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DEPARTMENT OF HERPETOLOGY
THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF MARYLAND, INC.
MDHS . A Founder Member of the Eastern
Seaboard Herpetological League
JUNE 2008
VOLUME 44 NUMBER 2
li)UL2 02008
BULLETIN OF THE MARYLAND HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
CONTENTS
Factors Influencing the Distribution of Overwintered Bullfrog Tadpoles {Rana catesbeiana) in
Two Small Ponds
Stephanie E. Hargis, Mary -Katherine Harr, Christopher J. Henderson,
Walter J. Kim, and Geoffrey R. Smith . . . ....39
Note on Reproduction of two species of microteiid lizards, Leposoma southi and Ptychoglossus
plicatus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae)
Stephen R. Goldberg . . . 42
Note on Reproduction of the Sonoran Leaf-toed Gecko, Phyllodactylus homolepidurus
(Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Sonora, Mexico
Stephen R. Goldberg . . . . . . . . 46
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Erie County, Pennsylvania
Brian S. Gray and Mark Lethaby . . . . . 49
BULLETIN OF THE
mM)8
Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
The Maryland Herpetological Society
Department of Herpetology, Natural History Society of Maryland, Inc.
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Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Factors Influencing the Distribution of Overwintered Bullfrog
Tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana) in Two Small Ponds
Abstract.
We studied the effects of vegetation, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and depth on the
distribution of overwintered bullfrog tadpoles, Rana catesbeiana , during the early spring within
two small ponds (Spring Peeper Pond and Okie Minnow Pond) in central Ohio. Vegetation and
water temperature significantly influenced tadpole distribution in Olde Minnow Pond, whereas
oxygen significantly influenced tadpole distribution in Spring Peeper Pond. Water depth did not
affect tadpole distribution in either pond.
In more northern populations, American bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana ) typically
overwinter. Some observations suggest that bullfrog tadpoles shift their habitat use as they grow
from the shallows along a pond’s edge when small to the deeper waters at the center of a pond when
larger (e.g., Werner, 1992; Smith and Rettig, 1996). We investigated the distribution of overwintered
American bullfrog tadpoles within two small ponds in central Ohio, USA during the early Spring.
We were particularly interested in determining if various physical and biotic characteristics could
explain variation in tadpole distributions within and between these ponds. Within-pond distributions
of anuran larvae can be a function of water depth, presence of aquatic vegetation, substrate type,
dissolved oxygen content, and temperature (e.g., Noland and Ultsch, 1981; Alford, 1986; Warkentin,
1992; Nie et aL, 1999; Ultsch et al., 1999; Smith et ah, 2003).
The two ponds we investigated. Spring Peeper Pond and Olde Minnow Pond, are located
on the Denison University Biological Reserve, Granville, Licking Co., Ohio, USA (40°05’00N,
82°31’05”W; elevation = 308 m asl). The ponds are separated by 100 m. In a typical year, Spring
Peeper dries up in late August or early September after a summer drought which typically lasts
from June through August; however for 2 or 3 years prior to this study, Spring Peeper had not dried
up and held water year round. Olde Minnow is a permanent pond. Both ponds are supplied by
springs and run-off, and are known to support several amphibian species (Schultz and Mick, 1998;
Smith et ah, 2003).
We collected information on abiotic variables and bullfrog tadpole distributions once a
week from 25 March to 1 1 April 2006. Each week we sampled up to 13 sites around the perimeter
of each pond. We assumed that because of temporal changes in the pond and time between samples
that the samples from different dates were independent (see Smith et al, 2003). We thus pooled
data within each pond for our analyses.
