Herp Class at College of Charleston, Schreiner University, & Miami University of Ohio

Joining the fun: Schreiner University

2012-01-26T14:17:00.002-05:00

It's a real honor to be joining you from Texas! We have been fortunate to have good weather and went out in the field this morning. We caught several Acris and saw some as-yet-unidentified tadpoles in our local creek.

We also dissected some fun specimens yesterday, including this Macroclemys.

We are looking forward to sharing an exciting semester with you!

Welcome Herpetologists, Spring 2012!

2012-01-10T11:07:00.001-05:00

Looking forward to herping with you all this spring by spending plenty of time in the lab learning to identify dead specimens (handy when you are looking at the stomach contents of a predator!) and in the field finding herps of all types. In Oxford, our challenge is to find a lovely hellbender. In Charleston, your challenge is to find a glass lizard. May the force be with us all. Happy herping!

And the CofC Herpetology Class Mascot is....

2011-05-06T11:48:00.011-04:00

Congratulations to our new class mascot, Hyla cinerea, our abundant and charismatic green treefrog!

Hyla cinerea was selected to serve as our class mascot because it's a local, lowcountry species that we've seen in the field and, in many cases, outside of class.

In the event that Hyla cinerea is unable to complete its duties as class mascot, its term will be completed by the first runner-up, Alligator mississippiensis.

Alligator mississippiensis is another species we've had the pleasure of seeing in the field. Alligators are our only crocodylian species and a conservation success story.

Thanks for all of your entries, thanks for a great semester, and happy future herping! (A. Welch, SC)

I am KING....Eastern Kingsnake that is. Mascot is mine.

2011-05-04T11:20:00.003-04:00

I say the Eastern Kingsnake should be our mascot! Snakes throughout history have been used as a symbol for many things in many cultures and in many different countries. In Pharmacology, a snake is seen on its symbol to demonstrate healing. In Hinduism, snakes are a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. Through evolution, snakes have been able to form a limbless body that is unique among many animals, yet being limbless does not impair it to be useless but instead are quiet talented in using its body for many physical movements. Another is, they are one of the few species that pretty much can be found in all continents except for the North Pole and Antarctica, meaning it has the ability to survive very well in many diverse environment. Many physicists have studied a variety of snakes to better understand their ways of landing when falling from great heights without any injuries and their ability to be excellent swimmers, in order to help apply these mechanisms to the human world. In the Fashion World, they are seen as being exotic, beautiful creatures, with many of the top designers sculpting fine and luxurious costume-jewelry depicting bodies of snakes. It is a "mysterious" creature that is often misunderstood by a lot of people, but has many powerful and strong talents within it, as well as, having such a rich symbolic history in its past and even in present day.

Now, of course we could use any snake species, but I have a high respect for the Eastern Kingsnake in particular due to it being a non-poisonous snake and has the ability to eat Copperheads and other rattlesnakes. Its body is immune to the venom of pitvipers and that is just astonishing. So ha power to the Eastern Kingsnake!! (Michelle Hou, SC)

Class Mascot

2011-05-04T10:54:00.004-04:00

As much as I think captain planet here should be our mascot, I have to pick the American green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) instead! I think this should be our mascot because they are a common SC species and really guys, who doesn’t love a little green tree frog? They also show a lot of things that we learned this semester. For example, cutaneous respiration, toe pads, posture to reduce water loss, waterproof waxing, legs for jumping and climbing, and many other adaptations that we learned about this semester. I think the green tree frog is a great candidate because it is local and most people recognize it.

Jeremy Frank

Campaign for Class Mascot

2011-05-04T08:41:00.004-04:00

For those of you who were in lab with me you may have picked up on the fact that ambystomatid salamanders are my favorite herps, and I'm certain Dr. Welch knows this for sure. My bias runs deep with these extraordinary animals, so it seems fitting that I nominate one of them as our class mascot.

The spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) would make an excellent mascot, and was adopted as the state amphibian of South Carolina in 1999.

Since its inception into this illustrious position, the spotted salamander has been showing up all over the state providing children with lessons in science, grad students with thesis projects, and other amphibians and reptiles with fashion advice and gossip about the best local hangouts, such as the Francis Marion National Forest and Santee State Forest. Their ancestral life history and biphasic life style gives them the knowledge of both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, making them the most obvious well rounded candidate in this campaign.

Vote for the spotted salamander!

(Ryan M. Wenzel, Charleston, SC)

2011-05-03T16:56:00.002-04:00

Our class mascot should be the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta. This large oceanic turtle would be the perfect mascot because it's often thought of as being wise due to its long life. Loggerhead sea turtles can live from 30-62 years. This class has made all of us wiser when it comes to the field of herpetology. Plus, this turtles is totally stoked about being the mascot, just look at his face!

(Lauren Jindracek, SC)

Tiger Salamander

2011-05-01T23:28:00.001-04:00

My uncle is an ecologist and about a year and half ago he was doing a study on Barred tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium) in Oklahoma. While he was there he was able to get me a larvae which I have now had the pleasure to watch metamorphosize and grow into a now large 8 inch adult. These guys have a black and yellow pattern that extends upward from the belly to the back. Like all mole salamanders they like to remain in burrows or under things and are rarely seen except during breeding season. These salamanders have huge appetites and feed mostly on worms and grubs, however I’ve found anything that they can fit in their mouth is fair game, mine has even taken baby mice. (Alex Hovey, SC)

black racer

2011-05-01T23:14:00.001-04:00

It was a sunny, warm day when we took our class field trip to Ion Swamp trail in Francis Marion State Park. And within 10 minutes someone spotted a black racer (Coluber constrictor). Being familiar with these snakes, I knew it would not be there for long because they are extremely fast. So I quickly grab it by the tail and reeled it in, while managing to get a nice bite. Black racers are quite common to the area. These snakes are predominantly black both on their ventral and dorsal sides with a white chin. (Alex Hovey, SC)

City Stroll

2011-05-01T23:12:00.002-04:00

One warm night I decided to take a stroll through the city of Charleston seeing if I could find any reptiles or amphibians. As I rounded a corner of one of the buildings I caught a flash of movement on the building wall and I went in for a closer look. What I found was a pale looking lizard which I later identified as a Mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus). These lizards are not native to the U.S. and its speculated that they got here inadvertently on cargo ships. This one I caught was about 4 inches. These lizards have large eyes and broad toe pads that extend almost the whole length of their toes. They are usually a paler color with bumpy, rough skin. After identifying him I placed him back on the wall and continued on my walk. Next I headed over to Stern center gardens. As I was walking through the gardens I heard a rustle in the leaf litter. I shined my flashlight in that general area where I heard the noise. And after a quick scan I found the culprit: An American toad (Anaxyrus americanus). I identified it as an American toad because it had two large warts in each of its largest dark spots and because its parotoid gland was connected to the eye ridge by a spur. This individual happened to have a light middorsal stripe which may or may not be present in this species. After a few pictures, I released the toad in the same area where I found it. (Alex Hovey, SC)

Extra-credit deadline: Wed noon

2011-05-01T21:53:00.003-04:00

Any comments or new posts appearing before noon on Wed, May 4, will be considered for extra credit (as described in previous posts).

Good luck wrapping up the semester!
-AW

GO GATORS GO!--The American Alligator: Class Mascot

2011-05-01T13:31:00.008-04:00

In my opinion, I think that the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) should be our classes mascot. It makes perfect sense--they are strong and determined animals, possessing unique adaptations for their environment, and were once a federally endangered species until they recovered and came back in numbers. To add on to this already fascinating list, these reptiles can exceed 60 years--longer than alot of humans. While they may be territorial and aggressive animals, they are an extremely important part of the environment in which they live. These gators have a tendency to dig holes that hold water during droughts obviously making them "Green" or conservation friendly, pretty neat if you ask me!

Fun facts you ask? When Spanish sailors visited the New World they thought that the alligator was a huge lizard, naming it el lagarto meaning 'the lizard." English sailors took this name as allagarter and over time it became the name we know today--alligator!

While it may seem as though alligators have an extremely slow metabolism due to large body size, these magnificent animals can exceed speeds of 3omph that come and go in short bursts--WATCH OUT!

(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

Candidate for Mascot: Eastern Spadefoot Toad

2011-04-30T22:01:00.007-04:00

The Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus Holbrookii) would just love to be nominated as the Herp Class Mascot! I've spoken with Earnest (featured below), and he has asked me to be his campaign mangager. Of course, I agreed right away. Over the course of the semester, we have been digging around looking for herps. No one knows digging better than Earnest, who has his very own spades built into his cute little froggy feet... (hence the genus Scaphiopus: skaphis is Greek for "shovel or spade", and pous is Greek for "foot".) As a professional burrower, he is quite busy, but if chosen to be class mascot he will make appearances to support and encourage the students after heavy rains during the warm months of the year.
Just look into his vertically elliptical pupil, and you will know it was meant to be!

Look... He toadally DIGS herpetology!!!!!

Quenby Keisler

Dwarf Waterdog Mascot!

2011-04-30T12:13:00.003-04:00

I think the lovely Dwarf Waterdog (Necturus punctatus) would make a most excellent mascot for Herpetology!

Amphibians are superb icons as they are the unfortunate canaries of many ecosystems - helping in the detection of pollutants and other things going awry in the environment. The dwarf waterdog's vibrant filamentous gills, smiling gape, and tiny eyes set in its large head would make for an admirable mascot in anyone's eyes!

(Channing Derry, SC)

I just really love them:)

2011-04-29T18:04:00.008-04:00

As I was sitting on the stairs that lead into the backdoor of my house, I spotted another Anole shading himself from the sun under the lid of our garbage can. I captured a couple of great shots--Enjoy!!

(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

Mascot: Hellbender

2011-04-29T15:29:00.002-04:00

The Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is a very large salamander with a flat body and folds of skin. The Hellbender has a large head and tail and very small eyes. I think that this should be our class mascot, because we found a lot of salamanders in the field. This is personally my favorite salamander that we studied and in my opinion, the most memorable. Why not have a memorable mascot for a class full of great memories?

(Alexis Kocher)

Mascot: Albino Alligator

2011-04-29T10:39:00.003-04:00

As we saw on our field trip to the SC Aquarium, they have an albino American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). I believe this one should be the mascot for our class. His name is Alabaster. The American alligator is a local species of great abundance. According to CBS News, there are only about 50 albino alligators in the world. I know two of these alligators are at Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach, SC (or they used to be). I think it is really cool that 3 of about 50 are located in this area of South Carolina. There may even be more in aquariums and zoos in SC of which I am unaware.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6317438n

Mascot!

2011-04-28T16:09:00.003-04:00

So I have always been a fan of the Komodo Dragon, Veranus Komodensis, because it's the world's
largest lizard and it's just so intense with its talons and backward slanting teeth. I personally think
it would make a fantastic mascot. I took the liberty of preparing this little advertisement, hope you enjoy. I enjoyed the class Dr. Welch, thanks!
Bess Pierce

leucistic hognose anecdote

2011-04-28T15:57:00.004-04:00

I ran across this interesting story while stumbling around off the search tag 'leucistic pet snakes'.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85114

Evidently, leucistic (all white with black eyes, not albino) colored "morphs" have been bred domestically in Python regius at least once successfully.

(TJ Mistler)

Serpents, DNA, Shamanism, Magic, and Biology

2011-04-28T15:45:00.003-04:00

a relavent tangent

This link is to a brief interview with anthropologist Jeremy Narby about his book The Cosmic Serpent. I highly recommend all curious people to check it out!

here is the link
http://deoxy.org/narbystew.htm

(TJ Mistler)

Class mascot

2011-04-28T12:46:00.005-04:00

With all due respect to Clyde, I'm taking nominations for a class mascot.

Submit your nomination as a comment to this post. Include the common and scientific name, a photo, and explain why you think this species should be our class mascot. (Nominations must be for an amphibian or reptile, no matter how much fun your classmates may have been on field trips!)

All nominations will be considered for extra credit. After grades are turned in I will announce the winning mascot here. The nominator(s) will also be recognized, for bragging rights.

Good luck!

Ion Swamp

2011-04-28T11:19:00.003-04:00

On 3-24-11 our class traveled to Francis Marion National Forest to visit the Ion Swamp. This swamp is a series of overgrown rice fields separated by a network of dikes. Here a student found an adult marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum). This salamander is very easily identified by its black and silvery/white marbled coloration. It is thick bodied and has costal grooves. No nasolabial groove is present like those in the family Plethodontidae. This particular salamander was about five or six inches long and was found in the woods bordering the swamp. Marbled salamander larvae are born in the water and metamorphose into terrestrial adults.

