BULLETIN

of the
Chicago Herpetological Society

Volume 44, Number 12

December 2009
 BULLETIN OF THE CHICAGO HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Volume 44, Number 12
December 2009

Notes on Mexican Herpetofauna 13: DORs in the Municipality of Aldama, Tamaulipas, Mexico . . . . David Lazcano, William L. Farr,
Pablo A. Lavin-Murcio, Jorge A. Contreras-Lozano, Alan Kardon, Salvador Narváez-Torres and Jerónimo A. Chávez-Cisneros 181

What You Missed at the November Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Dloogatch 196

Herpetology 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Unofficial Minutes of the CHS Board Meeting, November 13, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

Index to Scientific Names of Amphibians and Reptiles for Volume 44 (2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

AuthorSQTitle Index for Volume 44 (2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

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Cover: Mexican treefrogs, Smilisca baudinii. Photograph by Alan Kardon.

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Copyright © 2009.
Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 44(12):181-195, 2009

Notes on Mexican Herpetofauna 13: DORs in the Municipality of Aldama, Tamaulipas, Mexico
David Lazcano 1 , W illiam L. Farr 2 , Pablo A. Lavín-M urcio 3 , Jorge A. Contreras-Lozano 1, Alan Kardon 4,
Salvador Narváez-Torres 1 and Jerónimo A. Chávez-Cisneros 1

Abstract
One of the major agents of habitat fragmentation is the ever-expanding network of roads
worldwide, increasing the mortality rates of all vertebrate groups. Two groups that are
greatly affected are the amphibians and reptiles. Until recently (Lazcano et al., 2009), there
were no studies done on road mortalities of herpetofauna in the northeast of Mexico. In
order to continue documenting this anthropogenic phenomenon for this geographic portion
the country, we examined the preserved herpetological collection of the UANL and our field
records, focusing on specimens and records that have been collected in the municipality of
Aldama, in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, during a 25-year period from 1984 through
2009. Our data base includes a total of -372 specimens from Aldama which we organized
into the following categories: alive on road (AOR), dead on road (DOR) and field records.
A disproportionate number of the DOR records correspond to snakes that are deposited in
the UANL collection and therefore we give special attention to this group of reptiles here.
This study also provides a species list of the herpetofauna observed and collected in the
municipality of Aldama with a total of 57 genera and 71 species recorded.

Resumen
Uno de los mayores agentes de la fragmentación del habitat es la siempre creciente y
expansiva red carretera a nivel mundial, que incrementa los rangos de mortalidad en los
grupos vertebrados. Dos grupos fuertemente afectados son los anfibios y reptiles. Hasta
recientemente (Lazcano et al., 2009), escribió sobre un estudio de mortandad de estos grupos
en carreteras en el noreste de México. Para continuar documentado este fenómeno
antropogénico para esta porción geográfica del país, se analizo la colección herpetologica
de la UANL y registros de campo, enfocándose en las especies que habían sido colectadas
en Aldama, Tamaulipas, durante un periodo de 25 años de 1984–2009. Nuestra base de
datos incluyo a un total de -372 especimenes de Aldama, depositados en la colección
preservada de la UANL, esta incluye: anura, caudata, lacertilia, serpentes, crocodrilia, y
testudines. Para este análisis solamente se trabajaron las serpientes en la colección, estas se
organizaron en las siguientes categorías: AOR, DOR, y campo. Aquí encontramos un total
de 57 géneros y 71 especies.

Introduction attracted to roads to elevate their body temperatures on cool

nights following sunny days, because the road surface remains
One of the major agents of habitat fragmentation is the ever-
warmer than the ambient temperature (Dodd et al., 1989, Rosen
increasing and expanding road network worldwide (Forman et
and Lowe, 1994). The heat stored on the road surface is re-
al., 2002). Mortality increases with traffic volume (Rosen and
leased into the atmosphere at night, turning the roads into “heat
Lowe, 1994, Fahrig et al., 1995), and can be detrimental to
islands.” Animals respond to these heat islands: snakes for
various faunal groups including invertebrates (Haskell, 2001),
example, preferentially locate themselves on or near warm
amphibians (Carr and Fahrig, 2001), reptiles (Gibbs and Shriver,
roads, increasing their risk of being hit by cars (Trombulak and
2002), birds (e.g., Kuitunen et al., 1998), and mammals (Philcox
Frissell, 1999). Roads cause plant community fragmentation as
et al., 1999). Roads and traffic can act as barriers, making animal
well, resulting in the isolation of many amphibians and reptiles
movements difficult or even impossible, and reduce population
species, and that might lead to a higher risk of local population
connectivity. By diminishing gene flow and disrupting sink–
extinctions due to stochastic effects (Van der Zande et al., 1980;
source population dynamics, roads may increase inbreeding and
Saunders et al., 1991; Fahrig and Merriam, 1994; Cooper and
loss of genetic diversity (Ferreras, 2001). Roads promote high
Walters, 2002; Gibson and Merkle, 2004).
levels of animal–vehicle collisions and are one of the most visi-
ble man-made impacts on wildlife (Ascensão and Mira, 2005). Lazcano et al. (2009) recently reviewed some aspects of this
anthropogenic phenomenon for the northeastern state of Nuevo
It has been hypothesized that amphibians and reptiles are

1. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Herpetología, Apartado Postal - 513, San Nicolás de los Garza,
C.P. 66450 Nuevo León, México.
2. Houston Zoo Inc., Department of Herpetology, 1513 North MacGregor Drive, Houston, TX 77030-1603, USA
3. Laboratorio de Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Estocolmo y Anillo envolvente del Pronaf s/n,
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua C.P. 32300, México
4. San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N. St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX 78212

181
 León, Mexico, but road mortalities have never been examined in southeast of Tamaulipas and encompasses approximately 1361
the neighboring state of Tamaulipas, and in fact very few publi- km². It is somewhat square but irregular in shape, and is ap-
cations of any kind are available concerning the herpetofauna of proximately 62 km east to west and 75 km north to south at its
this state (Flores-Villela and Pérez-Mendoza, 2006). This study widest points. The elevation ranges from sea level on the Gulf
examines our collections (road collecting in particular), records, coast in the east to 1100 m in the Sierra de Tamaulipas in the
and observations of the herpetofauna from the municipality of northwest. As with all of the municipalities in Tamaulipas, a
Aldama, in the state of Tamaulipas, during a number of non- town bearing the same name as the municipality is the capital.
consecutive years between 1984 and 2009, where significant The town of Aldama was founded in 1795 and is the largest in
numbers of road kills were collected for the Universidad the municipality, with a population of ca. 27,676 (http://www.
Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) preserved collection. aldama.gob.mx/ or INEGI II Conteo de Población y Vivienda,
2005). Other notable towns include: Nuevo Progreso and
Materials and Methods Higinio Tanguma located on Federal Highway 180, the major
transportation corridor in the municipality; the coastal villages
Study Area: Aldama is one of the 43 municipalities (equivalent
Rancho Nuevo, Barra del Tordo, and El Morón; Guadalupe
to U.S. counties) that make up the geographical-political divi-
Victoria, Las Yucas and San Andres in the Sierra de Tamauli-
sions of the state of Tamaulipas (Figure 1). It is located in the

Aldama

Figure 1. Map of the state of Tamaulipas and its 43 municipalities, where 002 corresponds to Aldama encom-
passing 1361 km². Source: INEGI Marco Geoestadistico Municipal 2005. [www.cuentame.inegi.org.mx]

182
pas; and the ranching communities of Francisco I. Madero, El
Nacimiento, and Piedras Negras. Aldama is bordered by the
municipality of Soto La Marina to the north, Altamira to the
south, Casas, Gonzalez and Llera to the west, and the Gulf of
Mexico to the east. The majority of the land is privately owned
and cattle ranching is the main activity. Some farming, produc-
ing beans, maize, sorghum, and soy also contributes to the
economy. The coast of the municipality has some very limited
fisheries. Tourism is a significant part of the economy on the
coast, where the beaches attract visitors to the region. The
beaches most often visited are Barra del Tordo, Morón and
Rancho Nuevo. The latter is the primary nesting beach of
Lepidochelys kempii (Kemp’s ridley sea turtle), and major
conservation efforts are centered there. The nests are excavated, Southern coastal vegetation (tropical deciduous thorn forest or bosque
and the eggs are transported to protected areas on the beach, tropical caducifolio espinosa) in Aldama, Tamaulipas. Photograph by
Alan Kardon.
where they are hatched in situ and the juveniles are released in
the Gulf of Mexico. Much has been documented regarding the
conservation of these sea turtles by both Mexican and U.S. est water-filled cavity in the world, with an enormous opening
government institutions (Eckert et al., 1999; Lutz and Musick, 116 m in diameter and a depth of at least 330 m (Gary et al.,
1997; Marquez M., 1989; Turtle Expert Working Group, 2000; 2002.). Below its calm and apparently still water is a natural
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries tunnel 180 m long that connects to, and forms the source of, the
Service, 1992; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2000; http:// Río Nacimiento. To the south, the Río Barbarena forms the
www.fws.gov/kempsridley). border with the neighboring municipality of Altamira. On the
coast the Río Tigre and Río Barbarena empty into Laguna San
Climate: The northern border of Aldama lies approximately 15
Andres, sheltered from the Gulf of Mexico by the Barra Chavarria.
km south of the Tropic of Cancer. The climate is hot, with
This area still harbors a few spots of mangrove forests. Two
temperatures commonly exceeding 35EC (95EF) from May
crater lakes, Los Soldados and La Pinta can be found in the
through October. The winters are mild and freezing tempera-
volcanic Sierra de los Maratines northeast of Cd. Aldama.
tures infrequent. Precipitation increases in the months of June
through October, marking the wet season, but winter and spring Vegetation: Tropical thorn forest and tropical thorn scrub,
rains are not unknown. In the east, the humidity is higher and dominated by acacias, mesquites, and cactuses, are the main
coastal areas may receive higher rainfall due to the proximity to vegetation types throughout much of Aldama. Extensive clear-
the Gulf of Mexico (García, 1981). Tropical depressions and ing of the vegetation by ranchers for cattle grazing makes it
hurricanes contribute significantly to the annual rainfall on the difficult to determine to what extent other vegetation zones
Gulf of Mexico. This helps give the coastal plain of southern occurred in the region. Riparian areas still support tropical
Tamaulipas its tropical appearance, standing in contrast to the deciduous forest and lush gallery forest and locals indicated to
deserts of Mexican Plateau to the west of the Sierra Madre us that the tropical deciduous forest was much more extensive in
Oriental, which creates a rain shadow effect. The climate for the recent decades, before cattle ranching expanded. Jean Louis
area can be consulted at (http://smn.cna.gob.mx/productos/ Berlandier (1980), who passed through the area in 1831, de-
normales/estacion/tamps/NORMAL28003.TXT) and the climate scribed the area between the towns of Altamira and Aldama as
for the state can be consulted at (http://smn.cna.gob.mx/ having “some immense forest, broken by small prairies” domi-
productos/map-lluv/estados/est-2008.gif). nated by oaks (Quercus oleoides), and “immense prairies” being
burned for pasture. Goldman (1951), described visits to adja-
Hydrology: The municipality is moderately arid, but there are
cent areas of the municipality of Altamira to the south in 1898,
three primary river drainages entering the Gulf of Mexico. From
stating “About 10 miles north of Altamira open grassy plains
north to south these are: El Carrizal (and its tributaries Río Las
begin and reach away to the north indefinitely.” Goldman
Lajas, and Río San Pedro) El Tigre and El Barbarena. Second-
(1951) also described forest “here and there” on these plains in
ary tributaries of the Río Carrizal were dammed to create an
“strips that may be several miles wide” with oak trees and ojite
artificial lake, El Presa República Española, for a hydroelectric
(Brosimum alicastrum) as significant components. Remnants of
plant. This lake forms a portion of the border with the neighbor-
these vegetation types can still be found in the southern areas of
ing municipality of Soto la Marina to the north. Near the town
the municipality, among the cropland and ranches. Dry oak
of El Nacimiento are a series of cenotes or sinkholes: these are
forest still occurs in the Sierra de los Maratines northeast of the
Alameda, Baños, Murciélagos, Poza Verde and Zacatón. The
town of Aldama although much of this has been cleared for
term cenote comes from the Mayan word dzonot, meaning abyss
grazing as well. Palm trees are sometime seen scattered across
or hole in the ground and designates a natural well formed in
the landscape at lower elevations and occasionally these occur in
permeable limestone terrain, particularly susceptible to the
groves that might be described as palm forest, but to what extent
processes of water to dissolve rock. The magnitude and depth
these occurred in the past is unclear. Martin et al. (1954) pro-
of the cenotes in Aldama greatly surpasses the cenotes of Yucatan.
vided an account of the Sierra de Tamaulipas including descrip-
The most impressive is Zacatón, named after the free floating
tions of the vegetation zones and the herpetofauna, describing
islets of living grass that flourish there. This cenote is the deep-