In order to estimate the abundance of tadpoles at each site, We used dipnets to complete
3 1m long sweeps at each site, with ample time between sweeps to allow for tadpoles to return to
the site. The number of tadpoles was recorded after each series of sweeps. Vegetative cover for each
site was visually estimated using a pre-determmed scale from Ito 5, with 1 denoting no vegetation,
and 5 denoting dense vegetation. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature were measured at each
site using a YSI 550 A meter. Each of these measurements was taken halfway between the surface
of the water and the bottom of the pond. Depth was measured using a meter stick. Regression
analyses were used to examine the relationship between the number of tadpoles and vegetative
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
page 39
Volume 44 Number 2
cover and abiotic factors within the ponds.
June 2008
Results.
The number of bullfrog tadpoles was positively correlated with vegetative cover in Olde
Minnow Pond (Bullfrog tadpoles = 0.037 + 0.889(vegetation index); n = 27, r2 = 0. 1 83, P = 0.0026)
but not in Spring Peeper Pond ( n = 28, r 2 - 0.038, P = 0.32). Tadpole abundance was positively
related to water temperature in Olde Minnow Pond (Bullfrog tadpoles = -5.46 + 4.04(temperature);
n- 27, r2 = 0.171, P = 0.032), but not in Spring Peeper Pond (n = 28, r2 = 0.091, P = 0.12). There
was no significant relationship between dissolved oxygen and tadpole abundance in Olde Minnow
Pond (n = 23, r2 = 0.012, P = 0.68), but a significant positive relationship was found in Spring
Peeper Pond (Bullfrog tadpoles = -20.6 + 5.99(DO); w = 23, r2 = 0.171, P = 0.0053). Depth did not
affect tadpole number in either Spring Peeper Pond (n = 28, r2 = 0.092, P = 0.12) or Olde Minnow
Pond (n = 27, r2 = 0.048, P = 0.27).
Discussion.
Within each individual pond, different factors significantly affected tadpole distribution.
Vegetation and water temperature significantly influenced tadpole distribution in Olde Minnow Pond,
whereas dissolved oxygen had a significant influence on tadpole distribution in Spring Peeper Pond.
Water depth did not affect tadpole distribution in either pond. Our results are partially consistent
with previous laboratory experiments and field observations on the habitat use of bullfrog tadpoles.
Overwintered bullfrog tadpoles from Ohio have been shown to prefer vegetation to bare areas in
laboratory studies (Smith and Doupnik, 2005); however, overwintered tadpoles from Michigan
did not (Smith, 1999). Oxygen concentration has been shown to be important in habitat selection
of bullfrog tadpoles (e.g., Nie et al., 1999; Ultsch et ah, 1999), as has temperature (Hutchison and
Hill, 1978; Crawshaw et ah, 1992; Ultsch et ah, 1999).
Literature CHedt
Alford, R.A.
1986. Habitat use and positional behavior of anuran larvae in a northern Florida
temporary pond. Copeia 1986: 408-423.
Crawshaw, L.I., R.N. Rausch, L.P. Wollmuth, and E.J. Bauer.
1992. Seasonal rhythms of development and temperature selection in larval bull¬
frogs, Rana catesheiana Shaw. Physiol. Zooh 65: 346-359.
Hutchison, V.H. and L.G. Hill.
1978. Thermal selection of bullfrog tadpoles {Rana catesbeiana) at different stages
of development and acclimation temperatures. J. Therm. Biol. 3: 57-60.
Nie, M., J.D. Crim, and G.R. Ultsch.
1999. Dissolved oxygen, temperature, and habitat selection by bullfrog {Rana
catesbeiana ) tadpoles. Copeia 1999: 153-162.
Noland, R. and G.R. Ultsch.
1981 . The roles of temperature and dissolved oxygen in microhabitat selection by
the tadpoles of a frog {Rana pipiens ) and a toad {Bufo terrestris). Copeia
1981:645-652.
Schultz, T.D. and J.R. Mick.
1 998. A survey of amphibian species richness and breeding habitats at the Denison
page 40
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
University Biological Reserve (Licking County, Ohio). Ohio Biol. Survey
Notes 1: 31-38.
Smith, G.R.