We also found a bunch of green anoles (Anolis carolinensis) all those that were found were adults and appeared to be females due to the lack of a dewlap. The anoles were about four inches long and all changed colors from brown to bright green over a few minutes after being caught. Some were caught in the forest bordering the swamp, but I caught a large one in the swamp. They are highly territorial so we made sure to release them very close to where they were found. (Logan Bryan, SC)

Healthy Population of Banded Water Snakes

2011-04-28T10:54:00.003-04:00

Our class took a field trip to Dungannon Heritage Preserve in the ACE Basin on 4-21-11. The habitat we investigated was made up of mostly old rice fields turned to swamp. Here we found a vast amount of southern cricket frogs (Acris gryllus) which varied in morphology greatly. We also found four banded water snakes (Nerodia fasciata) all but one were caught in minnow traps. The fourth was found slightly under a log on the outskirts of a swampy area. We knew they were Nerodia due to their keeled scales and dark, thick bodies. They have rounded pupils and fairly slender heads, so we knew they were not cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Furthermore, their bellies were brightly colored with red and yellow alternating marks and faint yellowish bands were on their sides. Two of the water snakes we found appeared to be adults because they were a few feet long. Both of these had tapering tails posterior to their anus, so we deduced that these were females. One of the smaller ones was very aggressive biting one student in the hand and arm many times. The snake that was found under the log flattened its head to make itself appear like a venomous species.

In the same area we caught two of the water snakes (on a dike next to where an old rice trunk appears to have been) I saw a black snake. I yelled, “snake snake”, in hopes Keith, our snake enthused lab TA would come assist. Eventually, with the help of another student we cornered the snake and Keith caught it. The snake turned out to be a black racer (Coluber constrictor). This snake, like one of the water snakes, was very aggressive biting him on the hand and fingers many times. We determined due to the thickness of the tail that this snake was most likely a male. It was several feet long with a very thin body, and probably an adult. It was all black with a dark grey belly and smooth scales. (Logan Bryan, SC)

Kayak camping and Herping

2011-04-28T10:53:00.008-04:00

Two Summers ago my girlfriend and I went kayak campign on Eschaw creek in the Francis Marion National Forest. Eschaw creek is a tributary of the Santee River. We took some time to herp on our trip and managed to find some pretty cool stuff.

On the way out there we found a dead snake in the roadd. The snake was long and black with smooth scales. Based on the smooth scales, black coloration, slender body, and head shape we identified this snake as a black racer Coluber constrictor. These snakes are fast moving active foragers and are commonly seen crossing forest roads. It is not a suprise that we found this one dead on the road.

We saw one small alligator (~4 ft) while paddling to our camp site but we could not get close enough for a photo. Arriving at the campsite we took some time to set up camp and then went exploring. We found several large sliders, a southern toad, and an eastern spade foot toad, none of which I photographed. After flipping over several logs we came across my favorite salamander species, the marbled salamadner (Ambystoma opacum). This Salamander was identifiable as a member of ambystomatidae because of its robust size, lack of nasolabial grooves, and conspicuous costal grooves. It was identifiable as a marbled salamander by its unique silvery/grey dorsal pattern. The photos aren't the best because of the camera I was using but the salamander is still easily identifable based on the dorsal pattern. These salamdnres are typical of low swampy areas such as eschaw creek but are also found on drier sites. They are sit and wait predators with small home ranges. This one probably spends a lot of time under the log where I found it.

Finally on the way back to civilization we came across a reddish snake crossing a forest road. Stopping to examine the snake more closely it became clear it was a corn snake based on the dark spear mark on the dorsal surface of the head and the checkered pattern on the ventral surface. This scientifc name is Elaphe guttata and it is a member of the family Colubridae. These snakes are common in all types of woodlands. This particular specimen was found in a pine flatwood. These snakes are primarily nocturnal but I've personally encountered them frequently crossing roads during the day, especially during the summer. Perhpas they are searching for mates more actively during this time of the year.

(Kevin Maginn, SC)

Exciting finds in Dixie!

2011-04-28T10:46:00.004-04:00

On 3-31-11 we took a field trip to Dixie Plantation. Here we retrieved a few turtle traps from a freshwater pond which contained several yellow bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta) of both sexes and one snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). The sex of the yellow bellied sliders can be determined by the length of their claws. Males typically have much longer claws than females that they use to “stroke” her face during courtship. In the picture you can see that the snapping turtle’s plastron is very small, an indication that it lives on the pond floor. A hole in its tongue can be seen, but the purpose of this I do not know. Upon research I found that snapping turtles have a worm-like feature on their tongue for catching prey, so that may be what this is. This turtle was obviously not a juvenile with a plastron width of a little over a foot.
Later in the field trip we visited a swamp on the other side of Dixie Plantation. In the minnow traps here we caught many marbled salamander larvae (Ambystoma opacum). These larvae are aquatic and when they metamorphose they turn into terrestrial adults. One major identifying feature of the marbled salamander larvae is their two rows of light dots: one ventrally and one dorsally.
On the other side of the dike in an adjacent swamp, I pulled up a minnow trap and to my surprise I saw what appeared to be a snake! Then I realized its head and skid did not resemble a reptile’s at all. Excited, I hurried up the bank and opened the trap to discover a two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma means), the only amphiuma species in the area. We identified this by observing four tiny feet each with two little toes, and no external gills were present. Dr. Welch was particularly excited, because this was the first time she (or us for that matter) had seen a live amphiuma in the field. Based on pure observation I would guess that it was just over a foot long: not big by any means but definitely an adult. We also know it is an adult based on its lack of external gills which are present in larvae before metamorphosis. (Logan Bryan, SC)

Just because Dr. Welch said she'd give me credit - The Armadillo!

2011-04-28T10:38:00.003-04:00

Donnelly was one of our most active sites. Besides thousands of cricket frogs we saw quite a few different species there. I had seen a black racer, Coluber constrictor, and so I was snake hunting on the higher dry ground, which also kept me from being eaten alive by gnats. I heard movement nearby and saw this goofy thing run by. It's a Nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, and is just visible in the center of the picture (I know it's a crappy picture but I was running after this thing with a phone camera). These are the only armadillos that are local to South Carolina. Probably the best thing about it is how it runs. It's hard to describe, but it wasn't very fast and just kind of skips along. It didn't seem too concerned by my presence and would occasionally stop to catch food. It was about a foot and a half long and almost a foot tall. I'd never seen one and didn't really know we had them around here, so it was a comical experience chasing one.

-Hill Felton

Photographed at the Donnelly Site

Road cruising in Francis Marion National Forest

2011-04-28T10:23:00.007-04:00

Last Friday night after some substantial rains I headed out to the Cainhoy region of the Francis Marion National Forest. I was out there searching for gopher frogs for my undergrad research but unfortunately none were calling. Because I was already out in the forest I decided to take advantage of the warm, humid conditions and see what I could find on the roads.

Almost immediately I found this small frog. Based on the body shape and large toe pads it was easily identified to the family hylidae. The size and unwebbed toes further narrowed this specimen down to the genus Hyla. Based on the general coloration my initial thoughts were that this was either a grey treefrog or a pine woods treefrog. Exposing the concealed hind surface of the frogs thigh I found a row of yellowish orange spots, indicating that this was a pine woods tree frog, Hyla femoralis.

These frogs inhabit pine flatwoods near ponds. The area of the Francis Marion where I was fit this habitat description perfectly. These frogs are not typically seen because they spend most of their times in tree tops. Perhaps this guy (or girl) was taking advantage of the warm and humid night to make a breeding migration.

There were also many members of this species on the road that night. Based on the presence of parotid glands which produce bufotoxins these frogs were clearly members of the family bufonidae. Locally Bufonidae is represented by only one genus, Anaxyrus. Based on the large size and position of the cranial crests I identified these as southern toads, Anaxyrus terrestris.

These frogs are very abundant in our region, especially where there are sandy and loose soils compatible for burrowing. I think that the southern toads I encountered were foraging for insects on the road.

(Kevin Maginn, SC)

Aquarium Means Free Food and Endless Poking From Small Children

2011-04-28T10:20:00.003-04:00

The Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. This one was lucky enough to be placed in the exhibit where the "do not touch" sign was easy to ignore. He was pretty small, maybe 15 cm in overall length. He is a semi-aquatic turtle with limbs that support walking as well as swimming and a slightly domed carapace which is also quite ornate. Typically found in marshes, swamps, and really any body of brackish water, the aquarium built display was relatively close to his natural habitat (kind of). He's probably a male due to smaller overall size. He also wasn't too shy, but after spending time being poked by countless people (including us) I suppose that isn't too strange.

-Hill Felton, SC

South Carolina Aquarium

Dixie Plantation and a Heron that looks like a zombie

2011-04-28T10:14:00.005-04:00

Note: The first picture is just a shot of some of my fellow classmates wading about in the swampy portions of the Dixie Plantation... Pretty place, no?

On yet another one of our wonderful field excursions, we found a variety of life. My most memorable sightings would include a large adult - young adult alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) that was approximately 5-6 feet long and what could have been a prey item, a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

The two are featured above in the photographs, however due to the feeding style of alligators, it is unlikely that this particular heron met its untimely fate at the powerfully snapping jaws (around 2,000lbs of pressure per square inch) of our friend cruising about in the pond nearest to where the bird was found. Although alligators do frequently feed on wading birds utilizing their dark coloration (as adults, younger individuals has yellow banding that is last to fade on/near the tail) and stealth to sneak up on unsuspecting prey; the alligator in this pond was perfectly large and capable enough of swallowing the entire bird whole.

However the heron was found around 6 feet from the shore and although its fragile bones were most certainly shattered and scattered about, it is more plausible that the bird was shot or died of poisoning/swallowing a lure or other man-made object - despite this area being protected, it is largely accessible to trouble-making humans, many of whom still find entertainment in shooting wading birds or other non-game animals (though we did find a White Tailed Deer skeleton nearby as well). The only creatures to have fed on this specimen appeared to be small mammalian scavengers and insects due to the animal being largely intact (within a 10 ft. radius).

(Channing Derry, SC) And yes, I am still awful with formatting... My apologies!

Trachemys scripta- Yellow belly slider at Donnelly WMA

2011-04-28T10:10:00.003-04:00

This large yellow belly slider was found in a turtle trap that had been set at Donnelly WMA. It was identified based on the obvious yellow stripes on the seat of its pants and on the forelegs as well as the yellow blotch found behind the eye. Another characteristic of the species is a yellow plastron with dark smudges, which can be seen in this picture. Turtles of this genus can be distinguished from other similar genuses of Emydidae by their distinctly rounded lower jaw. Yellow belly sliders are semi-aquatic with webbed feet and shallowly domed shells. They are often seen basking on logs or rocks in ponds, rivers, and lakes from southern Virginia to northern Florida and over to Alabama. Their diet is primarily vegetarian may also eat small insects, worms, and fish. This particular turtle was determined to be female based on its huge size (about 10 in carapace length and really heavy!) and its short claws (males have long ones used in courtship).

Carrie Umberger (GA)

Copperhead

2011-04-28T10:09:00.002-04:00

Our last field trip of the semester was to the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area. It was a hot, sunny day as we made our trek through the forests and swamps in search of specimens. We found a lot of cool stuff, but I decided that I still wanted to see a venomous snake and I had yet to see one all semester. In our second to last stop, we had all spread out, some of us were in the water with nets and others were searching in the undergrowth of the forest. I did not have any sort of net, so I decided to look under logs and such for specimens. I was walking near a tree stump looking for snakes when I saw it. It was a Copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix. It was probably about 60 centimeters long and it was coiled up next to a tree root. I could tell that it was a Copperhead because it had a large triangular head, a coppery-red colored head and the typical hourglass pattern down its back. I started to back away slowly when it struck out. Luckily, I was far enough away that it still had at least another 40 cm before it could have sunk its teeth into my leg. As soon as it struck, I started moving back a little faster than I thought was possible, but it seemed that the snake was as scared of me as I was of it. It retreated into a little hole in the root system nearby and I stood there for awhile, trying to catch my breath. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to take a picture of the snake, but I will always have the mental picture of the snake's open mouth as it lunged for my calf. This was definitely the highlight of the class and I can now check off my goal of seeing a venomous snake in the wild.

Andrew See

Charleston, SC

My Extra Roommates

2011-04-28T09:57:00.004-04:00

So here it is, the Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis. Classic, right? I swear that I have a motel's worth of them around my house. Typically arboreal, this one was in a small growth of ivy under my house. I took a shot at catching him after taking this picture but he darted downward into where the ivy is much thicker and conveniently brown and dead. He blended pretty well and I couldn't find him after that. He was about 8 cm in overall length and probably young. I was unable to determine a sex. And he is one of many bold anoles living on or around my house. Seems like if I'm around the outside of the house I'll run into one. Encounters on the porch typically lead to me sitting while an anole climbs up onto the porch railing in front of me, shows his dewlap, and starts bobbing his head in a display of machismo. They think they own the place.

