and Little brown skink(Scincella lateralis).

6.  Newport News Park.  Herptofauna species included Southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus), Eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus),  Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri ), Northern brownsnake (Storeria dekayi dekayi), Northern cricket (Acris crepitans crepitans), Northern black racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor), Northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) and Eastern ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis).

7.  Jamestowne Island.  Herptofauna species included Eastern red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), Two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma means), Green frog (Lithobates clamitans), American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Eastern ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), and Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum).          

 

	Congratulations to Tim for winning the 1st Annual Bobbing for Mud Turtles Competition!

		Getting ready to head out in the field
Scott and daughter proudly display a couple box turtles.

 

	Mark said tents are for wimps! Then quickly assembled his survival shelter

 

Gene was overheard saying "Snakes are waaaay cooler than birds!"		Jason "Betty Crocker" Gibson russlin’ up some vittles.

 

Amy with an Eastern Kingsnake.		Kory looking for skinks to photograph.

 

Larry shows the proper way to play Guitar Hero with a cottonmouth.

	"Dude, I totally nailed it!"

 

Several members examining a little brown bat.

 

Jim and Robert taking a short break.		"Hollywood" Sattler poses with a ground skink in one hand and a five-lined skink in the other.

 

Scott freaked-out when he saw the size of the local ticks.

 

	Dorothy watches as Kathryn poses with an eastern ratsnake. But wait, what's that in the background!? Perhaps Mike is showing how he really feels about GPS receivers.

 

	Mike with a good size northern black racer.

 

Jim, Elijah, Harrison and a lone hand search the tree bark.

 

	Susan checking a minnow trap for amphiumas.

 

Jason with an amphiuma.

 

* Click on a thumbnail to see a larger version.

Frogs & Toads
Brimley's Chorus Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
American Toad
Salamanders
Amphiuma
Snakes
Cottonmouth
Northern Watersnakes
Northern Black Racers
Eastern Kingsnakes
Rough Green Snake
Turtles
Eastern Box Turtles
Common Snapping Turtles
Eastern Mud Turtles
Other Critters
Little Brown Bat	Poisonous Southeastern Horned Lizard (Kory steelei)