1 999. Microhabitat preferences of bullfrog tadpoles {Rana catesbeiana ) of different
ages. Trans. Nebraska Acad. Sci. 25: 73-76.
Smith, G.R., H.A. Dingfelder, and D.A. Vaala.
2003 . Distribution and abundance of amphibian larvae within two temporary ponds
in central Ohio, USA. J. Freshw. Ecol. 18: 491-496.
Smith, G.R. and B.L. Doupnik.
2005. Habitat use and activity level of large American bullfrog tadpoles: Choices
and repeatability. Amphibia-Reptilia 26: 549-552.
Smith, G.R. and J.E. Rettig.
1 996. Effectiveness of aquatic funnel traps for sampling amphibian larvae. Herpetol.
Rev. 27: 190-191.
Ultsch, G.R., S.A. Reese, M. Nie, J.D. Crim, W.H. Smith, and C.M. LeBerte.
1999. Influences of temperature and oxygen upon habitat selection by bullfrog
tadpoles and three species of freshwater fishes in two Alabama strip mine
ponds. Hydrobiologia 416: 149-162.
Warkentin, K.M.
1992. Microhabitat use and feeding rate variation in green frog tadpoles {Rana
clamitans). Copeia 1992: 731-740.
Werner, E.E.
1992. Individual behavior and higher-order species interactions. Am. Nat. 140:
S5-S32.
Stephanie E. Hargis *, Mary- Katherine Harr*, Christopher J. Henderson! , Walter J. Kim l, and
Geoffrey R. Smith* <2,
i Department of Biology, Denison University, Granville, Ohio 43023 USA,
2 Corresponding author; E-mail: smithg@denison.edu
Received: 28 January 2008.
Accepted: 12 April 2008.
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
page 41
Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Note on Reproduction of two species of microteiid
lizards, Leposoma southi and Ptychoglossus plicatus
(Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae)
Leposoma southi and Ptychoglossus plicatus are common diurnal microteiid lizard in¬
habitants of leaf-litter in lowland rain forests and are found from eastern and southwestern Costa
Rica to western Colombia (Scott, 1976; Savage, 2002). Information on reproduction of L. southi is
in Savage (2002). I know of no published information on reproduction of P. plicatus. The purpose
of this note is to present information on the reproductive cycle of both species from a histological
examination of museum specimens from Costa Rica and Colombia.
Thirty-two Leposoma southi (13 males, mean snout-vent length, SVL = 33.4 mm ± 0.87
SD, range = 32-35 mm; 14 females, SVL = 35.0 mm ± 1.9 SD, range = 33-38 mm; 5 neonates,
SVL = 15.4 mm ± 0.55, range =15-16 mm) from Colombia and Costa Rica and 15 Ptychoglossus
plicatus (9 males, SVL = 52.0 mm, ± 7.3 SD, range = 43-63 mm; 5 females, SVL = 53.4 mm ±
4.4 SD, range - 50-61 mm; 1 sub-adult male, SVL = 39 mm ± 0.00) from Costa Rica were exam¬
ined from the herpetology collection of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los
Angeles, California. Male and female mean body sizes (SVL) were compared with an unpaired t
test using Instat (vers. 3.0b, Graphpad Software, San Diego, CA). Male and female samples of L.
southi from Colombia and Costa Rica were combined as their mean SVLs were not significantly
different (unpaired r-test).
The following specimens of L. southi were examined: Colombia, Choco District, LACM
45010, 45012-45015, 72817, 72819, 72820, 72824, 72826-72828, 72830, 72831, 72833, 72834,
72838, Costa Rica, Puntarenas Province, LACM1 59625- 159628, 159630, 159634, 159635, 159638-
159641, 159644, 159645,159648, 159650. Leposoma southi were collected 1963 to 1973.
The following specimens of P. plicatus were examined: Costa Rica, Heredia Province,
LACM 159263. Limon Province, LACM 159278. Puntarenas Province, LACM 114219, 159257,
159262, 159264, 159266, 159267, 159275, 159277. San Jose Province, LACM 159260, 159261,
159267, 159269, 159272, 159276. Ptychoglossus plicatus were collected 1969 to 1985.