-Hill Felton

Photographed in downtown under my house

Mole Salamander

2011-04-28T09:38:00.003-04:00

Way back on our first trip to the Francis Marion Forest, the same one when we got stuck in the mud, we got to use all the tools, like the dip nets and the waders, for the first time. I was really excited to catch all sorts of crazy animals on that warm February day. After the second hour of trying to catch something, anything, to no avail, I was getting fairly impatient. We were on our way back I got to check the last trap before we got to the van. I pulled it out of the water and found something moving around in it. I found something!

Of course, by find I mean lifted up a trap that had been sitting there for awhile, but I still was the first to see it. We pulled this thing out of the trap and it turned out to be a salamander. We could see that it was dark colored with a short chunky body and a large head, all characteristics of the Mole Salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum. It was about 8 centimeters long, which is within the average for the species. As the picture shows, this specimen had five toes on its hind legs and four on its front, a characteristic of the family Ambystomatidae. It also was lacking a naso-labial groove and had costal grooves, more evidence for the identification as a Mole Salamander.

It is interesting to note that almost ever single time I have gone out looking for herps since that day in Francis Marion, I have only found things when we have been on our way to the van to leave. Maybe its nature trying to leave a good impression so I will still always want to go out hunting for more herps. Anyway, it was a great day in the Francis Marion and a fun experience overall.

Andrew See

Charleston, SC

Salamander larvae!

2011-04-28T09:19:00.003-04:00

I managed to catch a few of these little guys at Dixie Plantation. A large patch of low grass in the water was packed with them, and basically any time I ran a dip net through there I was able to catch one. They were also in other areas in that same body of water. They were all about 6 cm in overall length, and all had large external gills. After some debate, it was determined that these salamanders were larvae that were growing close to metamorphosis. They didn't appear completely paedomorphic, as their tails had lost the fin quality and were more rounded. They were definitely Mole Salamanders (Ambystoma) because of the lack of a nasolabial groove, but we weren't able to figure out a specific species. Ryan the salamander guru narrowed it down to the marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum, or the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum. This was due to white flecks on the belly. If anyone has more ideas about them let me know!

-Hill Felton, SC

Image taken on trip to Dixie Plantation

All Glory to the Hypnotoad

2011-04-28T08:55:00.004-04:00

We found this Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) during our field trip to Dixie Plantation. It was hanging out just off the trail under a log my classmate and I had rolled over. We were able to identify this as a southern toad because of the parotid glands on the back of the head and the dorsal crests right behind the eyes. We weren't able to tell if this was a male or female but the toad was about an inch or so in length. I thought it was funny looking because it reminded me of the Hypnotoad from the show Futerama. We had to put it back under the log because the rest of the class had gotten so far ahead of us but luckily when we came back around it was still sitting under the same log so we were able to show it off to our professor and everyone else. He was pretty chill and had no problem staying still while I took these pictures.
Southern toads are pretty common in the southeast and they're mostly inactive during the day. They like to hide out and burrow until the evening hours when they come out to find food. Their calls are a high pitched sustained trill that sounds kinda like a teapot whistle.

Emily Hood (SC)

Black Racer/ Caw Caw

2011-04-28T08:51:00.003-04:00

A few weekends ago, some of my friends and I made our way down to the CawCaw Interpretive Center to enjoy the beautiful, sunny day. In our excitement, however, we forgot cameras and had to rely on camera phone to document anything we saw. This was hard because we saw a lot of things, but none wanted to stay still or get close enough for us to take any decent picture with our phones. We saw a green tree frog, Hyla cinerea, green anoles, Anolis carolinesis, skinks, toads, and about a dozen alligators, Alligator mississippiensis. Overall, there was a plethora of herps. After exploring the different types of ecosytems they have at the center, we decided to head out.

On our way out, we came across a dirt road with a freshly dead snake on it. We could tell it was freshly dead because the blood had not coagulated completely and the body was not in rigor. Upon closer examination, I could tell that it was a Black Racer, Coluber constrictor. It was approximately 1 meter in length and had the characteristically black smooth body typical of the Racer. As the picture shows, it has white on the underside of its chin down onto its throat. Its anal plate was divided and it did not really have any sort of pattern on it. According to the literature, Racers lose most of their patterns once they get to be around 75 cm, so it makes sense that this particular snake did not have any pattern.

After examining and documenting the snake, we put it in the woods nearby so that nature's recyclers could begin their work. It is unfortunate that this snake got run over, but it is not uncommon, especially for snakes like the Black Racer that spend a lot of their time near the roadside, hunting for prey. It just goes to show that we should be paying more attention when we are driving, especially on country roads near such a dynamic ecosystem. Despite all this, the death of the Black Racer was not in vain as it allowed us to examine it in detail, which would have been much more difficult if it was still alive. Overall, it was a very interesting trip and I would recommend going to the Caw Caw Center to anyone that likes South Carolina's plants and animals.

Andrew See

Charleston, SC

Starting young

2011-04-28T08:48:00.003-04:00

This picture shows my first time herping. My family lives outside of Summerville, SC and has a bit of land so we would always find a lot of various animals. In this picture is a rough green snake, Opheodrys aestivus. It was small, thin-bodied snake that was maybe a foot and a half long. The date on the picture was April, so given their reproductive habits I'd say that this snake was almost a year old. I'm not sure of the gender. My dad and I found it climbing on a tree near the pond in our backyard. This is consistent with their habitat. This snake was rather docile, which made for a good first interaction. Everyone has to start somewhere, right?

(Caitlin Bergen, SC)

WANTED: A Sweet Escape

2011-04-28T04:12:00.001-04:00

Hiding from the paparazzi, the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) was in its shell and facing the wall of its cage in the Aquarium. The environment reproduced for the animal was a sandy forest floor with pine tree trunks and other forest floor debris (pine needles, bark, etc.). The carapace looks slightly smooth but the grooves are still visible, therefore this tortoise is probably a mature adult but is quite young, compared to other gopher tortoises, though the sex is elusive. But I wonder if the sandy floor provided is deep enough for the tortoise to burrow and makes tunnels or if the sandy floor is just that, a floor. If this latter statement is true, then the aquarium should look into rearranging this exhibit and allowing for the tortoise to burrow and have the tunnels displayed, much like the display of the ground hog or other fossorial creatures. I am also curious about the position of the tortoise and I wonder if this is normal or if maybe the veterinarians should take a look at this tortoise.

Smile with your eyes big guy

2011-04-28T03:03:00.003-04:00

Last month, our Herpetology class took a field trip to Dixie Plantation. On one of the trails at Dixie, we encountered this solitary, slow-moving Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Although we could only clearly see the gator's eyes and rounded snout, we tried to approximate his size and age. This alligator looked to be about 5-6 feet long. I would guess that this large herp is a mature male, based on the fact that the large reptile was resting by itself. Older male alligators are known to be quite solitary, due to their territorial nature, but younger alligators (males and females) are more tolerable and are often seen in larger groups. Typically alligators do not respond well to being approached by humans, but this guy stayed relatively still and let us climb to the edge of the water bank to take pictures. This level of inactivity is probably due to the alligator's slow metabolism and nocturnal nature.

Its a shame we didn't encounter this guy a little later in the season, because breeding season for alligators is April-May. Their observable behavior is highly variable, including the formation of "bellowing choruses," head-slaps, and "alligator dances."

Unfortunatly, we did not get to witness any of these exciting behaviors. As we "oh-ed and ah-ed" over our crocodilian find, he remained relatively stationary and appeared to be observing us with much less interest.

I think I even saw an eye-roll.

(Cat Harpe, SC)

Ok, who wants to help ID this guy?

2011-04-28T02:43:00.003-04:00

This little dude was tree-climbing on Folly Beach, SC. I'm sorry about the poor quality of the pictures...I was in a tree and only had my phone on me.

My initial thought was a Green anole (Anolis carolinensis), however this lizard has a broader head than a typical Green anole. Also, this guy has a distinctive light stripe running from its neck to its tail. Its tail appears to be almost twice the length of its body. Maybe a female brown anole (Anolis sagrei)? If it is a brown anole, it would've had to be introduced to the island/area because they are a West Indian subspecies and not native to SC.

Any other ideas??

(Cat Harpe, SC)

THIS is why everyone should volunteer with the Folly Turtle Watch Program

2011-04-28T02:09:00.003-04:00

This little guy was part of the "late litter" of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) laid on Folly Beach, SC in November. The nest was located, extracted and relocated by the lovely members of the Folly Beach Turtle Watch Program. When the hatchlings emerged, they were guided to the water by volunteers (including me!). This nest had a very low hatch and emergence rate, presumably due to the off-season brood and abnormally cold ground temperatures.

I arrived at the hatching site as the baby turtles were making their way to the shore, flanked on both sides by Turtle Team volunteers. Each loggerhead hatchling appeared to be approx 2-3 inches long and have the appearance of tiny loggerheads (same features as adults, just itty-bitty). I have no idea of the sex of this particular turtle, but I would guess male due to the chilly inclubation temperature. As far as observed behaviors....this little one and his/her siblings pulled themselves toward the shoreline with their tiny flippers and disappeared once they reached the foamy water. I wish I could report on the texture of the tiny turtles but, for some reason, our Turtle team members would not let me carry the turtles to the water (crazy huh?). The baby loggerheads had quite a journey ahead of them --> after making it across the beach to the shoreline, the tiny turtles must traverse the shore tides in order to reach open ocean, where they will feed and grow and play :) until they reach maturity. How long do they live you ask? I will site Crush (Finding Nemo) for that answer: "150 dude!"

Other than not being allowed to keep a hatchling for a pet (if you can tell, I am NOT an ideal volunteer), watching the sea turtle hatching experience was incredible and I will absolutely be part of the Folly Turtle Team for the 2011 hatching season.

If anyone is going to be in town and wants to volunteer --> www.follyturtles.com

(Cat Harpe, SC)

Metamorphosing Leopard Frog

2011-04-28T00:59:00.004-04:00

We found this Leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) larvae on our field trip to the Donnelly Wildlife Management Area. It was caught in one of the minnow trips our professor had set in a swampy area off the main road. If I can remember right along with this tadpole there were some fish and crawdads found in the trap with it as well as a few other tadpoles. I didn't get a chance to hold this little guy because I had put on bug spray at the beginning of the field trip. Determining the species of tadpoles can be difficult but we decided that this was most likely a Leopard frog because of the spattering of spots all over the body and tail. We couldn't tell the sex of the larvae but it was about an inch in length not including the tail. This was a really cool find because the tadpole was in the midst of metamorphosing into a juvenile frog. As you can see it had already developed its hind legs and according to my professor it was only a few days from completing its metamorphosis.
Leopard frogs are generally found in freshwater habitats though they have been known to live in brackish waters as well. They can also be found away from the water in the humid summer months to feed. As adults their calls usually sound like a chuckle and a snore. It's composed of a rubbery-sounding squeak followed by a short trill.

Emily Hood (SC)

Extra credit blogging

2011-04-28T00:37:00.002-04:00

For extra credit, consider commenting on each other's posts. Respond to the content of the post by contributing additional observations, habitat descriptions, natural history information, etc.

Your comments will be eligible for extra credit until I turn in final grades (sometime next week).

Stay tuned... more extra credit to come. Also, page back through the blog for an earlier extra credit opportunity.

Green Anole by the Pool

2011-04-28T00:08:00.003-04:00

This cute Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) came up next to my lounge chair at the pool one day. I only had my phone near me to take pictures so they aren't super great. From what I could see this lizard was most likely a female because I didn't see any evidence of a dewlap. She was between 5-6 inches in length and had a white line running down her back. According to the species guide anoles are commonly found on fences, vines, and old buildings. I watched this one skitter over the flower bed and up onto the fence next to me. I didn't try to catch it because of my previous bad luck at catching lizards and I didn't want to miss a good photo opportunity. It was very warm and sunny that afternoon so it's a good guess that she was probably looking for a place to sun herself and warm up. Anoles are pretty common in SC and I've seen them all over my apartment complex. In nature they tend to be arboreal with toe pads on their feet to help them climb.

Emily Hood (SC)

2011-04-27T23:32:00.002-04:00

This is a cute little green tree frog (Hyla cinerea)found in the I'on swamp at the Francis Marion Forest. I don't know if it's a male or female, but it was exciting to find, because I'd been digging around all day with no luck. Then, I just happened to see the frog sitting on a leaf. He or she was very jumpy and difficult to hold at first. When we got a good look, we could see the large toe pads used for climbing and the white stripe down the sides, which helped us identify this guy.
quenby SC

Yay snakes!

