Herp Conservation Class '03 Goes To SREL!

Photograph by JD Willson

On October 17 & 18, 2003, Dr. Michael Dorcas and his Amphibian and Reptile Conservation class went to the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab to do some herping (hunting amphibians and reptiles). We arrived early Friday evening and checked minnow traps behind the Conference Center. As we finished with the traps, we met up with JD Willson, a Davidson Herp Lab alum currently working at SREL. Saturday began early – 7:30 AM – and after the morning haze burned off we had lots of success. Between the drift fence at Ellenton Bay, coverboards, and a swamp, 23 species were found that day, including: 2 cottonmouths a few feet apart, 2 canebrake rattlers, 2 Kinosternon, 2 kingsnakes, 3 racers, and a scarlet king!


Many thanks to J. Whitfield Gibbons for arranging the logistics of the trip and to JD for going into the field with us.

Species List:

(Pictures of some species can be seen directly below the species name. Pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them)

Amphibians
Southern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera)
Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)

Photograph by Pierson Hill
White-Spotted Slimy Salamander (Plethodon chlorobryonis)
Green/Bronze Frog (Rana clamitans)
Southern Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus)
Eastern Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)
Southern Leopard Frog (Rana utricularia)
Barking Tree Frog (Hyla gratiosa)

Photograph by Bill Johnson
Bull Frog (Rana catesbeiana)

Reptiles
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)
Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)
Six-lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus)

Photograph by Pierson Hill
Racer (Coluber constrictor)
Scarlet Kingsnake/Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Photograph by Pierson Hill
Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)

Photograph by Pierson Hill
Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)

Photograph by Pierson Hill
Carolina Swamp Snake (Seminatrix pygaea)

Photograph by Pierson Hill
Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Photograph by Pierson Hill
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Photograph by Pierson Hill Photograph by Michael Dorcas
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Photograph by Bill Johnson
Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon bauri)

Human Specimens

Yes, we did take pictures of some interesting humanoids that were encountered.

Photograph by J.D. Willson Photograph by Andrew Pickens Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson

Our vehicles sometimes

became crowded...

...Forcing Pierson to ride

on the hood!

Monica showing off

her captured Thamnophis

Dr. Dorcas imparts some

wisdom to the group

 

Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson

Swamp Search!!

Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson

Up Close and Personal with Small Gators
Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson

It's getting late - where are

JD, Pierson, and Julie?

To kill time, Danielle tames

the Scarlet King...

 ...While Chris, Ben, and Dr. Dorcas toss the disc.

More Cool Herp Pics

Photograph by Pierson Hill
Photograph by Pierson Hill
Photograph by Pierson Hill
Photograph by Pierson Hill
Two Cottonmouths! Pierson's First Rattler Baby King Scarlet King

 

Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson

Can you guess why they're called Cottonmouths?

 Canebrake!! We went to see Stump.... ...And Mrs. Stump

 

Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson
Stump was looking for food.... Dinner was Carolina Dingo...

He didn't want to eat in front of us..

But, Mrs. Stump wouldn't leave him to eat in peace.

 

 
Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson Photograph by Bill Johnson

The Alligator Snapper just returning home...

 ...He's a little cranky.

This gratiosa was calm as

could be...

 ...And photogenic.

 

Back to Herp Lab Field Trips

Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory

Department of Biology