Gonads were dehydrated in ethanol, embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 pm and stained
with Harris hematoxylin followed by eosin counterstain (Presnell and Schreibman, 1997). Enlarged
follicles (> 3 mm) and/or oviductal eggs were counted; no histology was done on them.
All L. southi males were undergoing spermiogenesis (sperm formation). The seminiferous
tubules were lined by spermatozoa or groups of metamorphosing spermatids; epididymides contained
sperm. Samples examined by month were: March (n = 2), May (n = 2), June (n = 5), July (n = 3),
August (ri = 1). The presence of males producing sperm during five months of the year suggest a
prolonged period of spermiogenesis. The smallest reproductively male measured 32 mm (LACM
72828) and was collected in June from Colombia.
Leposoma southi females were significantly larger (SVL) than males (unpaired t test, t =
2.83, df- 25, P - 0.01). Females exhibited reproductive activity in all months sampled (Table 1).
There was no suggestion (corpora lutea from a previous clutch and yolk deposition for a subsequent
clutch) in the same female or (oviducal eggs and concomitant yolk deposition) for a subsequent
clutch. However, failure to find such females may be due to my small sample sizes. Mean clutch
size for 1 1 L. southi females (enlarged ovarian follicles > 3 mm or oviductal eggs) was 2.0 ± 0.0 SD.
There are other reports of clutches of two eggs for L. southi. These are Taylor (1956) from Costa
page 42
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
Table 1 . Monthly distribution of reproductive conditions in the ovarian cycle of 1 4 Lepo¬
soma southi from Colombia and Costa Rica.
Month
n
Early yolk deposition
Follicles > 3 mm length
Oviductal eggs
March
1
1
0
0
May
4
1
3
0
June
3
1
0
2
July
6
0
4
2
Rica and Fitch (1970) from Panama and Costa Rica. Beebe (1945) reported clutches of two eggs
for the congener Leposoma percarinatum from Guyana as did Duellman (1978) for L. parietale
from Ecuador. The smallest reproductively active females measured 33 mm and were undergoing
early yolk deposition (LACM 159630) or contained oviductal eggs (LACM 72820, 72824, 72830,
159645). The presence of reproductively active L. southi females during a four month period (Table
1) suggests an extended reproductive cycle. Savage (2002) reported reproduction of L . southi oc¬
curred through most of the rainy season (May to November). Telford (1971) noted yolked follicles
in his available monthly samples of L. southi (November to July) from Colon Province, Panama. I
noted presumed neonates of L. southi in the LACM collection (15-16 mm SVL) from May (n = 1),
June ( n = 2), July (n = 1), August (n = 1) also suggesting an extended period of reproduction.
Considering P. plicatus, there was no significant size difference (SVL) between males
and females (unpaired /-test, P = 0.70). The following P. plicatus males were undergoing spermio-
genesis: March (n = 1), May (n =5), August (n = 3); epididymides contained sperm. The smallest
reproductively active males (undergoing spermiogenesis) measured 43 mm SVL (LACM 159264,
159278) and were collected in May. One male (LACM 114219) from May (39 mm SVL) contained
spermatids, but no spermatozoa and was classified as a sub-adult.
Mean clutch size for five P. plicatus females (enlarged ovarian follicles > 3 mm or ovi¬
ductal eggs) was 2.0 ± 0.0 SD. All five females examined were reproductively active with enlarged
follicles (> 3 mm) or oviductal eggs: May {n = 1), June {n- 1), August (n = 2), September (n =
1). One of the August females (LACM 159272) contained oviductal eggs and concomitant yolk
deposition for a subsequent egg clutch suggesting P. plicatus females may produce multiple egg
clutches in the same year. The smallest reproductively active female (follicles > 3 mm) measured
50 mm SVL (LACM 159276) and was from May.