2011-04-27T23:21:00.003-04:00

Our last field trip was to the Donnely Wildlife protection area in the Ace Basin.
It was definitely the best, because we finally got to see some snakes. All of the snakes we found were in the traps when we got there (I'm pretty sure). Most of the snakes caught were like this one, which we decided was a banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata). I think we had 5 snakes total, and the majority of them were female, which we could tell be the tail length and the way it tapered. We knew they were not venomous by looking at the round pupil and the divided anal plate. It was so cool to hold them. You could really get a good look at the keeled scales and the awesome colors of their bellies. Only a couple of people were bitten, but they didn't mind. quenby sc

black racer

2011-04-27T23:14:00.003-04:00

This a black racer (Coluber constrictor)...another snake found at Donnely. It was more feisty than the Banded water snakes, so we had to take more care to get bitten, even though it wouldn't have really mattered because they are also not venomous. Unlike the Nerodia fasciata, this snake had very smooth scales. I can't remember if this one was a male or female. When we let it go, it really did race away. quenby sc

Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)

2011-04-27T23:08:00.003-04:00

A while back on our class trip to Francis Marion National Forrest we caught a lot of mole salamanders (Ambystoma talpoideum). They were caught in traps that Dr. Welch and Keith placed in a swampy wetland area. We found many in the larval stage and a few adults! It was earlier in the year, so the water temperature was still quite cold at the time. Mole salamanders are found in a large portion of the United States throughout the entire south east region and extending slightly out of that region. The adults we found were approximately 3 to 4 inches in length and very active! One can identify the genus of this species by the costal grooves and lack of nasal labial grooves. The species can then be defined by the size of the head relative to the body. Their color can vary but generally they are dark brown to black. This population was very dark in appearance, almost black. Mole Salamanders are primarily nocturnal and prefer moist habitats. They breed in the winter and larval hatch in the early spring, likely why we found so many in the larval stage! It was a fun first trip to the Francis Marion!
Jeremy Frank

Southern toad-Anaxyrus terrestris

2011-04-27T22:46:00.003-04:00

This southern toad, Anaxyrus terrestris, was found in a parking lot at Unicoi State Park in the mountains of Helen, GA a couple weeks ago. The toad was just passing through, and I was lucky enough to snap a picture as it paused before it hopped off along on its way. The parking lot was not very well lit and was surrounded by mixed hardwood forest on one side and a lake on the other. I recognized it as a southern toad because of the pronounced knobs and crests on the top of its head and the kidney-shaped parotid glands. I was not able to determine the sex of the toad, but I found this individual to be about 10 cm in length and most likely adult. This species is commonly found in the southeast, is terrestrial, and uses freshwater ponds and lakes for breeding. Adults normally remain hidden during the day and emerge near dusk from burrows it has dug to forage on insects like earwigs, beetles, ants, and cockroaches.

No Such Luck

2011-04-27T21:27:00.002-04:00

So I went exploring tonight to try to find a frog around my apartment complex because I always do seem to find them when I walk my dog but never have my camera. Unfortunately, tonight I had no such luck. I was really looking around, but it was dark, so they probably all hopped away before I even saw them. I do however have a pond near my apartment and I guess tonight is a particular good night to find a mate because there is an entire chorus outside. My guess is that they are Green Tree Frogs (Hyla cinerea) based on their call. I provided a video for audio purposes to hear the madness going on around the pond! I also did hear a Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) call a few times but you can't hear it in the video. Enjoy!

(Deena Russell, SC)

Black Racer and Slimy Salamander

2011-04-27T20:44:00.002-04:00

After chasing a small armadillo through the pine forests of Donnelly Wildlife Management Area, I trudged back towards the group, peering under fallen logs and peeling back the bark of some of the larger trees along the way. Just when I had almost given up hope of finding a snake on any of our field trips, I pulled back the loose bark of a prostrate pine tree and uncovered a fairly small Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) which was understandably perturbed over being disturbed. While I figured it was C. constrictor because of the species prevalence in the region, morphological features like the large round eyes, smooth body, and white chin confirmed the identification. As I mentioned earlier, it was rather small (25-30") which leads me to believe that it was only two or three years of age. However, the gray middorsal pattern present on most juveniles was absent, so it was most likely a mature adult. Regardless, this little guy caused its' share of trouble. Along with angrily nipping my fingers a few times, it nearly brought about the loss of a classmate's eye. Although this created quite a scare, all was well and the defensive, little snake released.

The Plethodontid in the other picture was caught earlier this year, during an especially rainy period. This moist, humid weather, along with the undisturbed locale of a swampy forest in Eutawville, SC enabled me to find a bunch of different amphibians and a snake on this trip. Snapping a photo of the little snake with my phone was pointless, due to its lack of technological functions; however I believe it was a Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata). Later, I found this slender black salamander with many white flecks down its side and back. It was impossible to ignore its extremely slimy skin, which made my fingers stick together, and the costal grooves on its' sides. After flipping through the field guide a bit, I was positive that it was a member of the Plethodon glutinosus complex, however distinguishing between these species seemed impossible since they all look so similar. It was only after consulting Dr. Welch that I was able to narrow it down to the Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander (Plethodon chlorobryonis) based on the range of the species. Unfortunately, I did not think to check for a mental gland, so I do not know the sex of the animal. Despite this, it seemed that this particular individual was on the move, which surprised me since I usually only find them under logs, etc. It was probably taking advantage of the moist environment, in search of a mate or either prowling for food.

Phillip Carson (SC)

Surprise, surprise! Another Cricket Frog!

2011-04-27T19:33:00.006-04:00

I will admit that I am not very good at catching frogs, but I did manage to get one to jump into my bucket after chasing it around for a good minute. It was in a wooded area near a small body of water. They are very fast and can hop pretty far distances. Our trip to Donnelly was filled with cricket frogs and we heard a lot of advertisement calling. Their call sounds like metal balls clinking together. After examining its hind feet I determined it was a Southern Cricket Frog (Acris Gryllus).

This is a picture of me holding another cricket frog that someone else had caught, but it gives you a good idea just how small they are!

(Deena Russell, SC)

Greater Siren (Siren lacertina)

2011-04-27T18:45:00.002-04:00

On our recent trip to Donley Wildlife management area we found a Greater Siren, Family Sirenidae(Siren lacertina) in one of our traps! The traps were placed in swampy wetland areas. Unfortunately it was dead, but we collected it for a new specimen in the lab! Greater sirens are eel like amphibians that can grow up to 38 inches in length. They range in color from black to brown and usually have lighter underbellies. These amphibians are aquatic and have external gills as well as tiny vestigial forelimbs with four toes on each. They generally are carnivorous and eat small insects and snails in the water. Adults usually spend much of their day under rocks, debris, or vegetation as they are a nocturnal species. This was an exciting find, I wish it had been alive because I have never seen a live siren before!
Jeremy Frank

Adding to the entertainment...

2011-04-27T18:32:00.006-04:00

Here are some pictures and videos from our first trip to Francis Marion National Forest--no they are not of amphibians or reptiles but of a large white van stuck in mud. Enjoy!!

(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

Angry Anole!

2011-04-27T18:14:00.006-04:00

Last weekend, while visiting Caw Caw County Park, I caught a Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis). I found her on a tree near the water and, originally she was brown in coloration like the bark of the tree. However, once caught she quickly began to turn a yellow-green color, and eventually became bright green as viewed in photo. She jumped out of my hand before I took the photo, and is pictured among the rushes and grasses along the swamp. I believe she was a female because she did not have a pronounced, reddish flap on her chin. Anoles are members of the Family Polychridae, and Green Anoles are the only species found in our area. Members of the Family Polycridae can be identified by granular scales, ability to rapidly change color, and toe pads for climbing. They are a climbing, somewhat arboreal family, although they can also be found foraging terrestrially. Identifying her as a Green Anole was possible due to the fact that they are our only local species, green to brown coloration, somewhat spotted appearance, and small size. These lizards are locally abundant and can be found anywhere from forests, parks, to downtown around houses and buildings. Although common, catching an Anole is still exciting, as they are normally extremely fast and difficult to capture.

(Maggie Veith,SC)

Hide and Seek Toad

2011-04-27T18:02:00.004-04:00

On an Ornithology field trip to Magnolia plantation I was able to catch a Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris). Unfortunately, I had put him back on the ground before a camera was available, so the photo is of him hiding beneath a tree root. He was easily identified as a toad (Family Bufonidae) by his relatively slow hopping, dry, warty skin, parotoid glands, horizontal pupil,and lack of spade. He was identified as a Southern Toad by the highly pronounched knobs and cranial crests, reddish-brown coloration, and slightly obscured mid-dorsal stripe. He was found hopping across the trail in the forest adjacent to a pond. Southern toads breed in shallow water, with eggs hatching into tadpoles that metamorphose into toads. They are terrestrial foragers, and can usually be found at night; the field trip was early in the morning just after sunrise, which would explain the hiding behavior. He was a bit smaller than the palm of my hand, slow and easy to catch. Southern Toads can be found on the Coastal Plain, from Virginia to Mississippi, as well as throughout Florida.

(Maggie Veith, SC)

those anoles

2011-04-27T17:39:00.004-04:00

Merely a brief blog here. So my batting average for anole catching this week is 2 caught for 2 found. I was able to keep hold of the tiny Iguanian long enough to photograph him with my cell phone. It kept its color intially but then turned brown, losing all color but the white marks down the spine, only when I let it go and it sat and breathed for a few minutes did its colorful greens return. I was able to watch the lizard breath. Their anatomy is such that they must use their ribs to breathe (we use our diaphragm) meaning that they must hold their breath when they sprint. This anole had various undertones of blue and orange especially around the eyes, a subtle phenotypic variation I had not observed before.
(TJ Mistler)

musked

2011-04-27T17:35:00.002-04:00

On the recent Thursday field trip to Donnelley Wildlife Management Area located in the Ace Basin south of sunny Charleston, our class encountered a cornucopia of snakes in a swamp. The water possessed a unique character of stench different than the other swamps we had visited so far. The peat litter bottom was very loose and quickly became too deep venture in. On some steps I would sink a good bit- deep in the recesses of my brain the flicker of four or five neurons flashed a scene of quicksand, peat-bog-style. The grasses of long- bladed strap leaves I had not observed before, and there was a plethora of variously hued Acris gryllus (Southern Cricket Frog) jumping and popping about in the leaves or diving into the water at one's approach. The traps previously set caught predominantly tadpoles and Nerodia fasciata (banded water snakes, Colubridae) of a the black with reddish bands and colorings phenotype. Additionally, there was a dean Siren lacertina, the greater siren, that was bagged to preserve for the laboratory. A Coluber constrictor (black racer), in addition to the over 5 (anyone know the total?)Nerodias, was coralled and apprehended for scientific observation. A few bites were sustained in the proceedings, and one young juvenile size Nerodia was an especially feisty serpent. I saw one serpent swim- it is so pleasant to watch their graceful aquatic motion. From one of traps in the last area we walked around, I eventually picked up a mature sized water snake. It had been released but sat poised and still in the leaves at the base of an oak tree. Quenby and I sat on a stump looking at the snake and, having yet to hold an Ophidian this day, I resolved to pick up the snake. Honestly, I felt nervous and was apprehensive in my approach- picking up a wild snake in a defensive posture is much different than handling a pet snake. The snake was in an s-bend with its head and neck flattened and an alert stare on its face. After a few failed approaches, my monkey brain reminded itself of its tool making abilities, and I then used a stick to help me pin the head of the snake to quickly grab its neck. Holding the snake, a novel olfactory sensation crept into my rhinoencephalon. If I learned anything that day, it was this new wildlife smell...I was musked...
(TJ Mistler)

Cricket Frogs Everywhere!

2011-04-27T17:03:00.006-04:00

On our last field trip to Donnelly Wildlife Management Area, I was able to catch six Southern Cricket Frogs (Acris gryllus), two of which are photographed. Although they differ in color intensity and pattern, they can be identified first as cricket frogs due to the small size (about the size of a dime),small toe-discs,and small amount of foot webbing (4th foot relatively free of webbing - last three joints free), and the presence of anal warts. They also had a v-shaped spot between the eyes, which is characteristic of Cricket Frogs. I was able to identify them as Southern Cricket frogs by the clean-cut dark stripe on the inner surface of the thigh. Cricket frogs are in the Family Hylidae - tree frogs and their allies. However, Cricket frogs spend most of their time on the ground,and can be considered terrestrial. The Southern Cricket frog is a lowland species. Southern Cricket frogs were abundant in this lowland, swamp-forest habitat. They were found in and close to water, as well as jumping around and underneath leaf litter. They are very fast jumpers and difficult to catch.

