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Amphibians and Reptiles of Brewster County, Texas (85 Species)
Generated
with TSNL
Ecological Database Version 1.0. 1996,
2000. Austin: Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Texas
System of Natural Laboratories, Inc.
See also: Amphibians
and Reptiles of Texas. Second Edition. (2000) by James R. Dixon
Other Texas
Counties: Cameron Travis
AMPHIBIANS: Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders) Bufonidae (Toads) Hylidae (Treefrogs and
Chorus Frogs) Leptodactylidae (Tropical Frogs) Microhylidae
(Narrowmouth Toads) Pelobatidae (Spadefoot Toads) Ranidae (True Frogs)
REPTILES: Anguidae (Glass and Alligator Lizards) Colubridae (Colubrids) Emydidae (Box and Water
Turtles) Gekkonidae
(Geckos) Iguanidae
(Iguanids) Kinosternidae
(Musk and Mud Turtles) Leptotyphlopidae (Slender Blind Snakes) Scincidae (Skinks) Teiidae (Whiptails) Trionychidae
(Softshell Turtles) Viperidae (Vipers)
Amphibia (Amphibians)
Ambystomatoidea,
Caudata (Urodela) - Salamanders
2 Ambystomatidae
(Mole Salamanders)
7 Ambystoma tigrinum (Green, 1825)
tiger salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum (Green) has been introduced widely throughout
the State (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 2; Dixon 1987, p. 59).
Anomocoela,
Salientia (Anura) - Frogs and Toads
8 Pelobatidae
(Spadefoot Toads)
26 Scaphiopus couchii Baird, 1854
Couch's spadefoot
29 Spea multiplicata (Cope, 1863)
New Mexico spadefoot
Spea multiplicata (Cope) includes Scaphiopus multiplicatus Cope
(Tanner 1989, p. 503) and formerly was considered conspecific with S. hammondi
(Baird) (Sattler 1980, p. 608; Dixon 1987, p. 65).
Procoela,
Salientia (Anura) - Frogs and Toads
9 Leptodactylidae
(Tropical Frogs)
33 Syrrhophus
guttilatus (Cope, 1879) spotted chirping frog
Syrrhophus guttilatus (Cope) includes S. gaigeae Schmidt &
Smith and may be synonynous with S. marnocki Cope (Lynch 1972, pp. 22-23; Raun
and Gehlbach 1972, p. 6).
34 Syrrhophus marnockii Cope, 1878
cliff chirping frog
Syrrhophus marnockii Cope may include S. guttilatus (Cope) (Raun
and Gehlbach 1972, p. 6).
10 Hylidae
(Treefrogs and Chorus Frogs)
35 Acris crepitans Baird, 1854
northern cricket frog
Acris crepitans Baird has been confused with A. gryllus (Le Conte)
in the literature (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 7).
36 Hyla arenicolor Cope, 1866
canyon treefrog
11 Bufonidae
(Toads)
47 Bufo cognatus Say, 1823
Great Plains toad
48 Bufo debilis Girard, 1854
green toad
51 Bufo punctatus Baird & Girard, 1852 red-spotted toad
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 9) state that a Duval County record is
erroneous.
52 Bufo speciosus Girard, 1854
Texas toad
Bufo speciosus Girard includes B. compactilis Wiegmann (Raun and
Gehlbach 1972, p. 9).
53 Bufo valliceps Wiegmann, 1833
Gulf Coast toad
55 Bufo woodhousii Girard, 1854
Woodhouse's toad
Diplaciocoela,
Salientia (Anura) - Frogs and Toads
12 Ranidae
(True Frogs)
57 Rana berlandieri Baird, 1859
Rio Grande leopard frog
Rana berlandieri Baird, blairi Mecham, Littlejohn, Oldham, Brown,
& Brown, and sphenocephala Cope formerly were considered subspecies of R.
pipiens (Schreber) and their distributions have not yet been determined
completely (Hillis 1981, pp. 312-318).