183
 black (Avicennia germinans) mangrove trees. Small patches can
be found on the coastline, and these, being important habitat for
migratory birds and a significant element when it comes to
suppressing the actions of hurricanes on the coastline, should be
considered important areas for conservation (CONABIO, 2008;
Luther and Greenberg, 2009).

Orography: The eastern slopes of the Sierra de Tamaulipas,

including Sierras el Naranjo and el Aguacate, occupy the north-
west corner of the municipality with maximum elevations of ca.
1100 m in Aldama. A number of low volcanic mountain slopes
and hillsides occur 5 or 6 km northeast of the town of Aldama.
These include Cerro El Cautiva, Loma Cruz, Cerro Maratines,
Cerro Nopal, Cerro El Perro and Cerro Valentines. This small
Mangrove forest on the coastline of Aldama, Tamaulipas. Photograph
by Alan Kardon. mountain range was referred to as the Sierra de los Maratines by
Berlandier (1980) but they are not identified as such on most
contemporary maps. The maximum elevation there is about 660
tropical deciduous forest occurring between 300 and 700 m,
m. Numerous other isolated peaks rise above the coastal plain,
limited areas of montane scrub at 600–900 m, and pine-oak
although seldom reaching above 360 m. Among them are Cerro
forest above 800 m. Although Martin’s study area was centered
la Bandera, el Jerez, Loma la Bueyes, el Cerro del Maíz, el
around the town of Acuña and areas in the adjacent municipali-
Metate and La Sierrita. Valleys such as Azufrosa, Nuevo
ties of Casas, Gonzalez and Llera, his descriptions are applicable
Progreso, el Zanampeño and ejido 5 de Mayo are found
to the portions of the Sierra de Tamaulipas in Aldama as well.
throughout the municipality.
The mangrove swamps form another interesting plant commu-
nity, although limited in extent. These swamps, include red Highways: Currently there are only four paved highways in the
(Rhizophora mangle), white (Laguncularia racemosa), and municipality of Aldama (Figure 2). However, the state of

Federal Hwy 180

State Hwy 64

State Hwy 10

State Hwy 113

Figure 2. Map of the municipality of Aldama, Tamaulipas, Mexico (1361 km²). Source:
http://www.e-cienciaytecnologia.gob.mx/wb2/eMex/eMex_Tamaulipas_3

184
 Altamira, crossing ranchland, cropland, grassland, some marshes
and occasionally estuary habitat near the Laguna San Andres.
This highway was not surveyed before 2007. It was paved in
2006, and prior to that time there was no bridge over the Río El
Tigre connecting it with El Morón.

The UANL Collection: This study is based on material in the

UANL preserved collection and supplemented with our field
records. The Facultad of Ciencias Biológicas de la Universidad
Autónoma de Nuevo León holds in its preserved collection
approximately 1216 specimens from Tamaulipas: 35 Caudata,
348 Anura, 4 Testudines, 310 Squamata --- Lizards, and 519
Squamata --- Snakes. However, recently the preserved herpeto-
logical collection from the ITCV (Instituto Tecnológico of
Tamaulipas State Highway 64, as it appeared on 20 May 2007.
Photograph by William L. Farr. Ciudad Victoria), Tamaulipas, Mexico has been acquired by
UANL. This collection of ca. 700 specimens was mostly assem-
bled by Dr. Pablo Antonio Lavín-Murcio and his students in the
Tamaulipas began an aggressive campaign of paving dirt roads
years 1985–2003 and over 90% of the material was collected in
in the last five or six years. Two of the roads discussed here
that state. This substantially increases the number of specimens
were recently paved and more dirt and gravel roads are being
(ca. 2000 total) and species richness, making this one of the
paved throughout the state each year. We were unable to obtain
largest collections of Tamaulipas material in the world (second
statistical data pertaining to the volume and the frequency of
only to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology with ca.
traffic on these roads.
4000 total), and provides us with a better understanding of the
Federal Highway 180: A major Mexican highway running from distribution patterns of the herpetofauna in this beautiful state.
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, at the U.S. border south along the Gulf Our data base includes a total of -372 specimens from the
Coast to Campeche, on the Yucatan Peninsula. Approximately municipality of Aldama, Tamaulipas, including 148 specimens
70 km of this highway crosses the municipality of Aldama north preserved in the UANL collection and 224 field records. Of
to south, and mostly transverses ranchland, tropical thorn forest these -372 records, 161 (43.3%) are snakes: 14 (8.7%) AOR;
and tropical thorn scrub in rolling hills at moderately low eleva- 131 (81.4%) DOR; 16 (9.9%) field.
tions. Although this highway is a major national corridor, it is
Specimens are catalogued in a computer spreadsheet with the
only two lanes wide and lacks shoulders or emergency lanes.
following information: scientific classification (order, family,
This, combined with a high volume of traffic, precludes safely
genus, species and subspecies), catalogue number, state, munici-
road collecting for amphibians and reptiles there. However, a
pality, locality, date collected, field number, collector(s), and
few specimens have been picked up there over the years of
some basic morphological data including sex, snout–vent length
surveying in the municipality.
and tail length. When available the following information is
State Highway 64: This road runs ca. 47 km east-northeast from also included: coordinates, elevation, hour of collection, tem-
the town of Aldama, 130 m elevation, to the coastal fishing perature at time of collection, weight (before preservation), field
village of Barra del Tordo. The highway transects ranchland, notes (habitat, microhabitat, weather, behavior, etc.), and some
tropical thorn forest and tropical thorn scrub as above but, also examination notes (scale counts etc.). The use of a computer
passes through the southern foothills of the Sierra de los Mara- spreadsheet is a powerful tool when it comes to recording and
tines at two points, some pastures, grassland and localized detailing information on large numbers of field records or mu-
stands of old growth tropical deciduous forest near the coast, seum collections.
giving it a variety of habitats. The majority of the AOR and
In order to create a complete list of the species known to
DOR records in this study are from this road.
occur in the municipality of Aldama, we have included in Table
State Highway 10: This road runs 27 km from its intersection 1 (in addition to UANL preserved collection specimens) our
with Hwy 64 south-southeast to El Moron. Heading south from field records, animals we observed in the field (but did not col-
Hwy 64, the first few kilometers pass through tropical thorn lect) for which the above information was recorded and support-
scrub and ranchland at an elevation of ca. 140 m, but soon the ed with a photo voucher. Museum and literature records were
road descends an escarpment where it crosses the Río El Sabino also reviewed, and four species were added that we did not
(in the Río El Tigre drainage) supporting lush gallery forest encounter in our surveys, but which have previously been re-
along its banks. The remainder passes through ranchland, corded from the municipality, namely: Spilotes pullatus mexi-
cropland and grassland until reaching the town of El Morón on canus, (UF-49504 and UF-49506, specimens not examined);
the Río El Tigre near the coast. This road was paved as recently Tropidodipsas f. fasciata, (Kofron, 1987); Caretta caretta and
as 2006 and was previously mud and dirt and only rarely used Dermochelys coriacea, (Smith and Smith, 1979). Although the
for road collecting before that time. municipality of Aldama is entirely within the established distri-
bution of the following eight species, we have no specific or
State Highway 113: This highway runs ca. 17 km just above sea
confirmed records of them occurring there and we have not
level, from the end of Highway 10 at El Morón on the Río El
included them in Table 1: Notophthalmus meridionalis (Mecham,
Tigre south to the Río Barberena, the municipality boarder with

185
 Table 1. Numbers and relative abundance of AOR, DOR and field specimens found in the municipality of Aldama during the period 1984–2009. Taxonomy
follows Liner and Casas-Andreu (2008) with the following exceptions: Incilius nebulifer, Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides and E. guttilatus follow Frost (2009);
Sceloporus cyanogenys follows Martínez-Méndez and Méndez-de la Cruz (2007); Opheodrys aestivus follows Walley and Plummer (2000).
! = species found in surveys for which encounter rates were not recorded. * = introduced and probable introduced species.