(Maggie Veith, SC)

SC aquarium

2011-04-27T16:18:00.003-04:00

Our Herpetology class visited the South Carolina aquarium earlier in the semester. While we were there we visited the turtle hospital and saw a variety of different reptiles and amphibians. We were able to hold a pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) that typically inhabit dry, pine covered habitats in the Southeast.
I want to rehabilitate wildlife so the Sea Turtle Hospital was of particular interest to me. They have many turtles that are injured and are recovering including Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), Loggerheads (Caretta caretta), and Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricate) turtles. The turtles at the hospital ranged from very small (just a few inches long) to quite large (around five feet). Sea turtles inhabit the all of the world’s oceans except the Arctic Ocean and spend the majority of their life at sea. The female turtles return to land usually at night in order to dig a nest and lay her eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the young turtles head for the sea to begin their life.
(Haley Huckabee SC)

Mole salamander juveniles

2011-04-27T15:53:00.001-04:00

On our first field trip to Frances Marion National Forest we found many mole salamander juveniles (Ambystoma talpoideum). The adult salamander returns to water to lay her clutch, the eggs hatch and the young salamanders grow and develop in the water until they mature at which point they will become terrestrial. The specimens we found were around two inches in length and had very distinct gills. The salamanders were found in a variety of different places all over the swampy area; most were found in the minnow traps that had been set, however some were captured using dip nets. I grew up catching amphibians and reptiles without using nets or traps and was never very successful so I was surprised at how many salamanders we captured.

(Haley Huckabee, SC)

2011-04-27T13:59:00.001-04:00

Earlier in the semester our class ventured to Francis Marion National Forest, an area with acres and acres of swamp land, large trees, and of course lots of plant life. We pulled the vans off onto the side of the road only to wonder into what seemed like miles of swamp land. Our waders were on, our buckets were in hand and I was anxious to check traps and find amphibians! The whole checking traps thing came as a surprise—it was harder than it looked. You had to somehow pinch two things together in order to open the top part of the trap just to discover that there was a) nothing in it or b) you caught anything but what you wanted (fish, invertebrates, etc.) As the day moseyed on and the sun began to go down it seemed as though this particular trip would be anything but successful. We’d caught a fair share of fish (minnows, a small Chain Pickerel (Esox niger)) and even a few crawdads but nothing that blew our minds. Just when we’d about given up amphibians begin coming out of nowhere! We’d found a Southern Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus) and possibly the cutest thing I’d ever seen—a salamander. From what I can remember we identified this particular salamander as a Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum). About 4 inches long, this little guy was found in a trap. He was shiny black with evidence of some speckling (it’s hard to tell in the pictures provided). These salamanders spend their lives in moist lowland areas, areas that are fit for burrowing and because they are usually never seen due to this fossorial lifestyle, when they are out it is usually mating season. This makes sense considering their mating season falls between December and February—February was around the time we were out at Francis Marion and because they tend to breed in pools of shallow water or flooded areas, the exact habitat we were in. Mole salamanders tend to exhibit paedomorphosis, where an adult of a species retains traits that were previously only seen in juveniles of that particular species—pretty cool if you ask me. Not only do they exhibit pretty cool changes throughout stages in their life, these little guys are known to return back to the same area where they hatched! Cute AND smart—my kind of animal;)
(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

2011-04-27T13:52:00.008-04:00

They're everywhere!! Carolina Anoles (Anolis carolinensis)

2011-04-27T13:08:00.005-04:00

You know how when you get fixated on something (i.e. a car, item of clothing, etc.) you tend to see it EVERYWHERE you go as if suddenly the universe is purposefully mocking you because whatever you’re after is clearly out of reach? Well that’s kind of what I’ve felt like over the semester being in Herpetology. You go on these amazing field trips, find all kinds of different reptiles and amphibians, obtain this ‘Biologist’ mentality and decide that you yourself want to be able to find all of these wonderful things without the help of others. Anyways, the point of this story is to basically say that for the last two or three weeks every single time I walk into the backdoor of my house what do I see?—Anoles! And every single time I’d like to snap a shot or a video documenting the changing from green to brown or the extending of the dewlap, my phone is either nowhere to be found, dead, or by the time I’ve got the camera up and ready, the Anole is gone. Well I finally got lucky. It happened about two days when I went into the shed in my backyard to finish laundry. As I went to open the doors I jumped back thinking that a wasp was about to fly out (I’m terribly afraid) until I realized that I was either going completely crazy or whatever was there was now gone. As I stepped back to figure out what the heck was going on, I saw an Anole, commonly called the Green Anole or Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis). They are found in numbers in South Carolina in backyards, climbing sides of houses, on decks and porches, they’re everywhere! They look like baby dinosaurs with pointy heads and long slender body’s. They tend to have extremely large back legs with large feet adorned with toe discs, an adaptation for their arboreal (tree) lifestyle.
Just because these lizards can be found so often doesn’t make them any less unique. Anoles possess chromatophores, layers of pigment cells that aid in the color transition displayed by these lizards. When the Anole turns brown it is often a sign of stress, when it turns green it is normally an adaptation for camouflage, protecting them from predators as well as aiding them in prey capture. Another interesting aspect of these lizards is the dewlap. The dewlap is a bright red extension off the underside of the mouth (to make this more clear it would be like humans having an extension off the underside of our chin) that aids in mating along with the movement of the head called head bobbing. And just to add to these already fascinating lizards, Anoles tails have the ability to break off, allowing them to escape from predators or fights with other Anoles. This particular characteristic is known as tail autotomy—don’t worry, the tails grow back!
The particular Anole I spotted was brown at the time, maybe a little stressed since I kept getting closer and closer in order to snap a few pictures or perhaps trying to blend in with the tones of the shed. Either way, it was great to finally capture a few brief moments of it before it quickly went away.
(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

Donnelly Wildlife Management Adventure

2011-04-27T13:03:00.004-04:00

On April 19th, we took a trip to the Donnelly Wildlife Management Center, and it was a great day for herping. One of my favorite specimens that we found was a black racer, which is also known as Coluber constrictor. This was clearly an adult, as juveniles are not as dark as adults. It was between two and three feet long. Also, another characteristic that stands out was the smell. When these snakes are scared they emit a musk, which has a very strong smell. They eat a variety of smaller animals, which includes frog, lizards, or rodents. Their habitat is varied, but they are generally found on the outskirts of wetlands. This is similar to where we found it. They are rather aggressive and will not hesitate to bite, as multiple people found out.

(Caitlin Bergen SC)

Another Aquarium Story

2011-04-27T12:14:00.004-04:00

On our trip to the aquarium, I was excited to have the ability to hold snakes. As Samantha previously mentioned after a presentation on timber rattlesnakes and a tour of the turtle hospital, we were lead to an area that was normally set up to educate children. This is when the fun began. First a pine snake was passed around this was followed by the specimen in the picture, a corn snake. The scientific name for this snake is Elaphe guttata. This was a very young snake, although I'm not sure of the exact age. it was only about a foot long, and was very thin bodied. While I was unable to see this snake in its habitat, I know from experience that they prefer overgrown fields. Their main diet consists of small mammals, such as mice. There are many different colors and patterns of this species of snake. Typically they are red and orange though.

(Caitlin Bergen, SC)

Eastern Box Turtle...

2011-04-27T11:27:00.007-04:00

This small Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) was viewed by our class on our trip to the SC Aquarium. This specimen was getting a short bath while we toured the behind the scenes Sea Turtle Hospital. Now I imagine that the kind folks there couldn't say "No" to treating a poor little guy like this who had been presumably hit by a car. Nope, the treated him with all the love and care as they do the sea turtles (Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae) that frequent their hospital.

This individual is clearly an E. Box Turtle as we can note his highly domed shell, hinges on the plastron, and dark carapace & plastron with reddish/yellow blotches - though this one appears to be a rather dark specimen which doesn't add up to much since the coloration in this species is so variable. I did not want to handle him but judging from the red-pigmented eyes, it is likely that this specimen is a male (females usually have brown eyes). I noted on his medical chart that he was actually ready to be released in mere days! His shell looked rather damaged but was apparently well enough to make his survival a likely one!

His story reminds me of a time last summer where my fiance and I saw a desperate E. Box Turtle attempting to cross a busy highway near Walterboro, SC. We turned the car around and sped to the turtle's rescue. My fiance was driving and like something out of a James Bond movie (...for turtles) he didn't even pull over to pick up the animal! He just opened the driver door, reached down/picked it up and handed her to me, closed the door and we were off! He really impressed me that day with his animal rescuing skills!

We took her to a remote, moist forest in Colleton County, SC near a swamp and released her. I believe she was indeed an adult female due to her size of a full 6 inches, her lighter colored/brownish irises and very flat plastron.

My apologies - I'm no good at formatting...
*Blue bucket: SC Aquarium individual
*Dirt/Forest shots are of the rescued female and said fiance going deep into the woods to release her - yay!

(Channing Derry, SC)

Purely for Humor...

2011-04-27T11:16:00.005-04:00

One of our vans become hopelessly stuck in the mud on our first field trip to the Francis Marion National Forest... Here are our students trying in vain to get the van out. If I could, I would upload the video of several people falling in the mud, being sprayed with said mud, and the van sliding nearly into a tree all the while... Shame that the video is too long for uploading! Thank you to all of my fellow students who were covered head to toe in the muck in an attempt to get us home! Sorry I didn't join in but uh... Yeah. It looked rough.

Trip to the SC Aquarium

2011-04-27T11:00:00.004-04:00

Some say the SC Aquarium is a bit boring because it features only native animals - I say that it's a wonderful resource to help everyone celebrate and learn about this fabulously diverse state!

One of my most memorable photos I snapped were of this precious group... two adult Eastern Mud Snakes (Franacia erytrogramma) and two adult Yellow Rat Snakes (E. obsoleta quadrivittata). They were all piled up on top of one another basking in the glow of their sun-lamp. I found the shot amusing with all of their heads poking out and eyes gleaming in the light. Both species are very easily identified here as the Yellow Rat Snakes have their distinctive yellow, longitudinal stripes and the Mud Snakes are beautifully adorned with their red patterning from their bellies creeping up along their sides.

Fortunately, the aquarium is rather good at supplying a life-like environment for these individuals as both species enjoy spending their lives in moist, swampy areas of the Southeast. Although members of both species can be found along the coasts as far north as North Carolina and the mud snake even has populations in Southeast Virginia!

(Channing Derry, SC)

Why did the alligator cross the road?

2011-04-27T10:32:00.003-04:00

...Certainly not because he was predicting his eventual demise at the wheels of a drunk driver!

Driving to work (The Center for Birds of Prey) one morning, my co-workers and I found a great surprise in the road...

I would later find out from a friend in the area that a very inebriated man driving a Jeep was driving home from Awendaw Green the night before and soon found himself in a ditch. My friend saw his headlights and went to investigate. The man was stumbling about begging my friend to not call the police, then noted "...I think I hit somethin' back there.." Said friend goes to investigate and finds a writhing young adult American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) that was a bit thin but all of 7 feet long. Realizing it was dead (for the most part), he and the drunk man pulled it off of the road and went about pulling the Jeep from the ditch.

The following morning, my co-workers and I (who had no idea of what had happened the night before) found the alligator back in the middle of the road, but now no longer moving. We pulled it from the road and hauled it into a truck, taking it to the Vulture Restaurant to be consumed by the local vulture population that we feed (in an effort to prevent them from being hit by cars).

Now, I being the Herp fan/Biology major that I am decided to do what I could to get this specimen treated and the skull preserved (besides, he would start smelling pretty bad before the vultures could even get past the thick, armored skin). So I phoned DNR (Department of Natural Resources), obtained the permit for keeping him, and at the end of the day we loaded the poor animal (approximately 165lbs) into my trunk where I promptly deposited him at my local taxidermist's home. He prepared the skull "European Style" and it now sits proudly on my coffee table. Some think the whole thing a bit strange but I rather love it. I couldn't bear to hunt one of the amazing animals so by preserving his skull, I am honoring his death so that it was not in vain.

At any rate, I imagine that the alligator was crossing the road in search of another body of water. The day we found him, I took a walk to a very large pond that was about half of a mile from where he was struck only to find another alligator of about the same size happily swimming about. I was able to take pictures through my binocular lens. Being that it was mid-March when this came about, there was likely some dispute over territory and our poor roadside fellow lost out in more ways than one. The area is located in the Francis Marion National Forest about 1-2 miles from Bull's Bay, in a mix of forest and sandy substrate.

