Amphibians and Reptiles of Travis County, Texas (90 Species)

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Amphibians and Reptiles of Travis County, Texas (90 Species)

Generated with TSNL Ecological Database Version 1.0. 1996, 2000. Austin: Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc.

See also: Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas. Second Edition. (2000) by James R. Dixon

Other Texas Counties: Brewster Cameron

AMPHIBIANS: Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders) Bufonidae (Toads) Hylidae (Treefrogs and Chorus Frogs) Leptodactylidae (Tropical Frogs) Microhylidae (Narrowmouth Toads) Pelobatidae (Spadefoot Toads) Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders) Ranidae (True Frogs) Salamandridae (Newts)

REPTILES: Anguidae (Glass and Alligator Lizards) Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles) Colubridae (Colubrids) Crocodilidae (Crocodilians) Elapidae (Coral Snakes and Cobras) 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)

Bibliography

Amphibia (Amphibians)

Ambystomatoidea, Caudata (Urodela) - Salamanders

2 Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)

6 Ambystoma texanum (Matthes, 1855) smallmouth salamander

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).

Salamandroidea, Caudata (Urodela) - Salamanders

3 Salamandridae (Newts)

9 Notophthalmus viridescens (Rafinesque, 1820) red-spotted newt

5 Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)

14 Eurycea neotenes Bishop & Wright, 1937 Texas salamander

Eurycea neotenes Bishop & Wright probably refers to more than one species (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 4; Price 1990, pp. 12-13).

16 Eurycea sosorum Chippindale, Hillis, & Price, 1993 Barton Springs salamander

19 Plethodon albagula Grobman, 1944 whitethroat slimy salamander

Plethodon albagula Grobman formerly was considered a subspecies of P. glutinosus (Green) (Highton 1989, pp. 19 & 71-73). Dixon (1987, p. 62) questions Mason and San Saba County records.

Anomocoela, Salientia (Anura) - Frogs and Toads

8 Pelobatidae (Spadefoot Toads)

26 Scaphiopus couchii Baird, 1854 Couch's spadefoot

27 Scaphiopus holbrookii (Harlan, 1835) eastern spadefoot

Scaphiopus holbrookii (Harlan) includes Scaphiopus hurterii Strecker (Wasserman 1968, pp. 70.1-70.2) which Collins (1991, p. 43) recently has resurrected.

Procoela, Salientia (Anura) - Frogs and Toads

9 Leptodactylidae (Tropical Frogs)

30 Eleutherodactylus augusti (Dugés, 1879) barking frog

Eleuthrodactylus augusti includes E. latrans (Cope) and Hylactophryne augusti (Duges) (Zweifel 1967, pp. 41.1-41.2; Lynch 1986, pp. 254-255). Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 6) state that the McLennan County record is erroneous.

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).

37 Hyla chrysoscelis Cope, 1880 Cope's gray treefrog

Hyla chrysoscelis Cope and H. versicolor Le Conte cannot be distinguished as museum specimens and and their relative distributions have not yet been determined completely (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, pp. 7-8; Dixon 1987, pp. 68-69).

38 Hyla cinerea (Schneider, 1799) green treefrog

Conant (1977, p. 219) describes Cameron County introductions.

40 Hyla versicolor Le Conte, 1825 gray treefrog

41 Pseudacris clarkii (Baird, 1854) spotted chorus frog

43 Pseudacris streckeri Wright & Wright, 1933 Strecker's chorus frog

44 Pseudacris triseriata (Wied, 1838) striped chorus frog

11 Bufonidae (Toads)

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).

64 Rana sphenocephala Cope, 1886 southern leopard frog

13 Microhylidae (Narrowmouth Toads)

65 Gastrophryne carolinensis (Holbrook, 1836) eastern narrowmouth toad

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 11) question the westernmost Texas records and state that Microhyla often replaces Gastrophyrne in the literature.

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

14 Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)

68 Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758) snapping turtle

69 Macroclemys temmincki (Troost, 1835) alligator snapping turtle

15 Kinosternidae (Musk and Mud Turtles)

71 Kinosternon flavescens (Agassiz, 1857) yellow mud turtle

73 Kinosternon odoratum (Latreille, 1802) stinkpot

Ernst and Barbour (1989, pp. 69 & 76) include Sternothaerus and Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille) in Kinosternon odoratum (Latreille), but Ernst et al. (1994, p. 138) question this.

74 Kinosternon subrubrum (Lacepède, 1788) eastern mud turtle

16 Emydidae (Box and Water Turtles)

80 Graptemys versa Stejneger, 1925 Texas map turtle

86 Pseudemys texana Baur, 1893 Texas cooter

Pseudemys texana Baur formerly was considered a subspecies of P. concinna (Le Conte) (Seidel and Dreslik 1996, p. 626.5). Chrysemys sometimes replaces Pseudemys in the literature (Seidel and Smith 1986, pp. 242-243).

87 Terrapene carolina (Linnaeus, 1758) eastern box turtle

Terrapene carolina (Linnaeus) often is found outside its natural range as a released pet (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 15).

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).

90 Trachemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792) slider

Trachemys scripta (Schoepff) formerly included T. gaigeae (Hartweg) as a subspecies (Ernst 1992, pp. 538.2-538.3). Conant (1977, p. 219) describes Cameron County introductions.