Order (5) Scientific names Hwy 180 Hwy 64 Hwy 10 Hwy 113 Dirt roads
Family (26) (57 genera and 71 species) AOR DOR AOR DOR AOR DOR AOR DOR AOR DOR Field Total
Caudata
Plethodontidae Pseudoeurycea cephalica 7 7
Anura
Bufonidae Incilius nebulifer ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Rhinella marina ! ! ! !
Eleutherodactylidae Eleutherodactylus c. cystignathoides ! ! ! !
Eleutherodactylus guttilatus 9 9
Hylidae Ecnomiohyla miotympanum 1 1
Scinax s. staufferi ! ! ! !
Smilisca baudinii ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Trachycephalus venulosus ! ! 6 ! ! ! ! 6+
Leptodactylidae Leptodactylus fragilis ! ! !
Leptodactylus melanonotus ! ! ! !
Microhylidae Gastrophryne elegans ! !
Hypopachus variolosus ! ! ! ! ! !
Ranidae Lithobates berlandieri ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Lithobates catesbeianus* 1 1
Scaphiopodidae Scaphiopus couchii ! ! ! !
Squamata --- Lizards
Anguidae Ophisaurus incomptus 1 1
Corytophanidae Laemanctus s. serratus 1 1
Gekkonidae Hemidactylus frenatus* ! !
Iguanidae Ctenosaura acanthura 3 3
Phrynosomatidae Holbrookia p. propinqua ! !
Sceloporus cyanogenys 26 26
Sceloporus grammicus tamaulipensis 1 1
Sceloporus olivaceus 1 1
Sceloporus variabilis 27 27
Polychrotidae Anolis sericus 4 4
Scincidae Plestiodon brevirostris dicei 1 1
Plestiodon t. tetragrammus 3 3
Teiidae Ameiva undulata 22 22
Aspidoscelis scalaris gularis ! !
Xantusiidae Lepidophyma sylvaticum 5 5
Squamata --- Snakes
Boidae Boa constrictor imperator 1 1 2 4
Colubridae Coluber constrictor oaxaca 2 2
Coluber flagellum testaceus 2 2
Coluber m. mentovarius 1 1
Coniophanes i. imperialis 1 1
Drymarchon melanurus erebennus 1 1 2 2 1 1 8
Drymobius m. margaritiferus 3 4 1 1 4 2 15

186
Table 1 (cont’d).

Order (5) Scientific names Hwy 180 Hwy 64 Hwy 10 Hwy 113 Dirt roads
Family (26) (57 genera and 71 species) AOR DOR AOR DOR AOR DOR AOR DOR AOR DOR Field Total
Colubridae (cont’d) Ficimia streckeri 1 1
Imantodes cenchoa leucomelas 1 1 2 4
Lampropeltis triangulum annulata 3 3
Leptodeira annulata cussiliris 2 12 1 3 2 20
Leptodeira s. septentrionalis 2 5 1 8
Leptophis mexicanus septentrionalis 2 1 3
Nerodia rhombifer blanchardi 1 4 5
Opheodrys aestivus 3 3
Oxybelis aeneus 1 1 2
Pantherophis emoryi 4 9 1 2 1 17
Pituophis catenifer sayi 1 1
Pseudelaphe f. flavirufa 1 1
Senticolis triaspis intermedia 1 1
Spilotes pullatus mexicanus 0
Storeria dekayi texana 2 1 3
Thamnophis m. marcianus 3 4 1 8
Thamnophis proximus 6 2 16 1 1 1 5 32
Tropidodipsas f. fasciata 0
Tropidodipsas s. sartorii 2 2
Elapidae Micrurus tamaulipensis 1 1
Micrurus tener
1 4 1 6
(maculatus or microgalbineus)

Viperidae Agkistrodon taylori 1 1 2

Crotalus totonacus 1 1 1 3
Crocodylia
Crocodylidae Crocodylus moreletii 0
Testudines
Cheloniidae Caretta caretta 0
Chelonia mydas 1 1
Eretmochelys i. imbricata 1 1
Lepidochelys kempii 4 4
Dermochelyidae Dermochelys coriacea 0
Emydidae Terrapene carolina mexicana 1 1 1 3
Trachemys scripta elegans* 1 1
Trachemys venusta cataspila 33 33
Kinosternidae Kinosternon herrerai 4 4

1968); Rhinophrynus dorsalis (Fouquette, 1969); Gopherus not observed in our field surveys and we are not aware of any
berlandieri (Auffenberg and Franz, 1978); Kinosternon scor- specific museum or literature records for the municipality. We
pioides (Berry and Iverson, 2001); Phrynosoma cornutum have included this species because the municipality of Aldama
(Price, 1990); Leptotyphlops myopicus (Dixon and Vaughan, is entirely within the established distribution of the species
2003); Coluber schotti ruthveni (Camper, 1996); Crotalus atrox (Ross, 1987), and numerous locals have informed us of the
(Campbell and Lamar, 2004). And finally, we have included occurrence of C. moreletii there, including two (entirely inde-
Crocodylus moreletii in Table 1, even though the species was pendent) fishermen who were able to show us unequivocal

187
 photographs of C. moreletii taken in the area, specifically in the Table 2. Numbers of snakes found for each year with collecting
Río Tigre in the vicinity of El Morón. We have observed C. activity in the municipality of Aldama, with the average number of
specimens found per days spent given in parentheses.
moreletii in the Río El Barbarena in the neighboring municipal-
ity of Altamira as well as other areas of the state, and in some Field # of
localized areas they are quite abundant. Year days AOR DOR Field Total species

The DOR (and other) specimens used in this review were 0 1 0 1

1984 1 1
(0.00) (1.00) (0.00) (1.00)
collected opportunistically over a period of many years and the
idea for writing an article on the subject appeared as an after- 0 1 0 1
1995 1 1
(0.00) (1.00) (0.00) (1.00)
thought. It would be of great value if the area could be studied
using more formal and systematic methods to quantify some of 0 16 0 16
1996 3 11
the effects that highways and road mortalities have on the herpe- (0.00) (5.33) (0.00) (5.33)
tofauna. Road collecting was conducted primarily on the paved 0 9 0 9
1997 2 7
roads in the municipality. Road collecting was mostly (although (0.00) (4.50) (0.00) (4.50)
not exclusively) conducted at night, which no doubt produces a 0 9 0 9
2000 3 5
bias for nocturnal and terrestrial species. Dirt roads, transecting (0.00) (3.00) (0.00) (3.00)
every elevation and vegetation zone throughout the municipal- 2 13 0 15
2001 8 9
ity, were primarily used to access field localities and less fre- (0.25) (1.63) (0.00) (1.88)
quently used for road collecting. The earliest collections were 1 1 2 4
made in 1984, then 1995–1997, and then continued annually 2002 3 4
(0.33) (0.33) (0.67) (1.33)
from 2000 through 2007, and in 2009. The number of field days 1 9 3 13
varied annually from 1 to 8 days, taken opportunistically (not 2003 4 7
(0.25) (2.25) (0.75) (3.25)
systematically), as job and work schedules permitted.
3 8 3 14
2004 6 7
In addition to the ITCV collection assembled by the third (0.50) (1.33) (0.50) (2.33)
author and described above, the senior author conducted formal 1 4 4 9
2005 4 6
statewide surveys of the herpetofauna of Tamaulipas in the years (0.25) (1.00) (1.00) (2.25)
1996–1998, and the second author also conducted statewide 1 4 1 6
2006 4 6
surveys in the years 2003–2007. (0.25) (1.00) (0.25) (1.50)
One reason Aldama was selected for this review is the large 4 12 3 19
2007 6 16
(0.67) (2.00) (0.50) (3.17)
number of specimens collected there over an extended time span
and deposited in the UANL collection. It is also one of the larg- 1 44 0 45
2009 7 10
est and most beautiful municipalities of the state. Compared to (0.14) (6.29) (0.00) (6.43)
some areas in southeastern Tamaulipas, agricultural development 14 131 16 161
Total 52 28
is less extensive in Aldama, where ranching and cattle grazing (0.27) (2.52) (0.31) (3.10)
have preserved some good (if not altered) habitat, allowing the
herpetofauna to thrive. Some of this remaining habitat is crossed
by State Highway 64. The human impact on the vegetation in
species because many of these were often observed in such large
the municipality is extensive and much of what remains is sec-
numbers on rainy nights (AOR, DOR and choruses in the field)
ondary growth. One can only imagine how these plant commu-
that we frequently only recorded species as present or absent at a
nities, covering much of the area in the 19th century, appeared
given time and locality, and did not attempt to record accurate
to early naturalists and collectors like Nelson and Goldman who
encounter rates for individuals. Aspidoscelis scalaris gularis,
surveyed Mexico from 1892 through 1906 (Goldman, 1951),
and Holbrookia propinqua propinqua were also seen in large
and Berlandier, who made Tamaulipas his home in 1829 and
numbers in the sand dunes on our frequent visits to the beaches,
died there in 1851 (Berlandier, 1980; Smith et al., 2003).
and accurate encounter rates were not recorded for these species.
The data base was analyzed and records were grouped into Likewise Hemidactylus frenatus were commonly seen on the
the following categories: AOR (alive on road), DOR (dead on walls of hotels, restaurants and homes, and they were not re-
road), and field collected / observed records. The road of origin corded individually.
was determined for each specimen and a series of tables were
Of the 30 species of snakes known from Aldama, 20 species
constructed.
(66.7%) were only seen on the roads and never observed in the
field, compared to salamanders, which were never seen on the
Results
roads, and lizards and turtles which were rarely seen on the
Table 1 lists the orders, families, genera and species recorded roads. Lizards and turtles were collected and observed DOR
from the municipality of Aldama, Tamaulipas, followed by and AOR in other municipalities, although never in such large
columns for each of the four paved highways, one column each numbers as snakes. In addition to the two species of snakes
for dirt roads and field collected / observed specimens. The identified above that are known to occur in Aldama but were not
relative abundance of species found AOR, DOR and in the field recorded in the surveys, seven species were only found once
are shown here. The numbers of anurans are not given for most (Coluber m. mentovarius, Coniophanes i. imperialis, Ficimia