(Channing Derry, SC)

PS - I don't go around picking up roadkill all of the time or anything, this guy was just too cool to NOT get. Hahaha.

Skinks and their ticks...

2011-04-27T10:09:00.004-04:00

I came across a poor little Southeastern Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus) who was heavily laden with ticks! I found him in the Francis Marion National Forest, about 1 mile from Bull's Bay, a mix of forest and sandy substrate which is the perfect habitat for this tolerant species. I imagine the parasite load is what made him somewhat easy to catch (if you've ever tried to capture any skink, you are familiar with how quick these fellows are). I was able to identify the exact species of skink due to the tell-tale arrangement of scales under the tail - which are all about the same size. Whereas in the Five-Lined and Broadhead (fasciatus and laticeps) the scales on the middle row are a bit enlarged. This individual appeared to be a young adult in the beginning of its mating season, hence the slightly more vibrant orange hue to it's jowls.

I promptly removed the nasty, gluttonous ticks - all fourteen of them! Most were concentrated behind the armpits of the forelimbs with a few stragglers feeding from the same spot on the hindlimbs.

Hilariously enough (ok, not really) I was found to have contracted a serious tick-borne illness with 6 weeks of this encounter. Was it worth it? Honestly? No. Not at all. I hate saying that because I love my herps but jeez... Anyhow, here's a blurry picture of the poor guy... The ticks are the bluish orbs clustered behind the right limb featured in the picture.

(Channing Derry, SC)

I'm a Hell-of-a-Bender

2011-04-27T00:00:00.002-04:00

This past semester in Herpetology class, we had the opportunity to go to the SC Aquarium. Once there, we were able to see a diverse assortment of reptiles and amphibians. One of the coolest amphibians that we saw was the Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). It is a salamander, a big salamander and is the world's 3rd largest salamander to exist. This giant salamander is indeed native to North America. It can be found in large flowing streams with rocky bottoms. Like most salamanders, it has short limbs compared to its body length with four toes in the front and five toes in the hind limbs. Its body shape is rather flat with a flat head as well. It does have eyes, that look like tiny round marbles. Hellbenders are your aquatic salamanders. They are nocturnal and do possess lungs, however, the folds on their skin contain a complex system of capillaries in which they breath oxygen from the water in. When they swim, their tail helps to propel their body through the fast flowing streams. These giant salamanders can grow up to about being 30 inches long from snout to vent. I believe that the hellbender at the aquarium seemed to be about a good 20 inches long. I could not tell whether or not it was a female or a male and their is no dimorphism within the hellbenders when it comes to their gender preference. (Michelle Hou, SC)

Hi, my name is Kemp. Kemp Ridley that is.

2011-04-26T23:58:00.003-04:00

One of favorite field trips this semester in Herpetology class was our field trip to the SC Aquarium. It was at the aquarium that I got a chance to see actual live sea turtles up close and personal for the first time! They were so cute, beautiful, and graceful. One of the turtles I saw is known as the Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). It was in a caring unit, meaning that it was still recovering from a previous injury of some sort (I can not remember exactly what happened to the turtle). They are considered to be critically endangered in nature. They are relatively small sea turtles reaching about 2-3 feet as adults. The Ridley Sea Turtle at hte aquarium seemed to be about 1 feet long. Since, its body coloring was relative darkish black, I assume that it was still a young one, since nautrally as they mature, they become more green. I could not tell the gender. Like all sea turtles, it has a pointed beak with well-adapted flipper-like front limbs. Its body is dorsoventrally depressed. In nature, they prefer living in warmer water, however, has been known to migrate pretty far up north. They can be found along the Atlantic Coast on the Eastern side of the United States. (Michelle Hou, SC)

Cricket Frog (Acris Gryllus)

2011-04-26T22:35:00.002-04:00

On our trip to Donley Wildlife management area in Green Pond SC I found a Southern Cricket Frog! This was my only catch of the day and it slipped out of my hands several times. Cricket frogs are in the genus Acris, we distinguish this based on the size of their toe pads. We know that it is a southern cricket frog instead of a northern because of the location it was found in, they generally range throughout the south east not extending past the Appalachian mountains. Their pattern is highly variable but generally they have a dorsal stripe down the back that forks off at the head. Many of the Cricket frogs we found were colored like this one but there was some variation in the specimens. These frogs jump surprisingly long distances relative to their body size. It took me several attempts to catch it because it was so quick and camouflaged to it's environment. The southern Cricket frog is one of South Carolinas most common frogs and can be heard almost any given time. Their call is very distinct, it sounds like two marbles clicking together. It was a very fun trip and our class found a good variety of species!

Jeremy Frank

2011-04-26T14:35:00.002-04:00

I’d never seen a large frog in the wild before. Sure, I’d seen small Cricket frogs jumping through blades of grass, over mud mounds and under docks, but nothing to the extent of the two Pig Frogs (Rana grylio) caught last Tuesday. The second was significantly larger than the first although both were fascinating. With extremely large eyes, tympanums just as big, and fully webbed feet, the Pig frog was beautiful. It’s funny how you tend to start talking to these organisms as if they can understand you—kind of like the way you’d talk to your dog. I thought it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen and I’m sure it thought I was a large, overgrown idiot. While I am not sure of the sex, this particular Pig frog was adorned in speckling that covered the majority of the hindlimbs, making its way up the belly and onto the sides. It’s webbed feet were remarkable. The webbing was fully extended, obviously an adaptation for swimming. As I carried it through the woods to come exploring with me, its skin became so dry from lack of water that it felt sticky making it difficult to even pull my fingers away without fear of hurting it. This particular Pig frog was roughly a few inches long common amongst this species since most grow anywhere from 3 to 6 inches. They tend to live an aquatic lifestyle and can be found in lakes, streams, swamps, and marshes much like where they were found at the Wildlife Center. Their call distinguishes them from other frogs, an almost pig like grunt can be heard throughout the year.

(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

2011-04-26T14:31:00.004-04:00

As the hours continued on, Donnolley Wildlife Management Center continued to surprise me. Full of lush plant life, overgrown vines and a plethora of animal species, things continued to come out of nowhere. As we ventured down the rocky road it was time to open more traps set by our professor, Dr. Welch, and her teaching assistant, Keith. As I climbed into thigh high water I opened a blue and white trap filled with small fish, most likely minnows, and a very large tadpole. After dumping the tadpole into a clear bucket, we were able to identify it as a Bull Frog (Rana catesbeiana)—most likely. It’s hard when you only have a field guide and a couple of defining characteristics on an undeveloped animal to identify it. It was possibly the cutest thing I’d ever seen, such a large body with big eyes and the smallest tail, so odd looking but very cute. Bullfrogs are the largest frogs in North America, with females growing larger than males! (More power to them!) They tend to have varying coloration with gray splotches on their backs. They can lay over 20,000 eggs that become attached to plants living underwater and their tadpoles can grow up to 6 inches before becoming frogs!! (www.fcps.edu/islandcreeks/ecology/bullfrog.htm) They are magnificent organisms with beautiful features, mottling on the back, large tympanums (ear drums), and wild personalities—they are very territorial. To see a Bullfrog so beautifully developed in its habitat was fascinating, something I would definitely be interested in seeing again soon.

(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

Snapping Turtle swimming in the street

2011-04-26T11:17:00.004-04:00

On Friday April 22, I went into Mount Pleasant to visit my parents for the weekend. It had been raining almost the entire day so the sides of the road were flooded with water. Down the road from my parent's house, I spotted a turtle on the side of the road. I walked over to see if it was ok and to identify it. Upon further inspection, I discovered that it was a common snapping turtle,Chelydra serpentina. Snapping turtles are fairly easy to identify. They typically have a large pointed head, a small plastron and a long tail with a saw-toothed appearance. The tail can be as long as the shell. They also have a highly mobile head and neck, which makes them risky told hold. These turtles are between 8-17 inches long and can weigh from 10-35 lbs.
Some other people on the street came out to inspect the turtle with me. My parents live in a typical residential neighborhood, but there is a pond behind the houses across the street, so I assumed that was where the turtle had come from since snapping turtles inhabit fresh water. Worried that it might get hit by a car, some onlookers attempted to pick the snapping turtle up in order to bring it to the pond, but the aggressive nature of the turtle deterred many. Snapping turtles are not social creatures and this turtle definitely held true to that. Every time someone tried to pick it up, the turtle would snap with lightning speed and claw at the person's hands. No one was able to safely pick the turtle up. After awhile, we decided that it was best to leave it alone because the turtle was obviously getting very angry. Because no one was able to pick the turtle up, I was unable to view its plastron. I could not determine what sex the turtle was. Males and females of this species are typically the same size. After watching the turtle for awhile, it eventually started making its way back to the pond on its own. I was excited to see and be able to identify such a cool specimen outside of class!

(Lauren Jindracek, SC)

2011-04-25T23:44:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday, April 19th my Herpetology lab drove to Donnelly Wildlife Management Area located just outside Edisto Beach, SC. The weather was hot, the bugs were on a mission, and walking through grassy terrain and down dirt roads that seemed to go on for miles in hip waders was not exactly how I envisioned spending my afternoon. My attitude changed drastically though as I stepped into the backwater swamps, immediately cooling down amongst layers of plant life. While the majority of the field trips have been a struggle for me as far as catching things, I figured the final trip would prove different and boy did it! Cricket frogs were out in numbers, jumping from lily pad to lily pad, in and out of grass blades and through muddy waters. It wasn’t until later when a few of my classmates and I checked turtle traps did we come across some of the largest turtles I’d ever seen. These female Yellowbelly Sliders (Trachemys scripta) weighed at least 12 pounds, large in size and aggressive in nature. Their large shells and beautifully colored bodies stood out amongst the black waters of the swamps making them absolutely breathtaking animals. We made jokes about putting our fingers in their mouths to see just how hard that keratin beak would feel crushing down onto our fingers but quickly decided against that once we saw just how aggressive they were being towards us (not the brightest idea!) Interestingly enough, this turtle species is a common household pet with research demonstrating that life span is up to 40 years in captivity! To think that an animal could possibly outlive me is crazy. Another fascinating aspect of these turtles capture was how intelligent they were—at least more intelligent than I would have originally thought. In order to see if the turtles would bite we tried to put pieces of grass in their mouths, a huge fail considering they didn’t even move. When I went to let the particular turtle I was holding back into the water, she slid onto the side of an embankment causing everyone to “aww” and say “she doesn’t understand where to go.” Yeah right! After a mere couple of seconds of realizing that she was actually free, she slid right into the cold water making the perfect exit.
(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

The Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)

2011-04-25T22:57:00.006-04:00

Earlier in the semester our Herpetology lab class had the opportunity to visit the Charleston Aquarium located on the Cooper River overlooking Charleston Harbor. During this field trip we were given a behind the scenes tour of several facilities located throughout the aquarium. One of the most interesting aspects of this tour was the PowerPoint presentation given by a snake specialist, whose name I cannot recall, on venomous snakes endemic to South Carolina as well as parts of Georgia. After the talk we were taken to an area where several snakes were kept including the Pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) and the Corn snake (Elaphe guttata). The Pine snake was of particular interest to me because of its docile nature and overall patterning. Covered in splotches of ashy grey with white bellies, these snakes inhabit areas throughout the Southeast in relatively dry habitats and pine covered grounds (www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/pitmel.htm). This particular experience was my first time to ever hold a snake and it was definitely an interesting feeling. I found this individual snake consistently trying to wrap its body around my fingers and arm, a characteristic common to this species considering that they tend to constrict their prey before devouring them. While this fact may seem a little scary to first time snake handlers, I tried my best not to let it get to me especially seeing as how it wasn’t too large in size. Interestingly enough, Pine snakes tend to spend majority of their time underground and are only a handful of snake species who can actually build their own burrow in which their eggs are laid. On another note (besides the Hognose snakes), they are the only South Carolina snake species that can hiss, a noise they tend to make when first approached.

(Samantha Reeves, Charleston SC)

Southern Cricket Frog!

2011-04-25T20:15:00.002-04:00

Last week we visited the Donnelly Wildlife Management area. It was a great trip for me because I caught several Southern Cricket frogs! The first place we stopped was quite swampy with several feet of water and mud. In that mixture I waded around and was able to catch my first frog. After examining it we decided that it was indeed a Southern Cricket Frog, Acris gryllus, because its toes were only partially webbed. We also looked for the presence of anal warts and saw that this frog had them, again confirming our hypothesis that it was a Southern Cricket frog. This was a particularly beautiful Cricket frog with a long bright green stripe down its back. This frog, like most Cricket frogs, was quite small. His SVL was about 1/2 to 1 inch. We decided that this frog was a male because he had a rather large vocal pouch beneath the chin. This frog was an adult. Southern Cricket frogs typically breed in just about any type of freshwater habitat, be it permanent or temporary. The eggs are attached to stones or vegetation in the water. After a while the eggs hatch. The tadpoles live in their freshwater home for a while and eventually metamorphose into frogs when they reach a certain size.