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.

Crocodilia - Crocodilians

21 Crocodilidae (Alligators and Caimans)

99 Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1803) American alligator

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 16) state that Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin) often is introduced outside its natural range and question records of former occurrence along the Rio Grande. Conant (1977, p. 219) discusses introductions in Cameron County.

Sauria (Lacertilia) - Lizards, Squamata - Lizards and Snakes

22 Gekkonidae (Geckos)

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)

106 Anolis carolinensis (Voigt, 1832) green anole

Atascosa, Brown, Cameron, Frio, Hidalgo, Maverick, Menard, Uvalde, and Willacy County records may represent introductions (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 17; Conant 1977, p. 219; Dixon 1987, p. 90).

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.

113 Holbrookia lacerata Cope, 1880 spot-tailed earless lizard

Holbrookia lacerata Cope and H. maculata Girard often are confused in the literature (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 19). Dixon (1987, p. 93) states that Dallas, Donley, Garza, McLennan, and Young 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).

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.

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

24 Scincidae (Skinks)

134 Eumeces obsoletus (Baird & Girard, 1852) Great Plains skink

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.

137 Scincella lateralis (Say, 1823) ground skink

25 Teiidae (Whiptails)

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.

145 Cnemidophorus sexlineatus (Linnaeus, 1766) six-lined racerunner

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.

150 Ophisaurus attenuatus Cope, 1880 slender glass lizard

Ophisaurus attenuatus Cope originally was described as a subspecies of O. ventralis (Linnaeus) (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 24; Dixon 1987, p. 106). Dixon (1987, p. 106) questions a Kerr County record.

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.

28 Colubridae (Colubrids)

153 Arizona elegans Kennicott, 1859 glossy snake

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).

163 Elaphe guttata (Linnaeus, 1766) corn snake

164 Elaphe obsoleta (Say, 1823) rat snake

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 26) and Dixon (1987, p. 112) question Culberson and Reeves County records. Dixon (1987, p. 112) confirms a Cameron County record.

169 Heterodon platirhinos Latreille, 1802 eastern 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).

172 Lampropeltis calligaster (Harlan, 1827) prairie kingsnake

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 28) and Dixon (1987, p. 115) state that a Jeff Davis County record is erroneous.

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.

183 Nerodia fasciata (Linnaeus, 1766) southern water snake

Nerodia fasciata includes Natrix fasciata (Rossman and Eberle 1977, p. 42) and once was considered a race of N. sipedon (Linnaeus) (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 30). Conant (1977, pp. 217-218) states that Cameron County records are introductions.

185 Nerodia rhombifer (Hallowell, 1852) diamondback water snake

Nerodia rhombifer (Hallowell) includes Natrix rhombifer (Hallowell) (Rossman and Eberle 1977, p. 42).

187 Opheodrys aestivus (Linnaeus, 1766) rough green snake

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 30) state the Armstrong and El Paso County records are erroneous.

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

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).

196 Storeria dekayi (Holbrook, 1842) brown snake

Storeria dekayi (Holbrook) includes S. tropica Cope (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 32). Dixon (1987, p. 124) states that Crosby and Lubbock County records may be introductions.

200 Tantilla gracilis Baird & Girard, 1853 flathead snake

Dixon (1987, p. 125) questions Brewster, Hale, Kent, Lamb, and Randall County records.

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).

207 Thamnophis sirtalis (Linnaeus, 1758) common garter snake

Collins (1991, p. 43) considers Thamnophis sirtalis dorsalis Baird & Girard to be a full species.

209 Tropidoclonion lineatum (Hallowell, 1856) lined snake

210 Virginia striatula (Linnaeus, 1766) rough earth snake

Virginia striatula (Linnaeus) includes Haldea striatula (Linnaeus) (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 35; Ernst and Barbour 1989, p. 183). Dixon (1987, p. 129) states that El Paso, King, and Lubbock County records may be introductions.

211 Virginia valeriae Baird & Girard, 1853 smooth earth snake

Virginia valeriae Baird & Girard includes Haldea valeriae (Baird & Girard) (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 35; Ernst and Barbour 1989, p. 183).

29 Elapidae (Coral Snakes and Cobras)

212 Micrurus fulvius (Linnaeus, 1766) North American coral snake

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 35) and Dixon (1987, p. 130) question a Reeves County record. They and Degenhardt et al. (1996, p. 339) state that Texas records of Micruroides euryxanthus (Kennicott) are erroneous.

30 Viperidae (Vipers)

213 Agkistrodon contortrix (Linnaeus, 1766) copperhead

Dixon (1987, p. 130) questions a Lubbock County record.

214 Agkistrodon piscivorus (Lacepède, 1789) cottonmouth

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 35), Conant (1977, p. 219), and Dixon (1987, p. 131) question Cameron, Fisher, Maverick, Sterling, and Val Verde County records.

215 Crotalus atrox Baird & Girard, 1853 western diamondback rattlesnake

Dixon (1987, p. 131) states that a Jefferson County record is erroneous.

218 Crotalus molossus Baird & Girard, 1853 blacktail rattlesnake

Dixon (1987, p. 133) questions a Coke County record.