188
Table 3. Numbers of snakes found by month during 1984–2009 in the June, 53 (91.4%) corresponded to DOR snakes. July had the
municipality of Aldama, with the average number of specimens found largest diversity of snakes with 20 species found. The onset of
per days spent given in parentheses.
the rainy season (typically arriving in June, occasionally in late
Field # of May), generates an increase in snake activity and movement.
Month days AOR DOR Field Total species
Table 4 provides measurements of some individual snakes
2 0 2 4
April 2 4 found on the roads of Aldama. Not all AOR and DOR speci-
(1.00) (0.00) (1.00) (2.00)
mens catalogued were used to create this table. A total of 104
3 11 5 19
May 10 13 specimens were examined, giving us the following data: 63
(0.30) (1.10) (0.50) (1.90)
males (60.6%), 37 females (35.6%), and 4 undetermined (3.8%).
3 53 2 58 It seems that males were more active and likely to be found as
June 13 15
(0.23) (4.08) (0.15) (4.46)
DORs than females. Movements and activities that may result
2 42 4 48 in road crossings can differ between the sexes, and even among
July 11 20
(0.18) (3.82) (0.36) (4.36) age classes, as well as species of reptiles and amphibians (Gibbs,
0 2 0 2 1998; Semlitsch, 2000; Carr and Fahrig, 2001; Andrews and
August 2 2
(0.00) (1.00) (0.00) (1.00) Gibbons, 2005; Steen and Smith, 2006). This table gives an
3 14 1 18 idea of the size and sex of snakes moving across roads in this
September 7 10
(0.43) (2.00) (0.14) (2.57) area. For comparison, literature records of typical or maximum
1 9 2 12 lengths are given for each species in the table.
October 7 9
(0.14) (1.29) (0.29) (1.71)
The occurrence of DORs can be a catastrophic event for any
14 131 16 161 vertebrate population around the world. Nevertheless; collect-
Total 52 28
(0.27) (2.52) (0.31) (3.10)
ing DORs provides an excellent source of research material and
information. Stomach contents of six DOR Leptodeira annulata
cussiliris were examined and one specimen (UANL-7033) had a
streckeri, Pituophis catenifer sayi, Pseudelaphe f. flavirufa, Hypopachus variolosus, another (UANL-7036) had an Incilius
Senticolis triaspis intermedia and Micrurus tamaulipensis). nebulifer, and four specimens (UANL-7034, 7035, 7046 and
7056) contained Smilisca baudinii. A gravid Storeria dekayi
The most abundant species found was Thamnophis proximus
texana was found DOR (UANL-7028, SVL = 239 mm and TL =
with a total of 32 specimens recorded, of which 16 (50%) were
67 mm) containing three smashed fully developed young.
found on State Highway 64. The second most abundant snake
species recorded was Leptodeira annulata cussiliris (Duellman’s Road collecting surveys conducted in June 2009 coincided
cat-eyed snake) with 20 specimens, of which 12 (60.0%) were with some of the first heavy rains of the year that stimulated
found on State Highway 64. A total of 17 Pantherophis emoryi explosive breeding and hyperactivity among several anuran
(Great Plains ratsnake) were recorded, with 9 (52.9%) from species. Two species in particular, Smilisca baudinii (Mexican
State Highway 64. Eight L. s. septentrionalis were recorded. treefrog) and Trachycephalus venulosus (veined treefrog), were
However, 16 Leptodeira (including 2 neonates) were found observed in large numbers AOR, DOR and in roadside ditches.
AOR in June 2009 that were not included in the data. Lepto- The anurans’ vocalizations were so loud you couldn’t hear
deira annulata cussiliris and L. s. septentrionalis can only be anything else but the calls of dozens of frogs. The explosive
distinguished by ventral scale counts, and these counts were not breeding habits and hyperactivity of several anuran species
attempted on live animals on the roads at night. Considering seemed to attract many snake predators, which appeared to be
this, Leptodeira were among the most frequently encountered stimulated by the presence of their food source. The species
snakes. On Federal Highway 180 only two Leptodeira (DOR) observed were Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus (north-
were collected. However, due to the high volume of traffic on ern speckled racer), Imantodes cenchoa leucomelas (Cope’s
this road, collecting activities were minimal there. Cat-eyed blunthead tree snake), Leptodeira annulata cussiliris, Lepto-
snakes were also found in abundance on State Highways 10 and deira s. septentrionalis, Leptophis mexicanus septentrionalis
113, and with recent improvements (paving the dirt roads and (Tamaulipan parrot snake), Nerodia rhombifer blanchardi
the addition of a bridge across the Río El Tigre) there is a defi- (Tampico diamond-backed watersnake), Pantherophis emoryi
nite increase in the number of vehicles on these roads. (Great Plains ratsnake), Storeria dekayi texana (Texas brown-
snake), Thamnophis marcianus marcianus (Marcy´s checkered
Table 2 shows for each year the numbers of snakes found
gartersnake) and Thamnophis proximus (western ribbonsnake).
and the average number found per day spent. The year 2009
Most DOR specimens had only recently been hit by vehicles.
was exceptional, coinciding with a low pressure front and abun-
Collecting times varied from 20:45 to 04:00, as long as the
dant rain in the area that brought an end to the dry season of the
intensity of the rain didn’t impede road collecting, as this is a
previous months. Here we recorded a total of 45 specimens in
very narrow road. Air temperatures ranged between 24.4EC and
seven days of road collecting. The maximum diversity of snake
28.8EC, and road temperatures could fluctuate between 24:6EC
species recorded wasin 2007, when 16 species were documented.
and 29:8EC. Travel time between Aldama and Barra del Tordo
Table 3 summarizes by month and over all taxa the numbers (47 km) and Aldama and Barra El Moron (27 km) varied; our
of snakes found. The month with the most records was June collecting speed was typically between 6 and 10 km/h.
with 13 collecting days. Of the 58 records for the month of

189
 Table 4. Lengths and sexes of snakes collected in the municipality of Aldamas, Tamaulipas, from 1984 through 2009. * indicates reported
maximum length for the species. Literature sources for sizes: Campbell and Lamar (2004); Köhler (2003); Lee (1996); Rossman et al. (1996);
Dixon and Werler (2005); Werler and Dixon (2000).
Snout–vent Tail Total Sizes from
Taxon length (mm) length (mm) length (mm) Sex literature (mm)
Agkistrodon taylori 564 122 686 % 960
690 130 820 &
Boa constrictor imperator 395 64 459 % -2000
? ? ? &
Crotalus totonacus 1250 87 1337 & 1800
Coluber constrictor oaxaca 619 255 874 & 1016
Coluber flagellum testaceus 420 150 570 ? 2032*
Coluber mentovarius mentovarius 1550 530 2080 % 2527
Coniophanes imperialis imperialis 263 126 389 % -300 SVL
Drymarchon melanurus erebennus ? ? ? % 2870*
? ? ? &
Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus 531 ? ? & 1270*
559 307 866 &
614.7 255.3 870.0 % (7)
Ficimia streckeri 202 44 246 % 483*
Imantodes cenchoa leucomelas 450 192 642 % 700 SVL
492 209 701 &
487 202 689 %
587 287 874 %
Lampropeltis triangulum annulata 486 93 579 % 1054*
477 94 571 %
Leptodeira annulata cussiliris 463.4 121.9 585.3 % (9) 870
484.5 113.6 598.1 & (6)
Leptodeira s. septentrionalis 551 162 713 % 984*
510 157 667 %
550.0 121.5 671.5 & (4)
Leptophis mexicanus septentrionalis 751.2 457.4 1208.6 % (5) -1380
Micrurus tener maculatus 325 51 376 ? 1213*
327 33 360 &
540 86 626 %
561 95 656 %
521 96 617 %
Nerodia rhombifer blanchardi 562 214 776 % -1200 SVL
Opheodrys aestivus 380 223 603 % 1159*
464 280 744 %
Oxybelis aeneus 777 515 1292 % -1000
855 ? ? &
Pantherophis emoryi 798.4 179.0 977.4 % (8) 1829*
708.3 175.5 883.8 & (4)
Pituophis catenifer sayi 667 87 754 & 2740*
Storeria dekayi texana 246 ? ? % 457*
239 67 306 &
Thamnophis marcianus marcianus 453 133 586 % 1079*
415 ? ? %
405 ? ? %
435.8 155.3 591.1 & (4)
Thamnophis proximus 370 ? ? ? 1232*
(diabolicus, orarius, rutiloris) 396.1 175.1 571.2 % (9)
431.7 181.5 613.2 & (6)
Tropidodipsas sartorii sartorii 450 115 565 & -450 SVL
440 130 570 ?
465 141 606 %
190
Smilisca baudinii (Mexican treefrog or rana arborícola Mexicana).
Photograph by Alan Kardon.

Discussion Imantodes cenchoa leucomelas (Cope’s blunthead tree snake or

cordelilla de Cope). Photograph by Alan Kardon.
Comments on the occurrence of Crocodylus moreletii in
Aldama are noted above, and below are some brief notes on the
other orders of herpetofauna in the municipality.
Anura: Frogs and Toads
Caudata: Salamanders
Although frogs and toads were collected for the UANL
Pseudoeurycea cephalica (referred to as Pseudoeurycea sulcata preserved collection, the numbers of DORs were so large at
by Farr et al. [2007]) were recorded in the Sierra de Tamaulipas times, only one individual of each species was collected to
and Aldama for the first time in these surveys. Notophthalmus record the species as being present at that time and locality.
meridionalis was not recorded in the current surveys in Aldama Lithobates berlandieri, Incilius nebulifer, Scaphiopus couchii,
but, this is likely due to the fact that we failed to invest adequate and Smilisca baudinii are among the most abundant species in
time and sampling methods for detecting this aquatic species. the municipality, as they are throughout much of the state. The
We did however find them to be moderately common at a few distributions of Ecnomiohyla miotympanum and Eleutherodac-
localities in some of the adjacent municipalities. Siren inter- tylus guttilatus in the municipality are restricted to higher eleva-
media have previously only been documented in the municipali- tions in the Sierra de Tamaulipas. A single specimen of Gastro-
ties of Matamoros and San Fernando in northeast Tamaulipas phryne elegans was reported relatively recently from Tamauli-
(Mecham and Mitchell, 1983) however, an isolated record of pas (Sampablo-Brito and Dixon, 1998). However, this species
four specimens from 2 km east of Gutiérrez Zamora, Veracruz was observed to be moderately abundant in recent surveys. A
(Ramirez-Bautista et al., 1982), suggests they may occur through- series of small choruses were observed in roadside ditches along
out the northeastern coast of Mexico, including Aldama, but this highway 64 on the night of 11 September 2007. Rhinophrynus
remains to be established. dorsalis was not recorded in the surveys although it should be
anticipated to occur there as museum and literature records
confirm its occurrence in adjacent municipalities. Martin et al.
(1954) reported Eleutherodactylus latrans (= Craugastor
augusti) in the Sierra de Tamaulipas from Acuña, in the neigh-
boring municipality of Llera, and a juvenile was collected from
that same area in the current surveys. The occurrence of this
species should be anticipated in the Sierra de Tamaulipas of
Aldama as well. A single Lithobates catesbeianus was observed
AOR in Aldama in 2009 although it was not collected. This is
the first observation of the species from the municipality (Farr et
al., 2009).

Squamata --- Lizards

The vast majority of lizards were recorded in the field. One

exception was an Ophisaurus incomtus (lagartija sin patas or
plain-necked glass lizard, UANL- 6824), which was collected
DOR and greatly damaged in 2007 on State Highway 64. This
species is known from only five specimens, two from Aldama
(Farr et al., 2007), one from Victoria, Tamaulipas (Terán-Juárez,
Trachycephalus venulosus (veined treefrog or rana venulosa). 2008), and two from the neighboring state of San Luis Potosi
Photograph by Alan Kardon.