One thing I particularly noticed about these frogs was what fast and far jumpers they are. I suppose that shouldn't have surprised me, but when I was trying to catch one that's all I could think of. Like I said, I found this frog in a small muddy pool on the side of the forest floor. When I finally caught my frog he was resting on a rotting log in the swampy pool. It was not surprising to find a Southern Cricket frog where we were because they are a frog of the lowlands, that can typically be found in bogs or ponds.
It was a great trip and I'm so glad that I finally caught a frog!
(Bess Pierce, Charleston, S.C.)

2011-04-25T19:00:00.002-04:00

A few days ago I was coming out of the door from my house and I saw this little fellow on the retaining wall. This lizard is very common in my area of the country and I almost didn't notice him at first. He is commonly known as a Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis. After I took this picture I was actually able to quickly grab him, he was about 6 inches long. I was able to see that he was a male because he had a large pink dewlap or throat fan. The throat fan in females is much smaller. Dewlap flapping is often accompanied by head-bobbing and is used for courtship and defense of territory. This anole is an adult. When I picked up this lizard I was able to examine the toe pads that are used for climbing. Like I said, I found this Anole on a wall by my house, and after I released it, it quickly retreated to a nearby tree and climbed it like a champ. Typically Anoles are arboreal and feed of insects and small spiders. Anoles typically lay their eggs in the spring and summer months. Eggs are buried in moist soil, rotten stumps or logs, or just the forest floor. The eggs then hatch several week later.

What I particularly noticed about this lizard was its granular scales. It was really cool being able to examine them up close on a living specimen. They looked to me like tons of tiny pin pricks. I was proud that I was able to catch an Anole because they are so quick!
Bess Pierce, Charleston, S.C.

Loggerhead!

2011-04-25T18:16:00.003-04:00

Earlier this semester our class took a trip to the South Carolina Aquarium at Charleston Harbor. There we were taken on a behind the scenes tour of the sea turtle hospital. Out of all the field trips this was one of my absolute favorites. I had always wanted to go the to sea turtle hospital and through this class I was able to do it. While we were there I got this picture of a particularly large Loggerhead, Caretta caretta. This Loggerhead was a female. She sustained a major injury to her front right flipper and therefore has trouble swimming. She swims mostly in wide circles around and around her small tank. If you look closely at the picture you can actually see the her front right flipper is kept in closer association with her body and is a bit smaller than her left flipper. I asked one of the people who worked in the sea turtle hospital about her progress since her admittance. She said that the turtle has been given extensive physical therapy and has made some progress. For physical therapy they typically tape down her "good" flipper, therefore forcing her to use the weak flipper to swim.

This turtle is an adult and was about 3 to 4 feet long. Obviously I did not see this turtle in her natural habitat, but a typical natural habitat for Loggerheads is tropical marine waters. They could be found on beaches, bays, or far at sea. They are known to nest regularly on beaches of the Carolinas. Their typical range is in the Western Atlantic from the Canadian Maritime Provinces all the way south to Argentina. This particular Loggerhead was found on a beach near Charleston, S.C. As far as natural history goes Loggerheads nest and lay eggs on beaches. Sometime later those eggs hatch into small versions of adult Loggerheads, and the young claw their way to the water. However, most of the hatch-lings do not survive to adulthood.
This was a great field trip. I was thrilled to see a Loggerhead so close!
Bess Pierce, Charleston S.C.

Trip to Donnelly Wildlife Management Area

2011-04-25T13:35:00.006-04:00

On Thursday April 21st, our class went on a trip to Donnelley Wildlife Management Area. Luckily, we were able to enjoy our time in the area before the thunderstorm. While there, we found a couple of southern cricket frogs (Acris gryllus), a greater siren (Siren lacertina), a black racer (Coluber constrictor) and a few banded water snakes (Nerodia fasciata). Unfortunately, the greater siren that was found in the trap was dead. However, we were able to take it back with us and add it to our specimen collection in lab. The first banded water snake that we found was very low key, which is not the typical behavior of the species. However, the others that we found put up a fight and quickly showed us the general temperament of the species.

The first banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata) that we found was rather small. Throughout the day, we found much larger banded water snakes. The average size of banded water snakes ranges from 24-24 inches. These snakes have three characteristics: dark cross bands, squarish spots at the sides of the belly, and a dark stripe from the eye to the jaw. They also have keeled scales. Banded water snakes flatten their bodies when they are alarmed and also discharge a musky odor from the glands at the base of the tail. They tend to strike and bite when they are cornered. Below is a picture of one of the banded water snakes that we found.

Greater Sirens are "eel-like" with forelegs and external gills. Below is a picture of the greater siren that we found.

Overall, it was interesting to see all of the snakes, frogs, and alligators. I greatly enjoyed our last trip!

(Alexis Kocher, SC)

rattlesnakes from aquarium and extras

2011-04-25T13:18:00.007-04:00

Here are some pictures of those rattlesnakes from the aquarium.

C. horridus- a female if I recall correctly

C. adamanteus

I have not much to say except these are beautiful snakes and that is is evidently safe to harbor different species of rattlers in the same terrarium. Have different species of rattlers ever been found in the same hibernation den?

from Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney p. 294

"The generic name for snakes is 'inadu'. They are all regarded as 'anida'wehi'- "supernaturals", having an intimate connection with the rain and thunder gods, and possessing a certain influence over the other animal and plant tribes. It is said that the snakes, the deer, and the ginseng act as allies, so that an injury to one is avenged by all. The feeling toward snakes is one of mingled fear and reverence, and every precaution is taken to avoid killing or offending one, especially the rattlesnake. He who kills a snake will soon see others....The rattlesnake is called 'utsa'nati' - "he has a bell", alluding to the rattle...The copperhead, wa'dige-aska'li, "brown head", although feared on account of its poisonous bite, is hated, instead of being regarded with veneration, as is the rattlesnake. It is believed to be the descendant of a great mythic serpent and is said to have "eyes of fire"."

and,

Quetzlcoatl- from the Mexican pyramids- the Feathered Serpent

and

rattlesnake slide

http://video.nz.msn.com/watch/video/mtv-wildboyz-the-neotropical-rattlesnake/16k9j1bp4

kissing the serpent

http://video.nz.msn.com/watch/video/mtv-wildboyz-the-king-cobra-cobra-kiss/16ky9e5jb

idiots drinking snakes blood

http://www.spike.com/video-clips/ntuage/wildboyz-ifilm-exclusive-snake-blood

yes, yes, they are fools,

I couldn't find the best clip,

which is of a cookie(or cracker?) being stolen off a rattlesnakes' head

(TJ Mistler)

2011-04-25T13:14:00.003-04:00

2011-04-25T13:07:00.003-04:00

Hopi Snake Dance

2011-04-25T12:51:00.004-04:00

Here are some links to pages about the Hopi snake dance:

http://southwestcrossroads.org/record.php?num=563

http://southwestcrossroads.org/record.php?num=564

http://southwestcrossroads.org/record.php?num=566

(TJ Mistler)

Can anyone think of a funny caption for this picture?

2011-04-25T12:37:00.007-04:00

I just love this turtle.

Is he taking a nap?

Is he searching for food?

Is he playing pretend?

Did he find a tunnel to another world in there?

Has this turtle lost his mind?

What is this turtle doing?!?!

Turtle says, "Hey brother, I floating like a jellyfish, let me rest"

this picture is of an Eretmochelys imbricata- hawksbill sea turtle- from the SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Rehabilitation clinic. I do not recall what his illness/ injury was.

(TJ Mistler)

Python regius

2011-04-25T11:25:00.009-04:00

Hola to all the Herpers,

Here are some photographs of a dear friend of mine Thelonious- he is a member of the royal (ball) python species and is captive born and bred. I lived with Thelonious (after the eccentric jazz piano maestro who kept a goat as a pet in his NY apartment) for over a year and it was a very enriching experience. I never knew that much about snakes or even knew that I liked snakes so much until getting to know one personally. I am curious and do not call myself fearful of serpents, but there is always that deep-seated instinctual fear of snakes present, especially approaching a creature that can bite you, and handling one is the most direct means of confronting that feeling.

Watching how Thelonious hunted the rats fed to him was an exciting and terrifying experience. Cats lived with us when I first had Thelonious and they would watch him feed with us. Everyone in the room (simian apes and felines) would startle when the fatal bite occured! Even knowing what is going to happen, it is still so terrifying to watch Death up-close and immediate.

Thelonious ate about every 2 to 4 weeks, and, during the cold winter, he refused to eat for about 3 months. He got skinny but never looked unhealthy and looked normal after his first spring meal. He was a picky and refused all attempts to give him frozen mice after he barfed the second one we fed him up. We reasoned if we were a snake live would be much tastier and nutritious.

Once after a feeding, I had a dream where I was repeatedly living out the scenario of the snake feeding- as both the mouse and then as Thelonious, strange....

Once Thelonious escaped because I forgot about him while he was out of his terrarium. He was found 3 days later on a Friday afternoon by our neighbor sunning in the middle of the street. A crowd of neighbors, passer-bys, and even a few police officers were present when our neighbor walked up, picked him up, and took him home. Fortunately, our neighbor ran into our roommate at his job and told him, 'Hey, I found a python in the street!'. Our roommate said, " I bet I know whose snake that is." Close call- we got lucky we didn't lose him or someone didn't kill him.

We would take him to the park or to the beach and we felt he enjoyed being in direct contact with the Earth. Not knowing his actual birthday, we celebrated it on the Summer Solstice last year. Yes, we sang Happy Birthday to the snake- so much fun.

Hailing from West and West-Central Africa, these the humble ball pythons prefer open forest, dry brushland, cleared forest, to grassland or savanna habitat and they live about 30 years typically but have been recorded close to 50. They live in warmer climates of 70-8- degrees Fahrenheit in a somewhat humid environment and utilize burrows or other secret retreats. In the wild, they spend most of their time in a resting state in their hiding place. When made to feel threatened, frightened, or nervous this python rolls into a ball (hence that epithet). Captives are known for their docility and rarity of bites. Wild specimens are known to be difficult to domesticate, often starving themselves by refusing food. Additionally, wild specimens are more feisty in temperament when trying to be domesticated. Though, the species as a whole is known for its placid human-friendly nature, especially compared to the rock pythons (check this out, scroll to danger to humans: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_sebae)I think Thelonious' behavior in his terrarium is similar to if he was in the wild because he would spend long periods of time inactive unless we disturbed him. He was most witnessed coming out to move or drink during early morning around dusk or early evening around dusk. Being nocturnal, it is more rare for him to be active during the day. Despite the captive environment, I do think observing his behavior personally does shed light on the wild, native behavior characters of the species. This species is an escape artist that loves to seek out hidden, secret, tight, cool, dark hiding spots- so make sure the terrarium close all the way!

In their native land, the pythons are considered sacred in connection with the Earth and the people treat them with much respect. Serpents, commonly thought as companions of the Devil, Evil, and Sin and generally disliked because of their perceived threat to humans and because of their general Otherness, are deeply respected and cherished by many cultures. Being without legs they naturally are close to the ground, and are symbolic of the soil, the Earth, Earth-Gods/ Goddesses/ Gaia, fecundity and of the creative energy/ force itself. There seems to be a connection between these snakes and ancestral/ indigenous shamanic practices in west Africa. These creatures are humble (close to the humus, down to earth (we are humans (of the 'mud/ dirt/ Earth' ?))

Also, the snake/ monkey relationship is as primal as can be. How long have our cells been embedded with the reflex-fear of snakes in order to survive this mad jungle? I almost stepped on a rattler last summer and it was amazing as I was able to witness my visual system in slow motion. The instant I was about to step on it (foot descending literally right next to the diambondback rattler less than 2 inches between the snake's body and my foot) out of the corner of my eye I saw the two curved lines begin to wiggle against the leaves and dirt. With just the slight recognition of the movement and then the diamond shapes and color my brain screamed "SNAKE!!". It didn't strike- I think we startled it as much as it scared us. I immediately jumped away and frantically searched for its head. Luckily, the rattler was traveling the same way as I on the trail so I approached it by the tail. An interesting experience of the visual-recognition process of snakes.

Thelonious is a little over 4 ft long. The females are slightly longer. His color after shedding skin is the richest, brightest browns and golds- rich Earthy colors. Yawning and drinking water are two up-close behaviors I witnessed being in such close contact.

I hope to someday have further contact with these noble creatures.