59 Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802
bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana Shaw has been introduced widely in Texas (Raun
and Gehlbach 1972, p. 10).
13 Microhylidae
(Narrowmouth Toads)
66 Gastrophryne
olivacea (Hallowell, 1856) Great Plains narrowmouth toad
Microhyla often replaces Gastrophyrne in the literature (Raun and
Gehlbach 1972, p. 11).
Reptilia (Reptiles)
Testudines
(Chelonia) - Turtles
15 Kinosternidae
(Musk and Mud Turtles)
71 Kinosternon
flavescens (Agassiz, 1857) yellow mud turtle
72 Kinosternon hirtipes (Wagler, 1830)
Mexican mud turtle
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 12) state that Kinosternon hirtipes
(Wagler) occurs only in Presidio County in Texas and that literature reports of
K. sonoriense Le Conte in Texas are erroneous.
16 Emydidae
(Box and Water Turtles)
84 Pseudemys gorzugi Ward, 1984
Rio Grande cooter
Pseudemys gorzugi Ward formerly was considered a subspecies of P.
concinna (Le Conte) (Ernst 1990, p. 461.1; Collins 1991, p. 43). Chrysemys sometimes replaces Pseudemys in
the literature (Seidel and Smith 1986, pp. 242-243).
88 Terrapene ornata (Agassiz, 1857)
western box turtle
Terrapene ornata (Agassiz) often is found outside its natural
range as a released pet (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 15).
89 Trachemys gaigeae (Hartweg, 1939)
Big Bend slider
Trachemys gaigeae (Hartweg) formerly was considered a subspecies
of T. scripta (Schoepff) (Ernst 1992, pp. 538.2-538.3). Pseudemys or Chrysemys sometimes replace
Trachemys in the literature (Seidel and Smith 1986, pp. 242-243).
20 Trionychidae
(Softshell Turtles)
98 Apalone spinifera (Le Seuer, 1827) spiny softshell
Meylan (1987) and Ernst and Barbour (1989, p. 103) refer Trionyx
spiniferus Le Seuer to Apalone spinifera (Le Seuer), but Ernst et al. (1994,
pp. 103-104) consider this action premature.
Sauria
(Lacertilia) - Lizards, Squamata - Lizards and Snakes
22 Gekkonidae
(Geckos)
100 Coleonyx brevis Stejneger, 1893
Texas banded gecko
101 Coleonyx reticulatus Davis & Dixon, 1958 reticulated gecko
105 Hemidactylus
turcicus (Linnaeus, 1758) Mediterranean gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus (Linnaeus) has been introduced at many Texas
cities (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 17; Conant 1977, p. 219; Dixon 1987, p. 90).
23 Iguanidae
(Iguanids)
108 Cophosaurus texanus Troschel, 1852
greater earless lizard
Cophosaurus texanus Troschel includes Holbrookia texana (Troschel)
(Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 17). Dixon
(1987, p. 91) questions Fayette and Gonzales County records; a Nueces County
record is actually a Val Verde specimen (JRD, pers. comm. R.W. Axtell).
109 Crotaphytus collaris (Say, 1823)
collared lizard
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 17) and Dixon (1987, p. 91-92)
question Burleson, Falls, and Limestone County records. Dixon (1987, p. 92) states that Duval,
Cameron, and Starr County records are erroneous.
112 Gambelia wislizeni (Baird & Girard, 1852) longnose leopard lizard
Gambelia wislizeni (Baird & Girard) includes Crotaphytus
wislizeni Baird & Girard (Montanucci et al. 1975, pp. 339-340).
114 Holbrookia maculata Girard, 1851
lesser earless lizard
Holbrookia lacerata Cope and H. maculata Girard often are confused
in the literature (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 19). Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 19) and Dixon (1987, p. 93) state
that Houston and Kimble County records are erroneous.
116 Phrynosoma cornutum (Harlan, 1825)
Texas horned lizard
Phrynosoma cornutum (Harlan) often is found outside its natural
range as a released pet (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 18).