Harris (1994) reported clutch sizes of two eggs for the congeners Ptychoglossus bicolor
and P. stenolepis from Colombia. Dixon and Soini (1975) reported clutches of two eggs for Pty¬
choglossus brevifrontalis from April, June, July, September and December in Peru, indicating an
extended reproductive season. Duellman (1978) reported two oviductal eggs for P. brevifrontalis
females from Ecuador. These observations suggest clutches of two eggs may be typical for Pty¬
choglossus.
Considering other studies, Telford (1971) reported differences in timing of the reproductive
cycles of two species of gymnophthalmid lizards from Panama. Reproduction in Gymnopthalmus
speciosus occurred from late October through March whereas reproduction in Leposoma rugiceps
extended from May through November (Telford, 1971). In a detailed study of reproduction in
the gymnophthalmid Potamites ecpleopus from Peru, (Sherbrooke, 1975) reproduction occurred
throughout the year, with some reduction during the dry season.
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
page 43
Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
In conclusion, L. southi and P. plicatus exhibit prolonged periods of reproduction and
produce clutches of two eggs. This appears to be in accordance with the observation of Fitch (1982)
who reported there were reproductive “patterns” characteristic for species, genera and higher taxo¬
nomic categories of tropical reptiles. Examination of additional samples will be needed to fully
characterize the reproductive cycles of L. southi and P. plicatus. Also, the examination of gonads
of other species of gymnophthalmid lizards from Central and South America are needed before the
variations in the timing of their reproductive cycles can be ascertained.
I thank Christine Thacker (LACM) for permission to examine specimens and Sean Kark
(Whittier College) for assistance with histology. Leposoma southi and Ptychoglossus plicatus from
Costa Rica are part of the Costa Rica Expeditions (CRE) collection donated to LACM by Jay M.
Savage in 1998.
Literature. Cjted,
Beebe, W.
1945. Field notes on the lizards of Kartabo, British Guiana, and Caripto, Venezuela.
Part 3, Teiidae, Amphisbaenidae and Scincidae. Zoologica 30:7-32.
Dixon, J.R., and P. Soini.
1975. The reptiles of the Upper Amazon Basin, Iquitos Region, Peru. I. Lizards
and Amphisbaenians. Milwaukee Public Museum, Contributions in Biology
and Geology, 4:1-58.
Duellman, W.E.
1978.
The biology of an equatorial herpetofauna in Amazonian Ecuador. Miscel¬
laneous Publications, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas
65:1-352.
Fitch, H.S.
1 970. Reproductive cycles in lizards and snakes. The University of Kansas, Museum
of Natural History, Miscellaneous Publication No. 52:1-247.
Fitch, H.S.
1982. Reproductive cycles in tropical reptiles. The University of Kansas, Museum
of Natural History, Occasional Papers, No. 96:1-53.
Harris, D. M.
1 994. Review of the teiid lizard genus Ptychoglossus. Herpetological Monographs
8:226-275.
Presnell, J.K., and M.P. Schreibman.
1997. Humason’s animal tissue techniques. 5* Ed. Johns Hopkins, Baltimore,
Maryland. 572 pp.
Savage, J.M.
2002. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica, A Herpetofauna Between two
Continents, Between two Seas. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago,
xx + 934 pp.
Scott, N.J., Jr.
1976. The abundance and diversity of the herpetofaunas of tropical forest litter.
Biotropica 8:41-58.
page 44
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
Sherbrooke, W.C.
1975. Reproductive cycle of a tropical teiid lizard, Neusticurus ecpleopus Cope,
Taylor, E.H.
in Peru. Biotropica 7:194-207.
1956. A review of the lizards of Costa Rica. University of Kansas, Science Bulletin
38:1-322.
Telford, S.R., Jr.
1971.
Reproductive patterns and relative abundance of two microteiid lizard species
in Panama. Copeia 1971:670-675.
fornia 90608.