(TJ Mistler)

Found a spadefoot with my spade

2011-04-25T11:08:00.013-04:00

Whilst digging through some dirt to the side of the porch over Spring Break, I scooped up a small toad with my shovel. I was surprised to see a little amphibian as I shoveled dirt into a pot. I picked the frog up and held it. Funnily, he was still asleep even after tumbling around- I wonder how long the toad had been in the dirt pile? Slowly, it shook off its slumber to give me the wide eyed 'hypno-toad!' stare. They have such beautiful golden irises when spread out and pupils more vertical slits in shape made even more striking by their round, bulging out morphology. I saw the yellow lines running down the back, the general brown color, and to get a final identification I checked the hind limbs for the single tubercle. Yes, it was singly spade-footed, thus I was holding a Scaphiopus holbrooki- Eastern Spadefoot Toad. These Anurans are of the Family Scaphiopodidae, a North American frog family whose range extends from southern Canada to southern Mexico, and are the only member naturally occurring east of the Mississippi River. Scaphiopodidae differs from Bufonidae (the "true toads") in possessing vertical pupils, smooth skin, and the absence of parotid glands. These medium sized frogs are primarily nocturnal and spend most of their time in aestivation. S. holbrookii has evolved to be an explosive breeding species to contend with ephemeral spawning pools. They aestivate most of the year (up to about 8 months) and throughout the spring and summer they breed as much as possible an emerge every so often on wet nights to feed. Aestivation is a way to conserve energy and survive throughout the year for the brief, explosive mating opportunities in the warmer months. I had not seen the Wikipedia entry for these guys, but today looking at one page referenced by the wiki page (http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=AR0003) I noticed it said that these creatures have been seen unscathed in the smoldering ashes of a brushfire- intriguing. Given their southeastern range over longleaf pine forest this makes sense. For a while this toad (approximately 6.5 cm SVL) resided on the porch in a flower pot. Now he chills in a bin with dirt and he makes his residence under a seashell. The toad does nothing but sleep all the time, every so often I have heard him digging (spade hitting the plastic, usually at night or early morning) and when disturbed he huffs and puffs up in the utmost irritation and shoots an icy glare. Also, this toad has a broken hip that I am curious to see if it improves- it can walk and hop but awkwardly.I wonder, what is the deepest underground these frogs burrow?

Found by TJ Mistler in a backyard in downtown Charleston

-sleep disturbed!-

Are Those Toes?

2011-04-22T15:45:00.004-04:00

On a trip into the wilderness at the Dixie Plantation, our class came across a Two-Toed Amphiuma, or Amphiuma means. A classmate found the specimen in a trap set in the swampy area on the plantation and we observed the amphiuma in a bucket with water and petted the amphibian. Quenby Kiesler is the student in our class who first predicted that the specimen caught would be an A. means and as our class looked at the animal, we saw that there were two toes on the limbs, which were small and useless. It also had four limbs, while Sirens have two front limbs only. The swampy area that the amphiuma was caught was watery and about a foot deep, depending on where a person was standing. The amphiuma caught was a little short of a foot and was very slim so it was most likely a juvenile since the species can reach 30 inches, but then this may have been a small specimen.

The species is paedomorphic and aquatic, evident by the fact that there are external gills which are larval traits retained in adult form because aquatic environments better sustained the species. The environment, the swampy water, was quite aquatic and could sustain aquatic life, as long as the water contains enough water for to sustain aerobic metabolism, which most animals rely on for energy. The water was more open then other swamps that I have observed, but there were trees lining the banks of the swampy area. --------(Joshua Dillon, SC)

Greater Siren No More

2011-04-22T15:14:00.002-04:00

The muck and the anaerobic water sucked on my boots as I walked through the swampy water to get to the trap. As I untied the trap from the tree stump erected from the water I noticed a large black body, about a foot and a half, in the trap. I couldn't really see what it was and as I freed the trap from the grass I noticed an eel like body and I immediately thought of a two-toed amphiuma but upon further inspection I saw that the limbs were further developed and had four digits and that there were no hind limbs. This fact led me to believe that the animal caught was in fact a siren and from the speckling and the large body I deduced that it was the Greater Siren, Siren lacertina. From the size of the siren, it was most likely an adult. I can tell that the greater siren is paedomorph because it still has external gills, a larval trait which has been retained in adult form. As an aside, I could also deduce that the siren was dead because it was not moving at all as I moved the trap form the three feet deep water I was standing in to the shore of the swamp.

Many stumps of dead trees surrounded the site where I gathered the siren. There were many logs on the ground in the water and there was long grass surrounding the area. The trek out to the trap began easily but then the mud became very thick and kept sucking my boots down further as I pushed of the ground to propel myself towards the trap. For a swamp area, there were not many bugs but there were many frogs in the background communicating. The spot where the tap sat in the water was also quite shady for such a sunny day. -----(Joshua Dillon, SC)

Aligators in my Ornithology Lab

2011-04-21T18:42:00.005-04:00

This morning during my ornithology lab we went to Magnolia Plantation in Charleston SC to obeserve birds, but that didn't stop me from noticing all the Herps as well. Walking along the paths I was able to observe several different herps (Anoles, Yellow-belly Sliders, Alligators and a glimpse of a Frog). I was able to take two pictures with the camera on my phone that were of good enough quality to discern what they were of (the camera on my phones sucks), one of large Yellow-belly slider(which defecated when a fellow student tried to pick her up) and the other was of a rather small American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). I saw numerous Alligators ranging in size from around 2 - 8 feet in length, this one being around 3-4 feet and just close enough to the bank where I could creep up and get a some what focused picture. Convenient for me I had a pair of binoculars (for bird watching) that allowed me to get an up close view of the gator without actually being up close and personal. This small gator was just one of many that I saw this morning, all sitting motionless in the sun.

(P.D. Inabinett SC)

Yellow-belly Slider with Leaches

2011-04-21T18:07:00.008-04:00

During our field trip, Tuesday, to Donnelly Wildlife Management Area I had the opportunity to haul a turtle trap out of the water. Inside was a single turtle; a large, female, yellow-belly slider (Traclemys scripta). This was determined by noticing her large size (indicating likelihood of female) and the presence of striped legs ("striped pants"). After I was able to untie the trap and get her out it became clear that she was not a happy turtle. She retracted her head and opened her mouth wide as if intending to bite if I were to put a finger within reach of those jaws. Once inspecting her up close, I noticed a lump of something attached to the back of the plastron, underneath the tail. When I tried to pull it off I realized it was leach. Although there is no reason for a leach to attach to the shell due to lack of blood flow it was not easy to detach the parasite from the turtle. Continued examination led to my discovery of a few more tiny leaches on the carapace. Once everybody got a chance to take a picture or hold the turtle I set her on the bank of the swamp and let her slide back into the watter.

(P.D. Inabinett, SC)

I'm a turtle not a bird, so please put me on the ground

2011-04-20T22:30:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, April 19, 2011, my herpetology class went to explore Donnelly Wildlife Management Area. Our professor, Dr. Welch along with our TA Keith, had put out turtle traps for us to see if we could catch any turtles on our field trip. After lifting a turtle trap out of a wetland area, we found some massive yellowbelly sliders (Tracchemys scripta) in them. This particular one we found, we determined that it was a female due to its large body size (about 13 inches long) and did not have very long claws. These turtles are both land and water turtles. You can tell that it is a yellowbelly slider by its plastron being all yellow, they have distinct black circle spots on the underside around the outer borders of their shell, patterned scutes, carapace was blackish or brown, and its skin was a dark olive with patches of yellow squiggle stripes down its neck and all four limbs. The sliders are diurnal turtles, meaning they eat in the morning and bask during the rest of the day on logs mostly, and sleep at night. (Michelle Hou, SC)

Ahhh...its gator heaven

2011-04-20T21:41:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday April 19, 2011, my herpetology lab class went on a field trip to Donnelly Wildlife Management Area. In all my life living in Charleston, SC I had never heard of the place and was glad to have had the opportunity to explore the area. As a whole, we were lucky to find some pretty cool herps that day, but my favorite part was when we drove by the tidal marsh areas and discovered the "Land of the Gators"! I had never seen so many alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in one area in my life (seeing it on tv does not count). It was really cool to see them all relaxing peacefully in their beautiful natural environment. It was a pretty hot day so a lot of them had most of their bodies underneath the water. Alligators in general are peaceful in their environment until disturbed. The American Alligators are native to the United States and can be found in South Carolina along with some other southern states in the east coast. They live in freshwater environments of marshes, wetlands, rivers, and lakes (like the environment where we observed all these alligators on this field trip). The exact measurements of these gators were hard to tell due to being a bit far up from where they were and a lot of them had half if not majority of their body length floating underneath the water. However, it didn't seem like there were any large size alligators and since the ones found here all congregated in a group, it would seem relevant that they were on the smaller side, maybe around 4-6 feet (larger alligators like to be alone in its own territorial space). We were unable to determine the sexes of these alligators. (Michelle Hou, SC)

Field Trip to Donnelly Wildlife Management Area

2011-04-20T11:43:00.007-04:00

Finally, I was able to capture a Herp in the field! When we arrived at our first site, I grabbed a dip-net and hit the mud. At one site, i just threw the net into a puddle and scooped out some mud. Upon observation, I noticed some movement in the net, and was surprised to find a Banded Water snake (Nerodia fasciata)! It was very small, no more than about 10 inches in length, and our TA Keith thought that it must have been around a year old. We were able to identify it by its underside; it showed the characteristic large square dark spots. It was covered in mud, but after taken out, we were able to see it's cross-bands as well. Because it was so young, we were unable to determine its sex. It was no surprise that I found it in a stagnant pool, as all Nerodia live in or around freshwater and salt marsh habitats. I was a bit surprised to find it because i was just randomly dip-netting. And to top it all off, I got musked.

Vince Cellini (SC)

Dixie Plantation

2011-04-17T21:48:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago our class went on a field trip to Dixie Plantation. This trip has been my favorite so far. We were able to search for species using dip nets and rakes. We were also able to check traps that were previously put out. The first trap that we checked had a common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and a yellow belly slider (Trachemys scripta) in it. Below is a picture of the snapping turtle that we found.

Snapping turtles are about 8-14 inches in size and weigh up to 10-35 lbs. They have large heads and long tails witha saw-toothed appearance. As is typical of the species, this turtle was unpleasant in both appearance and disposition.

The most exciting part of the trip was finding a two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma means). This species resembles an eel but has two tiny legs with two toes on each limb. Amphiumas are almost entirely aquatic and are about 14.5-30 inches in size. This amphiuma was very slimy and hard to hold. However, Dr. Welch managed to get a few good pictures of our most exciting find!

(Alexis Kocher, SC)

South Carolina Aquarium

2011-04-17T20:31:00.006-04:00

Several weeks ago our class went to the South Carolina Aquarium. This was a very interesting and exciting trip because we were able to go to the sea turtle hospital within the aquarium. There were quite a few sea turtles in the hospital getting the TLC that they greatly need. There were Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), as well as loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). To the right is a picture of a Kemp's ridley turtle that I was able to get a picture of. Kemp's ridley turtles have five costals on each side of the carapace with the first touching the nuchal. With a size ranging from 23-27.5 inches, they are the smallest of the Atlantic sea turtles.

We were also able to see a spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) after the sea turtle hospital. Spiny softshell turtles have strongly patterned feet, projections on the upper carapace and a ridge in each nostril. Softshell turtles have a fleshy snout that acts as snorkel in their aquatic habitat. Below is a picture of the spiny softshell turtle from the aquarium.

( Alexis Kocher, SC)

Field Trip to Francis Marion National Forest (2/10/11)

2011-04-17T19:42:00.004-04:00

For our first field trip of the semester, we had the wonderful opportunity to explore the

Francis Marion National Forest. Armed with hipwaders, dip nets, and our field guides, we

entered the wetland. Along with our dip nets, there were minnow traps set out by the previous

lab for us to check. During our time at Francis Marion, we were able to find atleast 20 salamanders.

After careful observation of the various species, were able to determine that we had mole salamanders

(Ambystoma talpoideum) as well as red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens). Below is a picture

of the mole salamanders that we found.

One of the salamanders was pregnant which was very interesting to see. This salamander is pictured and clearly has a larger belly. Mole salamanders are usually 3-4 inches in length. The water that we found the salamanders in was a bit chilly with very little movement. Mole salamanders are burrowers but can also be found under logs in damp areas. We were able to identify them as mole salamanders due to their prominent costal grooves and the larger head and legs. These salamanders have five toes on each hind foot and four toes on each front foot. Overall the field trip was a success. It was very nice to be able to observe live salamanders in their habitat rather than studying them in the lab.

(Alexis Kocher, SC)