191
 (Holman, 1971). Laemanctus s. serratus was observed only the Aldama coast are also very rare (Chávez and Kaufmann, 1974).
once in the surveys, crossing and dirt road at 14:00 h on 31 July Due to the fact that the coastline of the municipality is a very
2005. Two species, Plestiodon brevirostris dicei and Lepido- important area for marine turtle nesting, and the presence of the
phyma sylvaticum, are restricted to higher elevations in the last remnants of mangrove forest, we asked the locals what
Sierra de Tamaulipas and have very limited distributions in the herpetofauna had been observed and associated with the man-
municipality of Aldama. Although Aldama is within its estab- groves and beaches. They indicated that they had seen Dry-
lished distribution, Phrynosoma cornutum was not recorded marchon melanurus erebennus, Leptodeira and Thamnophis
there in the current surveys. However it was noted in other species there. Holbrookia propinqua propinqua (keeled earless
areas of the state to be one of the most frequent victims of lizard) and Aspidoscelis scalaris gularis (Texas whiptail lizard)
highway mortality of all the species of lizards known to occur in are both very abundant in sand dunes and can be observed there
Tamaulipas. actively engaged in foraging for food, disputing territories, and
engaging in courtship. Occasionally Sceloporus variabilis were
Squamata --- Snakes
observed on driftwood and fenceposts in the dunes. Although
The only endemic species of amphibian or reptile known to not recorded specifically in the municipality of Aldama, some
occur in Aldama is Micrurus tamaulipensis (type locality: Sierra other herpetofauna using coastal habitat in the region are per-
de Tamaulipas, Rancho la Saucita, ca. 50 km N Gonzalez, 750– haps worth noting. Farr et al. (2007) reported a DOR Iguana
1000 m elev., Tamaulipas, Mexico). However, this recently iguana associated with mangrove habitat in the neighboring
described species (Lavín-Murcio and Dixon, 2004) should be municipality of Altamira to the south. To the north, in the
anticipated to occur in the adjacent areas of the Sierra de neighboring municipality of Soto La Marina, a Boa constrictor
Tamaulipas lying in the municipalities of Casas, Gonzalez, Llera imperator was found in the sand dunes and Coluber flagellum
and Soto la Marina. Leptotyphlops myopicus, Coluber schotti testaceus were found under driftwood on the beach, and in the
ruthven and Crotalus atrox have not been recorded from Alda- dunes. Selander et al. (1962) reported Gopherus berlandieri
ma, but all were found in the adjacent municipalities of Casas from barrier islands north of Aldama in Tamaulipas.
and Soto La Marina, and C. atrox were collected from González
We observed many DOR mammals such as Didelphis virgin-
as well. Rossman (1970) and Rossman et al. (1996) indicated
iana (opossum), Conepatus leuconatus (skunk) and various
that a large portion of the state of Tamaulipas is a broad area of
rodent species (Ceballos and Oliva, 2005), but one event during
intergradation between three subspecies of Thamnophis proxi-
our 2009 trip was astonishing to us. Local ranchers had caught
mus (T. p. diabolicus, T. p. orarius, and T. p. rutiloris). Most
a female Tamandua mexicana (northern tamandua or lesser
specimens from lower elevations and coastal areas in the munic-
anteater, oso hormiguero Mexicano) and this was the first time
ipality have characters that usually agree with T. p. rutiloris;
any of us had seen this species in a quarter of a century of col-
however specimens from inland localities and higher elevations
lecting in Tamaulipas. The local ranchers promised to release it
in and near the Sierra de Tamaulipas are more variable and we
the next day, a promise we hope they kept, as this is a very rare
address Thamnophis proximus only at the species level here.
animal to see in the field at the northern limit of their range.
Testudines: Turtles
Conclusion
Turtles were predominantly found in the field and on
beaches. Only Terrapene carolina mexicana (Caja Mexicana or Continued surveys will likely increase the number of species
Mexican box turtle) was observed AOR on two occasions, once recorded from Aldama. Unfortunately, without systematic,
crossing State Highway 64 in June of 2002, and once crossing quantitative studies on the effects of roads on herpetofauna
Federal Highway180 in May of 2005. The single specimen of populations, we will never understand if the small patches of
Trachemys scripta elegans, which was collected while snorkel- forest left in Aldama will provide adequate connectivity for
ing in Poza Verde, was likely introduced to that locality. Two genetic flow, or if there will be genetic isolation in the future.
Kinosternon herrerai were found in about 2 hours of snorkeling Maybe genetic isolation is already occurring; we don’t know.
in the Río Nacimiento and it is probably more abundant than Species that suffer high rates of mortality on roads are subject to
Table 1 indicates because, this (snorkeling) and other sampling fragmentation in situations where insufficient numbers of indi-
techniques for detecting aquatic species were not practiced viduals successfully cross to maintain the necessary population
frequently or evenly in the surveys. Kinosternon scorpioides dynamics (Andrews and Gibbons, 2005). Aldama could be an
was not recorded in Aldama in the surveys, although specimens example of such a case. Will climate change exert another
were found (AOR and DOR) in the adjacent municipalities of burden on the wildlife, the herpetofauna in particular? We can
Altamira and Gonzalez, and Iverson and Berry (1979) reported infer from our results that anurans and snakes in Aldama are
them from Soto la Marian to the north. Gopherus berlandieri relatively more affected by roads than the other groups of am-
were found to be locally abundant in the north of the state in phibians and reptiles. The data provided here could be a useful
some areas where appropriate habitat remained. However, they source of information for ecological and conservation programs
became increasingly rare the farther south we traveled and they that the municipality could establish. With growing human
were not recorded from Aldama in the surveys. As noted above, populations, paving of rural roads, continued clearing and
Aldama’s beaches are the primary nesting beaches of Lepido- burning of what habitat remains, and urbanization, the future
chelys kempii, and Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas nest doesn’t look promising for the herpetofauna. This is a world-
there as well. Much less common are nests of Eretmochelys i. wide phenomenon and there are remedial actions that can be,
imbricata, and incidences of Dermochelys coriacea nesting on and in some cases are being, taken. However, human needs

192
rarely come in second to the needs of wildlife or conservation. Lavín-Murcio for facilitating the transfer of the ITCV collection
This is human nature and little can be done. We only hope that to UANL and Dr. Kenneth L. Krysko, Florida Museum of
Mexico’s biodiversity will not vanish for future generations be- Natural History, for providing locality data for Spilotes pullatus
cause governmental authorities and the general population were from Aldama. The following friends helped at one time or
filled with apathy and indifference for nature and conservation. another in the collecting efforts: George Brandy, Tim Burk-
hardt, Jerry Caraviotis, Jose Cortes-Lariva, Michael R. J.
Acknowledgments Forstner, James R. Dixon, Adam Ferguson, Oscar Gallardo, Elí
García Padilla, Gilberto Herrera, Toby J. Hibbitts, Tiffany
We wish to thank the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo
Kosch, Bill Lamoreaux, Ian Recchio, Chris Rodriguez, David
León, Comisión Nacional Para El Estudio de la Biodiversidad
Rodriguez, Richard Peters and Kathy Taylor. And our thanks to
(CONABIO), Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
the people of Aldama and in particular Don Arturo de la Garza
(CONACYT), Grupo de Laboratorio Silanes, and Houston Zoo,
and his family for their hospitality, and to SEMARNAT for our
Inc., San Antonio Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and Los Angeles Zoo
most recent collecting permits: 01255/07/Mar/2008 and
for their support thought the years. We also thank Pablo A.
02263/April/2009.

Literature Cited

Andrews K. M., and J. W. Gibbons. 2005. How do highways influence snake movement? Behavioral responses to roads and vehicles.
Copeia 2005(4):772-782.

Ascensão, F., and A. Mira. 2005. Spatial patterns of road kills: A case study in southern Portugal. University of California, Davis: Road
Ecology Center. Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8r07z6nf.

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 Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 44(12):196, 2009

What You Missed at the November Meeting

Mike Dloogatch
mdloogatch@chicagoherp.org

Sorry to disappoint all of you flattening the neck into a cobra-

who look forward each month to like hood, striking vigorously (al-
John Archer’s entertaining account though inaccurately) with the
of the previous month’s CHS meet- mouth shut, hissing loudly, gaping
ing. John didn’t make it to the widely, and of course feigning
November meeting. I much prefer death.
editing to writing, but Carl Koch’s
Carl showed us great photos of
program was just too good to go
nearly all of the above behaviors
unremarked, so I’ve come up with
(strike and hisses are tough to
a brief recap..
photograph). But anyone who’s
Carl lives in a suburb of Mil- ever disturbed a hognose in the
waukee, Wisconsin, but neverthe- field has seen one or more of
less he’s an active CHS member, Photograph by D ick Buchholz. those defensive behaviors. The
attending many meetings and even really interesting stuff was the
contributing to the Bulletin earlier this year with “The Year of burrowing that Carl has been able to observe repeatedly. This
the Hognose” [Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 44(2):17-20]. he illustrated not only with photos, but also with remarkable
videos. It’s hard to believe how efficient these legless creatures
Unlike many of our speakers, Carl is not a professional
are at moving sand unless one has seen it in person or in a video.
herpetologist. His interest in nature was spurred early on by a
big brother, and later by Rob Carmichael of the Lake Forest Carl has seen burrowing only in late June and early July,
Discovery Center. He began by telling us about some of his always between 5 P.M. and the onset of darkness. He is confi-
early encounters with eastern hog-nosed snakes, which were few dent that it is nesting behavior. He has seen many different
and far between. snakes digging and all appear to be gravid females. But the
only time he tried to dig up a burrow he did not find any eggs.
The numerous observations of hognose behavior that Carl
He did show one photo, however, of an egg that had been laid at
proceeded to share with us all took place within 40 minutes of
the mouth of one of the burrows. And Carl has found newly
his home. Carl had been familiar with the general area for a
hatched baby hog-nosed snakes at these sites in September.
long time, and had suspected that hog-nosed snakes were pres-
ent there, but it was not until he saw a post on FieldHerpForum Other interesting herps occur in the area. Carl showed
a couple of years ago that he was able to zero in on the specific photos of some of these, including a central newt, a blue-spotted
localities where he has been so successful. salamander, a tiger salamander, a pickerel frog, a smooth green-
snake and a Blanding’s turtle. And we also were treated to
When it comes to snakes with interesting behaviors, hog-
photographs of many beautiful wildflowers that occur there. All
nosed snakes (or as Carl affectionately refers to them, “hogs”)
of these photos were taken at or quite close to the sandy areas
have few rivals. When disturbed, their repertoire includes
frequented by the hognoses.

For me, yet another highly enjoyable feature of this program

were the photos showing many of Carl’s companions in the field.
Carl is always ready and willing to share this experience with
fellow herp enthusiasts, and many of us have taken him up on it.

At this meeting we also held our annual election of officers

and members-at-large of the CHS board of directors. Results
were as follow: President, John Archer; Vice-president, Rick
Hoppenrath; Treasurer, Andy Malawy; Recording Secretary,
Cindy Rampacek; Corresponding Secretary, Deb Krohn; Publi-
cations Secretary, Aaron LaForge; Membership Secretary, Mike
Dloogatch; Sergeant-at-arms, Dick Buchholz; Members-at-large
(4), Jim Foster, Lawrence Huddleston, Linda Malawy and Jenny
Vollman. Sad to say, only two of these positions were con-
tested. And only three people will be serving on the 2010 board
who did not also serve on the 2009 board. Our society could
really benefit from a little more active participation, folks.
Carl told us that this sort of gaping is a defensive behavior that he sees Attend a board meeting during the coming year. You might find
only infrequently in eastern hog-nosed snakes. Clearly visible in this to your surprise that you actually enjoy it. Think about it.
photo at the rear of the upper jaw is the enlarged tooth that gives this
genus the nam e H eterodon (= “different tooth”).