Stephen R. Goldberg, Whittier College, Department of Biology, Whittier, Cali-
Received:
Accepted:
26 February 2008.
17 May 2008.
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
page 45
Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Note on Reproduction of the Sonoran Leaf-toed Gecko,
Phyllodactylus homolepidurus (Squamata: Gekkonidae)
from Sonora, Mexico
The Sonoran Leaf-toed Gecko, Phyllodactylus homolepidurus is known from western
Sonora, Mexico and also occurs on Isla San Pedro Nolasco (ca 15 km SW of Punta San Pedro,
N of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico) (Grismer, 2002). While there are no reports on its reproductive
biology, hatchlings have been seen in early October (Grismer, 2002). The purpose of this note
is to report information on its reproductive biology from a histological examination of gonadal
material from museum specimens.
Twenty P. homolepidurus (7 males, mean snout-vent length, SVL = 56.7 mm ± 2.7 SD,
range = 53-61 mm; 1 3 females, mean SVL = 58.1 mm ± 7.0 SD, range = 40-68 mm) were examined
from the herpetology collection of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM),
Los Angeles, California. Phyllodactylus homolepidurus were collected 1964 to 1975; MEXICO,
Sonora: LACM 3255, 58025-58027, 25086, 59951-59954, 59957-59959, 59963, 59964, 93783-
93785, 93788, 93792, 122509.
Gonads were dehydrated in ethanol, embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 pm and stained
with Harris hematoxylin followed by eosin counterstain (Presnell and Schreibman, 1997). Enlarged
follicles (> 4 mm) and or oviductal eggs were counted; no histology was done on them. Male and
female mean body sizes (SVL) were compared with an unpaired t test using Instat (vers. 3.0b,
Graphpad Software, San Diego, CA).
There was no significant size difference between male and female P. homolepidurus
mean body sizes (SVL) (unpaired t test, t = 0.489, df= 18, P - 0.63). Two stages were present in
the testicular cycle: (1) regression, germinal epithelium is reduced and consists of 1-2 layers of
interspersed spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, seminiferous tubules are reduced in size;
(2) spermiogenesis, seminiferous tubules are lined by spermatozoa, clusters of metamorphosing
spermatids are present; epididymides contain sperm. Testes were examined from June (n = 5) 1
regression, 4 spermiogenesis; August (n = 1) 1 regression; December (n = 1) spermiogenesis.
Monthly stages in the ovarian cycle are in Table 1. Four stages were found: (1) No yolk
deposition, “inactive” follicles with no vitellogenic (= yolk) granules present; (2) Early yolk deposi¬
tion, vitellogenic granules present; (3) Enlarged follicle (> 4 mm) for future clutch and one oviductal
egg (soon to be deposited); (4) Oviductal egg (soon to be deposited). Reproductively active females
were noted in June (late spring). The observation of hatchling P. homolepidurus in October (Gris¬
mer, 2002) would support deposition of eggs in late spring or early summer. The presence of one
June female (LACM 59954) with a shelled oviductal egg for an upcoming clutch and an enlarged
follicle (> 4 mm) for a subsequent dutch indicates the likelihood that P. homolepidurus produces
multiple clutches in the same year.
Other species of Phyllodactylus from South America (P, kofordi, P. reissii ) and south¬
ern Mexico (P. muralis, P. tuberculosus, P. lanei) exhibited prolonged reproductive cycles with
reproductive activity in much of the year (Dixon and Huey, 1970; Goldberg, 2007; Dixon, 1964;
Ramirez-Sandoval et ah, 2006). In contrast, Phyllodactylus xanti from southern California, exhibited
a “temperate” seasonal reproductive cycle in which spermiogenesis occurred in spring, regression
in summer and recrudescence (= recovery of germinal epithelium for the next period of sperm
formation) in autumn (Goldberg, 1997). My finding of P. homolepidurus males undergoing sperm
page 48
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
Table 1. Monthly distribution of reproductive conditions in the ovarian cycle of 13 Phyl-
lodactylus homolepidurus from Sonora, Mexico.