118 Phrynosoma modestum Girard, 1852
roundtail horned lizard
Dixon (1987, p. 95)
questions a Zapata County record.
122 Sceloporus magister Hallowell, 1854
desert spiny lizard
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 19) and Dixon (1987, p. 96) question
Ector and Val Verde County records.
123 Sceloporus merriami Stejneger, 1904
canyon lizard
Dixon (1987, p. 96) states that a San Saba County record is
erroneous.
124 Sceloporus olivaceus Smith, 1934
Texas spiny lizard
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 19) state that Sceloporus olivaceus
Smith formerly was included in S. spinosus Wiegmann and was confused with S.
undulatus (Latreille). They and Dixon
(1987, p. 19) question East Texas records.
125 Sceloporus poinsetti Baird & Girard, 1852 crevice spiny lizard
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 19) question Duval and Webb County
records and state that a Brown County record is erroneous.
126 Sceloporus undulatus (Latreille, 1802) eastern fence lizard
Sceloporus olivaceus Smith and S. undulatus (Latreille) often are
confused in the literature (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 19).
128 Urosaurus ornatus (Baird & Girard, 1852) tree lizard
129 Uta stansburiana Baird & Girard, 1852 side-blotched lizard
Collins (1991, p. 43) considers Uta stansburiana stejnegeri
Schmidt to be a full species. Dixon
(1987, p. 99) questions Coke, Kimble, and Palo Pinto County records.
24 Scincidae
(Skinks)
134 Eumeces obsoletus (Baird & Girard, 1852) Great Plains skink
135 Eumeces
septentrionalis (Baird, 1858) prairie skink
Collins (1991, p. 43) considers Eumeces septentrionalis
obtusirostris Boucart to be a full species.
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 21) and Dixon (1987, p. 101) question
Brewster and San Saba County records.
136 Eumeces tetragrammus (Baird, 1858)
four-lined skink
Eumeces tetragrammus (Baird) includes E. brevilineatus Cope (Lieb
1990, p. 492.2). Raun and Gehlbach
(1972, p. 21-22) and Dixon (1987, p. 101) question Baylor, Brewster, Burnet,
Cooke, Henderson, and Limestone County records.
25 Teiidae
(Whiptails)
139 Cnemidophorus
exsanguis Lowe, 1956 Chihuahuan spotted whiptail
Cnemidophorus exsanguis Lowe, C. gularis Baird & Girard, C.
neomexicanus Lowe & Zweifel, and C. sacki Wiegmann often are confused (Raun
and Gehlbach 1972, p. 22-23). Dixon
(1987, p. 102) questions Pecos, Reeves, and Terrell County records.
140 Cnemidophorus
gularis Baird & Girard,
1852 Texas spotted whiptail
Cnemidophorus exsanguis Lowe, C. gularis Baird & Girard, and
C. sacki Wiegmann often are confused (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 22). Dixon (1987, p. 103) questions Anderson,
Cass, Harrison, Henderson, and Morris County records.
141 Cnemidophorus
inornatus Baird, 1858 little striped whiptail
Cnemidophorus inornatus Baird, C. "perplexus" Baird
& Girard, and C. uniparens Wright & Lowe often are confused (Raun and
Gehlbach 1972, p. 22). Dixon (1987, p.
103) questions Gillespie and Mitchell County records.
144 Cnemidophorus septemvittatus Cope, 1892
plateau spotted whiptail
Cnemidophorus septemvittatus Cope includes C. scalaris Cope (Dixon
1987, p. 104). C. septemvittatus, C.
exsanguis Lowe, and C. sacki Wiegmann often are confused (Raun and Gehlbach
1972, p. 22-23).
146 Cnemidophorus
tesselatus (Say, 1823) Colorado checkered whiptail
Cnemidophorus tesselatus (Say) often is confused with C. tigris
Baird & Girard and includes C. grahamii Baird & Girard (Price 1986, p.
398.1). Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 23)
and Dixon (1987, p. 105) question Kent and Webb County records.