196
Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 44(12):197, 2009

Herpetology 2009
In this column the editorial staff presents short abstracts of herpetological articles we have found of interest. This is not an attempt
to summarize all of the research papers being published; it is an attempt to increase the reader’s awareness of what herpetologists
have been doing and publishing. The editor assumes full responsibility for any errors or misleading statements.

BURMESE PYTHON AS A FULL SPECIES NATTERJACKS IN LUXEMBOURG

H. J. Jacobs et al. [2009, Sauria 31(3):5-16] reassess the taxo- A. C. Frantz et al. [2009, The Herpetological Journal 19(2):
nomic status of the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) 53-59] report that the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) has expe-
and elevate it to specific rank again. The population from rienced a dramatic decline in Luxembourg over the last 100
Sulawesi, Indonesia, is a dwarf form of this giant snake that is years. Today, only two remnant populations are known. This
redefined as a new subspecies, Python bivittatus progschai [in study examined their genetic constitution at 10 microsatellite
German] loci in order to assess the genetic risk from isolation and in-
breeding to the species’ long-term survival in the country.
HABITAT SELECTION BY FLORIDA COACHWHIPS Genetic diversity in both populations was relatively high, and no
evidence was found for inbreeding. However, the natterjack
B. J. Halstead et al. [2009, Herpetologica 65(3):268-279] note
toads have experienced a recent reduction in their effective
that the use of space by individual animals strongly influences
population sizes, and there was no evidence of recent gene flow
the spatial extent, abundance, and growth rates of their popula-
between the two localities. The main short-term objective of
tions. This study analyzed the spatial ecology and habitat selec-
conservation measures should be to increase population sizes by
tion of Masticophis flagellum (the coachwhip) at three different
continuous safeguarding and management of the two sites.
scales to determine which habitats are most important to this
species. Home ranges and mean daily displacements of M.
SIZE DIMORPHISM IN BULLSNAKES
flagellum in Florida were large compared to individuals in other
populations of this species. Home ranges contained a greater J. M. Kapfer [2009, Herpetological Conservation and Biology
proportion of Florida scrub habitat than did the study site as a 4(3):353-357] notes that many studies exist on the evolutionary
whole, and individuals selected Florida scrub habitat within significance of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in reptiles. Yet,
their home ranges. For both selection of the home range within this phenomenon has received little attention in members of the
the study site and selection of habitats within the home range, snake genus Pituophis. The author investigated if SSD occurs
mesic cutthroat and hydric swamp habitats were avoided. Stan- in bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) sampled at a site in
dardized selection ratios of Florida scrub patches were posi- southwestern Wisconsin, by analyzing adult length and calculat-
tively correlated with lizard abundance. Several non-mutually ing the Sexual Dimorphism Index (SDI) for individuals encoun-
exclusive mechanisms, including foraging success (prey abun- tered from 2003 to 2005. Male length in the study population
dance, prey vulnerability, and foraging efficiency), abundance of was statistically larger than female length. Where possible, the
refugia, and thermoregulatory opportunity may underlie the author also calculated SDI for sizes reported by other studies on
selection of Florida scrub by M. flagellum. Historic rarity and members of this genus. The calculated SDI had a male bias in
anthropogenic loss and fragmentation of Florida scrub habitat, 75% of these other studies. The male bias found in the author’s
coupled with the long-distance movements, large home ranges, sample was greater than the values calculated for other pub-
and selection of Florida scrub by M. flagellum, indicate that lished reports on Pituophis species and subspecies.
large contiguous tracts of land containing Florida scrub will be
essential for the persistence of M. flagellum in central Florida. SYSTEMATICS OF THE GENUS HYLA

X. Hua et al. [2009, Herpetologica 65(3):246-259] note that the

HOW MALE SALAMANDERS REMEMBER INTRUDERS
treefrog genus Hyla consists of at least 31 species found in North
N. R. Kohn and R. G. Jaeger [2009, Behaviour 146(11):1485- and Central America, Europe and Asia. Despite intensive work
1498] note that the use of multiple cues can enhance the detec- on the phylogeny of the genus in the past few years, several
tion, recognition, discrimination, and memorability of individu- problems still exist regarding relationships within Hyla. These
als. The authors conducted two experiments, using only males, problems include the unusual placements of H. gratiosa and H.
to test whether territorial red-backed salamanders, Plethodon walkeri in some recent studies and the relatively limited taxon
cinereus, could use only chemical or only visual cues to remem- sampling of Asian species. This study revisits the phylogeny of
ber familiar conspecifics. In both experiments, focal males Hyla to address some of these problems. The unexpected place-
spent significantly more time threatening unfamiliar than famil- ments of H. gratiosa and H. walkeri were tested by sampling
iar male intruders. They also chemoinvestigated the filter paper additional individuals of these species. The unusual placements
containing chemical cues of unfamiliar intruders more often than of H. gratiosa and H. walkeri in previous studies were most
that of familiar intruders. These results suggest that red-backed likely due to a mislabelled tissue sample and a misidentified
salamanders can use both chemical and visual cues to recognize specimen, respectively. Two species of Asian Hyla were includ-
familiar individuals, allowing them to distinguish between less ed in this study that had not been included in previous phyloge-
threatening neighbours and more threatening intruders in the nies. This study provides additional evidence for two separate
heterogeneous forest floor habitat, where visual cues alone colonizations of Hyla from the New World into Asia, and sug-
would not always be available. gests an unusual biogeographic pattern in the Asian Hyla clades.

197
 Unofficial Minutes of the CHS Board Meeting, November 13, 2009

The meeting was called to order at 7:37 P.M. at the Schaumburg Old Business
Public Library. Board members Dan Bavirsha and Brad Trost
CHS Library: Mark Ericson has volunteered to organize our
were absent.
library and create a database. This is much appreciated.

Officers’ Reports
New Business
Recording Secretary: Cindy Rampacek read the minutes of the
A lively discussion ensued regarding the need for a position
October 16 board meeting, minor corrections were made and the
statement on the current legislative action and movement
minutes were accepted.
against the herp industry. Cindy presented a very basic state-
Treasurer: Andy Malawy presented the financial reports, minor ment her rescue has used when needed. Rich Crowley offered
questions were raised and the reports were accepted. to put something together to start with.

Membership Secretary: Mike Dloogatch shared the names of Linda has purchased some snake window-clings that she thinks
recently expired members with the board. Mike feels member- should sell well at ’Fest.
ship will stay level for this month.
Round Table
Vice-president: Jason Hood raised the question of a food bud-
get for the December holiday meeting. After discussion, Aaron Bob Bavirsha assisted an animal control officer in Kankakee
LaForge moved that we allot $200 for the food for the Decem- with a rescue of a 7-foot starved tiger retic.
ber meeting. Andy Malawy seconded the motion. The motion
Linda offered thanks Bob Henderson and the Milwaukee Public
passed unanimously.
Museum for treating the CHS so well at the November 7 Snake
Corresponding Secretary: Deb Krohn asked for Matt Goode’s Day event.
.
mailing address so she could send a thank-you note. Deb is
Cindy shared the story of the USF&W officer in Florida who
working on the MHS thank-you notes as well.
lost the alligator with its mouth taped shut.
Publications Secretary: Aaron did not do any work on the logo.
The CHS owes a debt of gratitude to Mike Dreslik and Jennifer
Jason mentioned that a many spammers have been attepting to
Mui of the Illinois Natural History Survey for the donation of
intrude on our forum. Aaron has updated the grants page.
the wonderful species cards and laminated Illinois Herp posters.
Sergeant-at-arms: In Dan Bavirsha’s absence it was reported
Mike Dloogatch mentioned the possibility of a board meeting at
that there were 58 people at the October meeting.
The Grove in Glenview next year.

Committee Reports The meeting adjourned at 8:52 P.M.

Shows: Respectfully submitted by recording secretary Cindy Rampacek

• Great Lakes Pet Expo, Saturday, February 6, 2010
• Project Exploration Dinner with a Dinosaur, March 12, 2010

Garfield Park Conservatory “Creatures of the Night,” October

31, went well. John Archer, Bob Bavirsha, Dick Buchholz and
Jenny Vollman and Bob did it and enjoyed it.

198
Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 44(12):199-201, 2009

Index to Scientific Names of Amphibians and Reptiles for Volume 44 (2009)

January 1-16 April 53-68 July 105-124 October 149-160
February 17-36 May 69-84 August 125-136 November 161-180
March 37-52 June 85-104 September 137-148 December 181-204

Ablepharus kitabelii 49 Boa augusti 109, 191 Diadophis

Acanthophis 93 constrictor 44, 111 hobartsmithi 109 punctatus 112
antarcticus 88, 89, 125-128 imperator 186, 190, 192 occidentalis 109 regalis 23
pyrrhus 127 Boiga rhodopis 109 Diaglena spatulata 109
wellsi 127 dendrophila 44 vocalis 109 Dicamptodon aterrimus 177
Actinemys marmorata 49 irregularis 89 Crinia Dipsas gaigeae 107, 112
Agkistrodon Bothriechis schlegelii 50 georgiana 122 Dipsosaurus dorsalis 50
bilineatus 113 Bufo glauerti 122 Dispholidus typus 98
taylori 187, 190 americanus 121 insignifera 122 Dogania subplana 32
Alligator mississippiensis 120 boreas boreas 66 Crocodylus Dolichophis 49
Ambystoma 13 calamita 197 acutus 113, 176 Drymarchon
flavipiperatum 110 marinus 65, 92 moreletii 187, 188, 191 couperi 176
jeffersonianum 13, 133, 166, 178 viridis 49, 65 niloticus 120 melanurus 112
laterale 133 Caimanops amphiboluroides 114-115 Crotalus erebennus 23, 24, 186, 190, 192
maculautum 121 Calotes grandisquamis 170 adamanteus 45 Drymobius
mavortium 110 Cannia 93 aquilus 132 margaritiferus 112
Ameiva undulata 111, 186 australis 91, 126 atrox 23, 24, 72, 73, 74, 187, 192 margaritiferus 23, 24, 186, 189,
Amphiuma means 56 Caretta caretta 132, 185, 187, 192 basiliscus 113 190
Amyda cartilaginea 12 Carphophis amoenus 116-117 cerastes 50 Drysdalia coronoides 88
Anatolacerta oertzeni 49 Chalcides ocellatus 49 horridus 161-165 Ecnomiohyla
Anaxyrus Chamaeleo chamaeleon 49 lannomi 107, 113 miotympanum 23, 24, 186, 191
compactilis 109 Chelonia mydas 113, 132, 187, 192 lepidus 113 rabborum 32
punctatus 109 Chelydra serpentina 118 lepidus 23, 24 Elaphe obsoleta 66
Anniella 32 Chiropterotriton chiropterus 110 molossus 113 Eleutherodactylus
Anolis Chrysemys molossus 23, 24 augusti 23
nebulosus 111 picta 32 polystictus 113 cystignathoides
rodriguezii 111 marginata 177 pusillus 113 campi 23, 24
schmidti 111 Clelia scytalina 111 scutulatus 113 cystignathoides 186
sericus 186 Coleonyx elegans 110 totonacus 23, 24, 25, 26, 187, 190 guttilatus 186, 191
Ascaphus truei 57 Coluber triseriatus 113 latrans 191
Aspidoscelis 106 bilineatus 111 Cryptophis 93 modestus 109
communis 111 constrictor 157 nigrescens 88, 92 nitidus 109
costata 111 oaxaca 23, 24, 186, 190 Ctenophorus reticulatus 114-115 nivicolimae 109
deppii 111 flagellum 111 Ctenosaura saxatilis 109
gularis gularis 23 testaceus 186, 190, 192 acanthura 43, 186 Elgaria
lineatissima 111 mentovarius 111 bakeri 50 coerulea 42
sackii 111 mentovarius 186, 188, 190 hemilopha 43 kingii 110
scalaris 111 schotti 187, 192 macrolopha 42-43 multicarinata 42
gularis 186, 188, 192 ruthveni 23 pectinata 43, 110 Emydoidea blandingii 12, 28-29, 143
sexlineata 165 taeniatus 111 similis 43 Enhydris
tesselata 111 Coniophanes Cuora amboinensis 12, 32 bocourti 49
Astrochelys radiata 122 imperialis imperialis 186, 188, 190 Cyclemys dentata 32 enhydris 49
Austrelaps 93, 126 lateritius 111 Cylindrophis ruffus 49 longicauda 49
labialis 88 Conophis Dendrelaphis punctulatus 89 Enulius flavitorques 112
ramseyi 87, 88 lineatus 111 Dendroaspis Epicrates
superbus 87, 88 vittatus 111 angusticeps 174 alvarezi 65
Azemiops feae 99 Conopsis polylepis 174 assisi 65
Barisia imbricata 110 biserialis 112 Dendropsophus cenchria 65
Basiliscus vittatus 110 lineatus 112 microcephalus 109 alvarezi 65
Batagur baska 12 nasus 112 sartori 109 assisi 65
Bitis Corallus Denisonia devisi 87, 91 barbouri 65
arietans 174 batesii 176 Dermochelys cenchria 65, 120
gabonica 173 caninus 176 coriacea 113, 185, 187, 192 crassus 65
Blanus strauchi 49 Craugastor 106 Desmognathus ochrophaeus 166 gaigei 65

