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Amphibians and Reptiles of Cameron County, Texas (83 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:  Brewster  Travis

 

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

REPTILES:     Anguidae (Glass and Alligator Lizards)  Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles)  Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)  Colubridae (Colubrids)  Crocodilidae (Crocodilians)  Dermochelyidae (Leatherbacks)  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)  Testudinidae (Tortoises)  Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)  Viperidae (Vipers)

 

Bibliography

 

Amphibia (Amphibians)

 

Sirenoidea, Caudata (Urodela) - Salamanders

 

1  Sirenidae (Sirens)

2  Siren intermedia texana  Goin, 1957  Rio Grande siren

Frost (1985, p. 618) comments that populations along the lower Rio Grand and in adjacent Mexico may represent a species different from Siren intermedia Le Conte.

 

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).

 

Salamandroidea, Caudata (Urodela) - Salamanders

 

3  Salamandridae (Newts)

8  Notophthalmus meridionalis  (Cope, 1880)  black-spotted newt

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 3) and Dixon (1987, p. 63) state that a Falls County record is erroneous and question Victoria and Duval 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)

31  Leptodactylus labialis  (Cope, 1877)  white-lipped frog

Leptodactylus labialis (Cope) includes L. fragilis (Brocchi) (Dubois and Heyer 1992, p. 584).

32  Syrrhophus cystignathoides  (Cope, 1877)  Rio Grande chirping frog

Syrrhophus cystignathoides (Cope) includes S. campi Stejneger (Lynch 1972, pp. 15-16).

 

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).

38  Hyla cinerea  (Schneider, 1799)  green treefrog

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

41  Pseudacris clarkii  (Baird, 1854)  spotted chorus frog

45  Smilisca baudinii  (Duméril & Bibron, 1841)  Mexican treefrog

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 8) state that a Bexar County record is erroneous.

 

11  Bufonidae (Toads)

48  Bufo debilis  Girard, 1854  green toad

50  Bufo marinus  (Linnaeus, 1758)  giant toad

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).

 

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).

67  Hypopachus variolosus  (Cope, 1866)  sheep frog

The San Patricio County record reported in Dixon (1987) should be for Calhoun County (JRD).

 

Reptilia (Reptiles)

 

Testudines (Chelonia) - Turtles

 

15  Kinosternidae (Musk and Mud Turtles)

71  Kinosternon flavescens  (Agassiz, 1857)  yellow mud turtle

 

16  Emydidae (Box and Water Turtles)

81  Malaclemys terrapin  (Schoepff, 1793)  diamondback terrapin

82  Pseudemys concinna  (Le Conte, 1830)  river cooter

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, pp. 12-13) question Brewster and Culberson County records and state that Pseudemys concinna (Le Conte) and P. floridana (Le Conte) often are confused and that Chrysemys sometimes replaces Pseudemys.

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).

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.

 

17  Testudinidae (Tortoises)

91  Gopherus berlandieri  (Agassiz, 1857)  Texas tortoise

Goperus berlandieri (Agassiz) often is found outside its natural range as a released pet (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 15).

 

18  Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles)

92  Caretta caretta  (Linnaeus, 1758)  loggerhead

94  Eretmochelys imbricata  (Linnaeus, 1766)  hawksbill

95  Lepidochelys kempi  (Garman, 1880)  Atlantic ridley

Lepidochelys kempi (Garman) formerly was considered a subspecies of L. olivacea (Eschscholtz) (Raun and Gehlbach, p. 15).

 

19  Dermochelyidae (Leatherbacks)

96  Dermochelys coriacea  (Linnaeus, 1766)  leatherback

 

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)

100  Coleonyx brevis  Stejneger, 1893  Texas banded 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)

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).

107  Anolis sagrei  Duméril & Bibron, 1837  brown anole

Anolis sagrei Dumeril & Bibron recently has been introduced to Texas (Dixon 1987, p. 90).

111  Ctenosaura pectinata  (Wiegmann, 1834)  western spiny-tailed iguana

Ctenosaura pectinata (Wiegmann) has been established by man in Brownsville (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 17; Conant 1977, p. 218; Dixon 1987, p. 92).

115  Holbrookia propinqua  Baird & Girard, 1852  keeled earless lizard

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 19) and Dixon (1987, p. 93) question a Real County record.

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).

121  Sceloporus grammicus  Wiegmann, 1828  mesquite lizard

Dixon (1987, p. 96) states that Kleberg and Refugio County records represent introductions.

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).

127  Sceloporus variabilis  Wiegmann, 1834  rosebelly lizard

Raun and Gehlbach (1972, p. 20) and Dixon (1987, p. 98) state Dallas, El Paso, and Lee County records are erroneous.

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.

 

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.

142  Cnemidophorus laredoensis  McKinney, Kay, & Anderson, 1973  Laredo striped whiptail

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

 

26  Anguidae (Glass and Alligator Lizards)

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.

158  Coniophanes imperialis  (Baird, 1859)  black-striped snake

160  Drymarchon corais  (Boie, 1827)  indigo snake

161  Drymobius margaritiferus  (Schlegel, 1837)  speckled racer

Drymobius margaritiferus (Schlegel) may be extirpated from Cameron County (Raun and Gehlbach 1972, p. 26), though B. Whitney observed three specimens in 1981 (Tennant 1984, p. 312).  Dixon (1987, p. 111) questions Hidalgo and Kleberg County records.

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.

166  Ficimia streckeri  Taylor, 1931  Mexican hooknose snake

Ficimia streckeri Taylor formerly was considered a subspecies of F. olivacea Gray (Tennant 1984, p. 233).

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).

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).

175  Leptodeira septentrionalis  (Kennicott, 1859)  cat-eyed snake

Dixon (1987, p. 117) questions a Kleberg County record.

177  Masticophis flagellum  (Shaw, 1802)  coachwhip

178  Masticophis schotti  Baird & Girard, 1853  Schott's whipsnake

Masticophis schotti Baird & Girard formerly was considered a subspecies of M. taeniatus (Hallowell) (Camper and Dixon 1994, pp. 1 & 33-35; Camper 1996, p. 638.2).

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).

 

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)

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.

221  Sistrurus catenatus  (Rafinesque, 1818)  massasauga

 

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