147 Cnemidophorus tigris Baird & Girard, 1852 western whiptail
Cnemidophorus tigris often is confused with C. tesselatus (Price
1986, p. 398.1) and includes C. marmoratus (Dessauer and Cole 1991, p. 635). Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 23) question a
Webb County record, but Dixon (1987, p. 104) verifies it.
26 Anguidae
(Glass and Alligator Lizards)
149 Gerrhonotus
infernalis Baird, 1858 Texas alligator lizard
Dixon (1987, p. 106) verifies Dallas and Fayette County records,
but states that a Dallas County record may be an introduction.
Serpentes
(Ophidia) - Snakes, Squamata - Lizards and Snakes
27 Leptotyphlopidae (Slender Blind Snakes)
151 Leptotyphlops dulcis (Baird & Girard, 1853) Texas blind snake
Dixon (1987, p. 107) questions a Montgomery County record.
152 Leptotyphlops
humilis (Baird & Girard,
1853) western blind snake
28 Colubridae
(Colubrids)
153 Arizona elegans Kennicott, 1859
glossy snake
154 Bogertophis
subocularis (Brown, 1901) Trans-Pecos rat snake
Bogertophis subocularis (Brown) includes Elaphe subocularis
(Brown) (Price 1990, pp. 497.1-497.2).
157 Coluber constrictor Linnaeus, 1758
racer
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 25) question a Real County record.
159 Diadophis punctatus (Linnaeus, 1766) ringneck snake
Diadophis punctatus (Linnaeus) includes D. regalis Baird &
Girard (Mecham 1956, pp. 51-52).
162 Elaphe bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)
Baird's rat snake
Elaphe bairdi (Yarrow) formerly was considered a subspecies of E.
obsoleta (Say) (Tennant 1984, p. 200).
Dixon (1987, p. 111) states that a Cameron County record is erroneous.
163 Elaphe guttata (Linnaeus, 1766) corn snake
167 Gyalopion canum (Cope, 1860)
western hooknose snake
Gyalopion canum (Cope) includes Ficimia cana (Cope) (Tennant 1984,
p. 233). Dixon (1987, p. 113) questions
a Wise County record.
168 Heterodon nasicus Baird & Girard, 1852 western hognose snake
Records of Heterodon nasicus Baird & Girard in Bowie, Calhoun,
Comal, Coryell, Goliad, Hays, Limestone, and Montogery Counties actually
represent H. platirhinos Latreille (pers. comm. D.R. Platt).
170 Hypsiglena torquata Cope, 1860
night snake
Hypsiglena torquata Cope includes H. ochrorhyncha Cope (Raun and Gehlbach
1972, p. 27). Raun and Gehlbach (1972,
p. 27) question an Anderson County record, but Dixon (1987, p. 114) confirms
it.
171 Lampropeltis alterna (Brown, 1902)
gray-banded kingsnake
Lampropeltis alterna (Brown) formerly was considered a subspecies
of L. mexicana (Garman) (Tennant 1984, p. 233).
173 Lampropeltis getula (Linnaeus, 1766) common kingsnake
174 Lampropeltis
triangulum (Lacepède, 1788) milk snake
Lampropeltis triangulum (Lacepède) includes L. doliata (Linnaeus) (Raun
and Gehlbach 1972, p. 28).
177 Masticophis
flagellum (Shaw, 1802) coachwhip
179 Masticophis
taeniatus (Hallowell, 1852) striped whipsnake
Masticophis taeniatus (Hallowell) formerly included M. schotti
Baird & Girard (Camper and Dixon 1994, pp. 1 & 33-35; Camper 1996, p.
638.2). Dixon (1987, p. 118) questions
a Throckmorton County record.
182 Nerodia
erythrogaster (Forster, 1771) plainbelly water snake
Nerodia erythrogaster (Forster) includes Natrix erythrogaster
(Forster) (Rossman and Eberle 1977, p. 42).