199
 hygrophilus 65 chrysoscelis 58 mexicanus 23, 24 scutatus 88, 125
maurus 65 eximia 109 septentrionalis 187, 189, 190 Notophthalmus
polylepis 65 gratiosa 197 Leptotyphlops meridionalis 185, 191
crassus 65 versicolor 32, 50, 58, 121 humilis 113 perstriatus 138-139
gaigei 65 walkeri 197 myopicus 187, 192 viridescens 177
hygrophilus 65 Hynobius tokyoensis 13 myopicus 23 piaropicola 138-139
maurus 65 Hypopachus variolosus 109, 186, 189 Leucocephalon yuwonoi 12 Ollotis nebulifer 23, 24, 25
polylepis 65 Hypsiglena Lithobates 106 Opheodrys aestivus 23, 187, 190
Eretmochelys chlorophaea 157 berlandieri 23, 24, 109, 186, 191 Ophiophagus hannah 169-171
imbricata 113, 121, 157 torquata 112 catesbeianus 186, 191 Ophisaurus incomptus 186, 191
imbricata 187, 192 Iguana chiricahuensis 110 Ophisops elegans 49
Erpeton tentaculatum 49 iguana 110, 119, 134, 142, 192 clamitans 1 Oxybelis aeneus 112, 187, 190
Eryx 119, 120 Imantodes forreri 110 Oxyuranus microlepidotus 98, 99
Eublepharis macularius 119 cenchoa magnaocularis 110 Pachymedusa dacnicolor 109
Eurycea 121 leucomelas 187, 189, 190, 191 megapoda 110 Pantherophis
Exerodonta smaragdina 109 gemmistratus 112 montezumae 110 bairdi 23
Ficimia Incilius neovolcanicus 110 emoryi 23, 24, 187, 189, 190
publia 112 marmoreus 109 pustulosus 110 guttata 143
streckeri 23, 187, 188, 190 mazatlanensis 109 zweifeli 110 obsoletus 2, 120
Gastrophryne nebulifer 186, 189, 191 Litoria Pelamis platurus 113
elegans 186, 191 occidentalis 109 adelaidensis 122 Pelochelys cantorii 12, 32
usta 109 perplexus 109 moorei 122 Pelodiscus sinensis 12, 32
Gehrya mutilata 110 Indotestudo forstenii 12 Loxocemus bicolor 113 Pelophylax cerigensis 49
Geochelone elegans 120 Kinosternon Mabuya unimarginata 111 Pholidobolus montium 167-168
Geophis chimalhuaca 113 Malayemys subtrijuga 12 Phyllodactylus
bicolor 107, 112 herrerai 113, 187, 192 Malpolon monspessulanus 49 lanei 110
dugesii 112 hirtipes 113 Manolepis putnami 112 tuberculosus 110
semidoliatus 112 integrum 113 Masticophis flagellum 197 Phrynomantis bifasciatus 46, 47
Gerrhonotus scorpioides 113, 187, 192 Mastigodryas Phrynosoma
coeruleus pricipis 42 subrubrum 49 cliftoni 112 asio 110
infernalis 23, 24 Kurixalus eiffingeri 65 melanolomus 112 cornutum 187
liocephalus 110 Lacerta trilineata 49 Mauremys rivulata 49 modestum 23
multicarinatus 42 Lachesis muta rhombeata 85-86 Mediodactylus kotschyi 49 orbiculare 110
Gopherus Laemanctus serratus serratus 186, 192 Megalania prisca 99 Physalaemus
agassizii 66 Lampropeltis Micrurus enesefae 132
berlandieri 187, 192 getula 98 distans 113 pustulosus 132
polyphemus 176 alterna 23, 24 laticollaris 113 Pituophis
Heloderma triangulum 112 nigrocinctus 113 catenifer
horridum 110 annulata 187, 190 tamaulipensis 187, 189, 192 sayi 13, 187, 189, 190, 197
suspectum 99 campbelli 120 tener deppei 112
Hemidactylium scutatum 46 triangulum 98 maculatus 187, 190 melanoleucus lodingi 121
Hemidactylus zonata 44 microgalbineus 187 Platyceps najadum 49
frenatus 110, 186, 188 Laudakia stellio 49 tener 23, 24 Plectrohyla thorectes 109
turcicus 49 Leiopython albertisii 119, 120 Morelia 126 Plestiodon
Hemorrhois nummifer 49 Lepidochelys mcdowelli 89, 91 brevirostris 111
Heosemys kempii 187, 192 metcalfei 88 dicei 186, 192
annandalii 12 olivacea 113, 134 spilota 88, 91, 127 pineus 23, 24, 25
spinosa 32 Lepidophyma Naja ashei 174 copei 111
Hesperotestudo 63 sylvaticum 23, 26, 186, 192 Natrix dugesii 111
Heterodon Leptodactylus natrix 49 lynxe 111
nasicus 19 fragilis 23, 186 tessellata 49 parvulus 111
platirhinos 17-20 melanotus 109, 186 Nectophrynoides asperginis 46-48 tetragrammus 111
Holbrookia Leptodeira 192 Necturus maculosus maculosus 38-41 tetragrammus 186
maculata 110 annulata cussiliris 187, 189, 190 Nerodia Plethodon cinereus 177, 197
propinqua propinqua 186, 188, 192 maculata 112 erythrogaster erythrogaster 157 Podarcis
Homalopsis buccata 49 septentrionalis 112 rhombifer blanchardi 187, 189, 190 filfolensis 134
Hoplodactylus maculatus 66 septentrionalis 23, 187, 189, 190 sipedon 132 kieselbachi 134
Hyla 197 splendida 112 insularum 178 Pogona vitticeps 155
arborea 49 Leptophis Ninia sebae 112 Pseudacris
arenicolor 109 diplotropis 112 Notechis 93, 94, 125, 126 regilla 178

200
 triseriata maculata 57 Rhinoclemmys fodiens 109 rutiloris 190, 192
Pseudechis 93, 94, 126 pulcherrima 113 Sonora sauritus sauritus 1-3
porphyriacus 88 rubida 113 michoacanensis 112 scalaris 112
Pseudelaphe Rhinophrynus dorsalis 187, 191 semiannulata 112 scaliger 112
flavirufa flavirufa 187, 189 Salvadora semiannulata 23 sirtalis 3, 54, 112, 157
Pseudis paradoxa 176 bairdi 112 Spea semifasciatus 120
Pseudoeurycea grahamiae lineata 23 bombifrons 177 sirtalis 37, 137-138
bellii 110 mexicana 112 hammondii 109 sumichrasti 112
cephalica 186, 191 Scaphiopus couchii 109, 186, 191 multiplicata 109, 177 validus 112
sulcata 191 Sceloporus 106 Sphenodon punctatus 66 Thecadactylus rapicaudus 110
Pseudoficimia frontalis 112 aeneus 110 Sphenomorphus assatus 111 Tiliqua 118
Pseudoleptodeira bulleri 110 Spilotes rugosa 155
latifasciata 112 clarkii 110 pullatus mexicanus 185, 187 Tlalocohyla
uribei 107, 112 cyanogenys 186 Storeria picta 109
Pseudonaja 93, 94 dugesii 110 dekayi 137 smithii 109
nuchalis 91 grammicus 110 texana 187, 189, 190 Trachemys
textilis 88 disparilis 23, 24 hidalgoensis 23 elegans 62, 63
Pseudopus apodus 49 tamaulipensis 186 storeroides 112 scripta 12, 142
Pseustes poecilonotus 120 heterolepis 110 Suta elegans 32, 177, 187, 192
Ptyas mucosus 170 horridus 111 dwyeri 92 terrepen 62
Ptychadena 46 insignis 111 flagellum 88, 91, 92 venusta cataspila 187
Python jarrovi cyaneus 23, 24 Symphimus leucostomus 112 Trachycephalus
bivittatus progschai 197 marmoratus 23, 24 Sympholis lippiens 112 venulosus 109, 186, 189, 191
molurus bivittatus 45, 55, 120, 197 melanorhinus 111 Syrrhophus longipes 23 Trachylepis aurata 49
regius 53-55, 119, 120 nelsoni 111 Tantilla Trimeresurus malabaricus 170
reticulatus 55 olivaceus 23, 186 atriceps 23 Trimorphodon
Pyxicephalus adspersus 46 poinsettii 111 bocourti 112 biscutatus 112
Rafetus euphraticus 13 pyrocephalus 111 calamarina 112 tau 112
Ramphotyphlops braminus 113 scalaris 111 rubra 23 tau 23
Rana serrifer cyanogenys 23, 24 Telescopus Tropidechis 126
boylii 178 siniferus 111 dhara 98 Tropidodipsas
capito 157 spinosus 111 fallax 49 annulifera 112
catesbeiana 65, 178 torquatus 111 Terrapene fasciata fasciata 185, 187
clamitans 1 binocularis 23, 24 carolina mexicana 187, 192 philippi 112
luteiventris 65 uniformis 111 Testudo sartorii sartorii 23, 187, 190
ornativentris 13 variabilis 111, 186, 192 graeca 49, 50 Tympanocryptis lineata 129-130
pipiens 121 Scinax staufferi staufferi 186 hermanni 49 Typhlops vermicularis 49
pretiosa 13 Scincella Thamnophis 106, 192 Urosaurus
sylvatica 122 silvicola caudaequinae 23, 24 couchii 132 bicarinatus 111
yavapaiensis 178 Senticolis cyrtopsis 112 graciosus 111
Rhabdophis tigrinus 99 triaspis 112 elegans 112 ornatus 111
Rhacophorus arboreus 13 intermedia 187, 189 elegans 132 Urspelerpes brucei 121
Rhadinea Shinisaurus crocodilurus 99 terrestris 132 Varanus
forbesi 112 Sibon nebulata 112 eques 112 komodoensis 99
hesperia 112 Siebenrockiella leytensis 32 godmani 112 mitchelli 99
laureata 112 Simoselaps australis 91 marcianus marcianus 187, 189, 190 priscus 99
montana 23, 24 Siren melanogaster 112 varius 99
taeniata 112 intermedia 191 ordinoides 132 Xantusia sanchezi 111
Rhampholeon brevicaudatus 46 lacertina 56 proximus 187, 189, 190, 192 Xenochrophis piscator 49
Rhinella marina 109, 186 Smilisca diabolicus 190, 192 Zamenis situla 49
Rhinocheilus baudinii 23, 24, 109, 186, 189, 191 orarius 190, 192
lecontei tessellatus 72, 73, 74 dentata 109 proximus 37