Month
n
No yolk
deposition
Early yolk
deposition
Follicle > 4 rnm length
and oviductal egg
Oviductal eggs
June
8
4
2
1
1
July
1
1
0
0
0
September
3
3
0
0
0
December
1
1
0
0
0
formation in late spring (June), one regressed male from summer (August) and one December
male undergoing spermiogenesis from December as well as inactive females from July, September
and December suggests timing of the reproductive cycle may be similar to that of P. xanti. Other
lizards of the North American southwest also reproduce in spring-early summer; see for example,
Sceloporus occidentalis (Goldberg, 1973, 1974) and Sceloporus vandenburgianus (Goldberg, 1975).
Grismer (2002) reported P. homolepidurus is probably not active the entire year which would tend
to support my suggestion that it has a seasonal reproductive cycle. Examination of additional P.
homolepidurus are required to further elucidate its reproductive cycle.
I thank Christine Thacker (LACM) for permission to examine Phyllodactylus homolepi¬
durus and Sean Kark (Whittier College) for preparation of histology slides.
Literature Cited.
Dixon, J R.
1964. The systematics and distribution of lizards of the genus Phyllodactylus in
North and Central America. New Mexico State University Scientific Bulletin
64-1:1-39.
Dixon, J.R., and R.B. Huey.
1970. Systematics of the lizards of the gekkonid genus Phyllodactylus of mainland
South America. Los Angeles County Museum, Contributions in Science
192:1-78.
Goldberg, S.R.
1973. Ovarian cycle of the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis. Herpe-
tologica 29:284-289.
Goldberg, S.R.
1 974. Reproduction in mountain and lowland populations of the lizard Sceloporus
occidentalis. Copeia 1974:176-182.
Goldberg, S.R.
1975. Reproduction in the sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus graciosus. American
Midland Naturalist 93:177-187.
Goldberg, S.R.
1 997. Phyllodactylus xanti (Leaf-toed Gecko). Reproduction. Herpetological Review
28:152-153.
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
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Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Goldberg, S.R.
2007. Notes on reproduction of Peter’s Leaf-toed gecko, Phyllodactylus reissii
(Squamata: Gekkonidae), from Peru. Phyllomedusa 6:147-150.
Grismer, LL.
2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California, including its Pacific islands and
the islands in the Sea of Cortes, University of California Press, Berkeley, 399
pp.
Presnell, J.K., and M.P. Schreibman.
1997. Humason’s animal tissue techniques, 5* Ed. The Johns Hopkins University
Press, Baltimore.572 pp.
Ramirez-S ando val , E., A. Ramirez-Bautista, and L I. Vitt.
2006. Reproduction in the lizard Phyllodactylus lanei (Squamata: Gekkonidae)
from the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Copeia 2006:1-9.
Stephen R. Goldberg, Whittier College, Department of Biology, Whittier, California 90608.
Received: 26 March 2008.
Accepted: 17 May 2008.
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Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Erie County, Pennsylvania
Brian S. Gray and Mark Lethaby
Abstract.
Forty - five amphibian and reptile species are documented from Erie County. Current status,
natural history, dates of observation, and geographic distribution of these species are discussed. Salamander
diversity and snake diversity were highest in Millcreek Township, with eleven and ten species, respectively.
Frog diversity was highest in Girard and Millcreek Townships and Presque Isle, all with nine species each. The
Five-lined Skink, the county’s only lizard, is restricted to Conneaut and Springfield Townships. Presque Isle
had the greatest diversity of turtles, with ten chelonian species documented there. Greatest overall diversity
(amphibians and reptiles combined) was Millcreek Township, with thirty six species. The number of species
recorded for a township should not be interpreted as reflecting the actual number of species occurring there,
since surveying efforts have tended to be concentrated in areas with publicly accessible land. However, suitable
habitat may be lacking in some areas, e.g. Franklin Township, where the landscape is dominated by agriculture
and residential development.