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 29) question a Cameron County record and
Dixon (1987, p. 118) questions a Starr County record.
185 Nerodia rhombifer (Hallowell, 1852) diamondback water snake
Nerodia rhombifer (Hallowell) includes Natrix rhombifer
(Hallowell) (Rossman and Eberle 1977, p. 42).
188 Pituophis
melanoleucus (Daudin, 1803) bullsnake
Pituophis melanoleucus (Daudin) includes western races once
assigned to P. catenifer (Blainville) (Smith and Kennedy 1951, p. 96) and
formerly included P. ruthveni Stull (Collins 1991, p. 43; Reichling 1995, p.
194).
192 Rhinocheilus
lecontei Baird & Girard,
1853 longnose snake
193 Salvadora
deserticola Schmidt, 1940 Big Bend patchnose snake
Salvadora deserticola Schmidt formerly was considered a subspecies
of S. hexalepis (Cope) (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 31; Dixon 1987, p. 122-123).
194 Salvadora grahamiae Baird & Girard, 1853 mountain patchnose snake
Salvadora grahamiae Baird & Girard includes S. lineata Schmidt
(Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 31).
195 Sonora semiannulata Baird & Girard, 1853 ground snake
Sonora semiannulata Baird & Girard includes S. episcopa
(Kennicott) (Tennant 1984, pp. 114-115).
199 Tantilla cucullata Minton, 1956
blackhood snake
Tantilla cucullata Minton formerly was considered a subspecies of
T. rubra Cope (Degenhardt et al. 1976, p. 233; Collins 1991, p. 43; 1992, p.
43). Collins (1991, p. 43; 1992, p. 43)
considers T. cucullata diabola Fouquette & Potter to be a full species.
200 Tantilla gracilis Baird & Girard, 1853 flathead snake
Dixon (1987, p. 125) questions Brewster, Hale, Kent, Lamb, and
Randall County records.
201 Tantilla
hobartsmithi Taylor, 1937 southwestern blackhead snake
Tantilla hobartsmithi Taylor now applies to reports of T. atriceps
(Günther) and T. planiceps (Blainville) from western Texas, and T. atriceps
refers to a species found in Duval and Kleberg Counties (Cole and Hardy 1981,
pp. 264-267; Tennant 1984, p. 95).
202 Tantilla nigriceps Kennicott, 1860
plains blackhead snake
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 33) and Dixon (1987, p. 125) question
a McLennan County record.
203 Thamnophis cyrtopsis (Kennicott, 1860) blackneck garter snake
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 33) and Dixon (1987, p. 126) state that
a Cameron County record is erroneous and question a McLennan County record.
204 Thamnophis marcianus (Baird & Girard, 1853) checkered garter snake
205 Thamnophis proximus (Say, 1823)
western ribbon snake
Thamnophis proximus (Say) formerly was considered a subspecies of
T. sauritus (Linnaeus) (Rossman 1962, pp. 741 & 747; Raun and Gehlbach
1972, p. 34).
208 Trimorphodon
biscutatus (Dumeril, Bibron &
Dumeril, 1854) lyre snake
Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsoni Cope likely will be elevated to
a full species (JRD).
30 Viperidae
(Vipers)
213 Agkistrodon
contortrix (Linnaeus, 1766) copperhead
Dixon (1987, p. 130) questions a Lubbock County record.
215 Crotalus atrox Baird & Girard, 1853 western diamondback rattlesnake
Dixon (1987, p. 131) states that a Jefferson County record is
erroneous.
217 Crotalus lepidus (Kennicott, 1861) rock rattlesnake
218 Crotalus molossus Baird & Girard, 1853 blacktail rattlesnake
Dixon (1987, p. 133) questions a Coke County record.
219 Crotalus scutulatus (Kennicott, 1861) Mojave rattlesnake
220 Crotalus viridis (Rafinesque, 1818) western rattlesnake
Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 37) and Dixon (1987, p. 133) state
that Bexar, Burnet, and Tarrant County records are erroneous.