201
 Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 44(12):202-203, 2009

Author Q
S Title Index for Volume 44 (2009)

January 1-16 April 53-68 July 105-124 October 149-160

February 17-36 May 69-84 August 125-136 November 161-180
March 37-52 June 85-104 September 137-148 December 181-204

Aaberg, N. Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Archer, J. Laws Pertaining to Reptiles and Amphibians in Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Archer, J. What You Missed at the December CHS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Archer, J. What You Missed at the January CHS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Archer, J. Showtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Archer, J. What You Missed at the February CHS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Archer, J. What You Missed at the March CHS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Archer, J. What You and I Missed at the April CHS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Archer, J. What You Missed at the May CHS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Archer, J. What You Missed at the June CHS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Archer, J. What You and I Missed at the July Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Archer, J. What You Missed at the August Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Archer, J. What You Missed at the September Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Archer, J. What You Missed at the October Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Arlen, Rob I Know They're Out There—I Can Hear Them Breeding! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Barker, D. G., and T. M. Barker Review: Reducing the Risks of the Wildlife Trade by K. F. Smith, M. Behrens, L. M. Schloegel,
N. Maranao, S. Burgiel and P. Daszak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Beane, J. C. Notes on a Dicephalic Eastern Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus sauritus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Burger, R. M. Notes on a Bite by a Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Castañeda, G.. See Lazcano, D.
Chávez-Cisneros, J. A. See Lazcano, D.
Chiszar, D., and H. M. Smith Critical Thinking about Ball Pythons: The Pythonophilia of the Barkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Christy, B. Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Cochran, P. A., and S. J. Schmitt Use of Remote Cameras to Monitor Rock Ledge Microhabitat of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus
horridus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Contreras-Lozano, J. A. See Lazcano, D.
Crawford, B. A. See Schalk, C. M.
Cruz-Sáenz, D., S. Guerrero, D. Lazcano and J. Téllez-López Notes on the Herpetofauna of Western Mexico 1: An Update on
the Herpetofauna of the State of Jalisco, Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Cruz-Sáenz, D., D. Lazcano, S. Guerrero and J. Téllez-López Notes on the Herpetofauna of Western Mexico 2: Distribution
Patterns of Reptiles in the Mexican State of Jalisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Dloogatch, M. What You Missed at the November Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Farr, W. L. See Lazcano, D.
Fogel, D. Breaking the Rules: Unusual Feeding Patterns in Healthy, Captive Born and Raised Common Boa Constrictors (Boa
constrictor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Gallardo-Valdez, J.. See Lazcano, D.
García del Peña, C. See Lazcano, D.
Goldberg, S. R. Note on Reproduction of the Sonoran Spiny-tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura macrolopha (Squamata: Iguanidae) . . . . 42
Goldberg, S. R. Notes on Reproduction of Imantodes cenchoa, Imantodes gemmistratus and Imantodes inornatus (Serpentes:
Colubridae) from Costa Rica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Goldberg, S. R. Notes on Reproduction of the Mulga Dragon, Caimanops amphiboluroides, and the Western Netted Dragon,
Ctenophorus reticulatus, (Squamata: Agamidae) from Western Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Goldberg, S. R. Note on Reproduction of the Lined Earless Dragon, Tympanocryptis lineata (Squamata: Agamidae), from Australia 129
Goldberg, S. R. Note on Reproduction of Pholidobolus montium (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . 167

202
Gray, B. S. A Serpentes Prelude: Carphophis amoenus, Eastern Worm Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Gray, B. S. Anomalous Scutellation in an Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, from Erie County, Pennsylvania . . 137
Gray, B. S. Aberrant Pattern in the Allegheny Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) from Erie County, Pennsylvania . 166
Guerrero, S. See Cruz-Sáenz, D.
Hoser, R. How Fast Can You Crawl? Mobility and the Distribution of Snakes in Southeast Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Hoser, R. Death Adders (Acanthophis antarcticus) Are Almost Certainly Not Part of Victoria’s Snake Fauna . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Kardon, A. See Lazcano, D.
Koch, C. The Year of the Hognose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
LaClaire, L. V. See Wallace, M. P.
Lavín-Murcio, P. A.. See Lazcano, D.
Lazcano, D., J. A. Contreras-Lozano, J. Gallardo-Valdez, C. García del Peña and G. Castañeda Notes on Mexican
Herpetofauna 11: Herpetological Diversity in Sierra “Cerro de La Silla” (Saddleback Mountain), Nuevo León, Mexico . . . . . 21
Lazcano, D., M. A. Salinas-Camarena and J. A. Contreras-Lozano Notes on Mexican Herpetofauna 12: Are Roads in Nuevo
León, Mexico, Taking Their Toll on Snake Populations? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Lazcano, D., W. L. Farr, P. A. Lavín-Murcio, J. A. Contreras-Lozano, A. Kardon, S. Narváez-Torres and J. A. Chávez-Cisneros
Notes on Mexican Herpetofauna 13: DORs in the Municipality of Aldama, Tamaulipas, Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Lazcano, D. See also Cruz-Sáenz, D.
Lee, D. S. Can You Really Tell the Age of a Turtle from Its Growth Rings? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Lee, D. S. Book Review: Turtles of the United States and Canada (Second edition) by Carl H. Ernst and Jeffrey E. Lovich . . . . 153
Luhring, T. M. See Schalk, C. M.
McCarthy, S. Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Narváez-Torres, S.. See Lazcano, D.
Novotny, R. Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Rajan, Y. T. I Smell . . . ADVENTURE! Hands-on Herping Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Salinas-Camarena, M. A. See Lazcano, D.
Schalk, C. M., B. A. Crawford and T. M. Luhring A Note on Predation of the Greater Siren (Siren lacertina) . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Schmitt, S. J. See Cochran, P. A.
Smith, H. M. See Chiszar, D.
Souza, R. Endurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Stevenson, D. J. See Wallace, M. P.
Téllez-López, J. See Cruz-Sáenz, D.
Wallace, M. P., Sr., D. J. Stevenson and L. V. LaClaire Captive Longevity and Size Records for the Peninsula Newt
(Notophthalmus viridescens piaropicola) and Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Wellington, R. J. An Overview of Concerns and Issues Relating to the Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus maculosus, in Lake Erie /
Presque Isle Bay, Erie County, Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Wheeler, D. G. The Everglades Python: More Fun Than Disney World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

203
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wildlife tours to adventure travel, led by internationally acclaimed herpers and naturalists. Visit our website <http://www.greentracks.com> or call (800)
892-1035, E-mail: info@greentracks.com

Line ads in this publication are run free for CHS members --- $2 per line for nonmembers. Any ad may be
refused at the discretion of the Editor. Submit ads to: Michael Dloogatch, 6048 N. Lawndale Avenue,
Chicago IL 60659, (773) 588-0728 evening telephone, (312) 782-2868 fax, E-mail: MADadder0@aol.com

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UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next meeting of the Chicago Herpetological Society will be held at 7:30 P.M ., Wednesday, December 30, at the Peggy
Notebaert Nature Museum, Cannon Drive and Fullerton Parkway, in Chicago. This meeting will be a holiday party.
The CHS will provide soft drinks and snacks. If you would like to bring something edible to share with the group, you
are invited to do so. If you would like to bring an animal to show off to the group, you are encouraged to do that as well.
This will be a chance to socialize all evening and get to know your fellow members a little better.
Ray Pawley will speak at the January 27, 2010, meeting. Ray is a retired curator of reptiles at Brookfield Zoo, who now
makes his home near Hondo, New Mexico. Ray will speak about some of his experiences raising Galapagos tortoises at
Brookfield and some questions that were left unanswered. In his own words, “While lectures are basically informative
(period), this topic is unique in that the audience will be informed AND will hear about some intriguing unanswered
questions that arose while we were raising Galapagos tortoises at Brookfield Zoo. The goal of this talk is to share with
the audience what we learned in hopes that some individual(s) might want to seek some answers through their own
initiative.”
The regular monthly meetings of the Chicago Herpetological Society take place at Chicago’s newest museum --- the Peggy
Notebaert Nature Museum. This beautiful building is at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive, directly across Fullerton
from the Lincoln Park Zoo. Meetings are held the last Wednesday of each month, from 7:30 P.M . through 9:30 P.M .
Parking is free on Cannon Drive. A plethora of CTA buses stop nearby.
Board of Directors Meeting
Are you interested in how the decisions are made that determine how the Chicago Herpetological Society runs? And
would you like to have input into those decisions? If so, mark your calendar for the next board meeting, to be held at 7:30
P .M ., December 18, in the adult meeting room on the second floor of the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S.
Roselle Road, Schaumburg.
The Chicago Turtle Club
The monthly meetings of the Chicago Turtle Club are informal; questions, children and animals are welcome. Meetings
normally take place at the North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski, in Chicago. Parking is free. For more info
visit the CTC website: http://www.geocities.com/~chicagoturtle.

THE ADVENTURES OF SPOT

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Paid at Chicago IL

CHICAGO HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Affiliated with the Chicago Academy of Sciences

2430 North Cannon Drive • Chicago, Illinois 60614