Erie County is located in northwestern Pennsylvania, with its northern edge bordered
by approximately 43 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. The county has a fairly rich herpetofauna due
to the variety of habitats contained within a diverse landscape. The northern tier of the county is
within the Central Lowland Province, which is characterized by low ridges of sand and gravel.
Forest vegetation in this region is primarily beech/maple. The Appalachian Plateaus Province is a
highland with hilly topography and deep valleys due to stream erosion (Barnes and Sevon, 1996).
Forest vegetation in the Appalachian Province is composed primarily of northern hardwoods (birch,
beech, maple and hemlock). The two major drainage basins in the county are the Lake Erie drain¬
age, characterized by shale-bottomed streams, often in deep valleys, and the Ohio drainage, with
meandering, gravel-bottomed streams. Erie County is within the southern boundary of the Late
Wisconsinan Glaciation, which produced several lakes, swamps, and bogs in the region. The pen¬
insula of Presque Isle State Park on the Lake Erie shoreline is a distinctive feature of the landscape
that hosts a number of species that do not occur elsewhere in the county.
The purpose of this work is to provide a thorough summary of the current state of knowl¬
edge regarding the county’s amphibians and reptiles. We used our field notes, correspondence with
reliable persons, and the published and unpublished literature pertinent to Erie County. Each species
account contains the following information (if available): known species distribution in the county,
earliest and latest annual dates of observation, natural history information, and a list of museum
specimens collected from Erie County. The following museum collection records were consulted to
generate the lists of specimens: American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), Carnegie Museum
of Natural History (CM), Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH), Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania (EUP), Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), University of Colorado Museum,
Boulder (UCM), University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ), State Museum of Penn¬
sylvania (SMP), Sternberg Museum of Natural History (MHP), The Natural History Collections of
the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle (TREC), the United States National Museum
(USNM), and Gannon University (GU). In addition to these, one of the authors’ (BG) personal col¬
lection of shed snake skins was also used. An asterisk represents mounted shed skin material is in
the Brian S. Gray collection, and unmounted material from the same specimen is in the Sternberg
Museum of Natural History.
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June 2008
The bibliography at the end of this work is meant to provide a comprehensive list of
publications that are pertinent to the herpetology of Erie County.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is responsible for regulations pertaining to
reptiles and amphibians in the state. The following Erie County reptile and amphibian species have
no open season: Eastern Hognose Snake ( Heterodon platirhinos ), Eastern Ribbon Snake ( Thamnophis
sauritus ), Queen $nak&(Regina septemvittata ), Shorthead Garter Snake ( Thamnophis brachy stoma).
Smooth Green Snake ( Liochlorophis vernalis ), Eastern Hellbender ( Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
alle gardens is). Four-toed Salamander ( Hemidactylium scutatum), Jefferson Salamander (. Ambystoma
jejfersonianum) , Mudpuppy (. Necturus maculosus ), Striped Chorus Frog Complex ( Pseudacris
triseriata ssp.), B landing's Turtle ( Emydoidea blandingii ), Eastern. Box Turtle ( Terrapene Carolina
Carolina), Spotted Turtle ( Clemmys guttata), and Wood Turtle ( Glyptemys insculpta ). The daily limit
is zero, and possession limit is zero on these species. They may be possessed only with a permit
issued by the Commission (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 2007. Pennsylvania Fishing
Summary, Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws). If a specimen of any of these species is
found in Erie County, good quality photographs showing diagnostic characters should be taken, and
the observation should be reported to the Pennsylvania Online Herpetological Atlas(http://webspace.
ship.edu/tjmare/herp.htm). Additionally, the authors are interested in observations of these species
in the county and may be contacted directly.
AmpMMfins,
Twenty-two species of amphibians have been reported to occur in Erie County. However,
two of these species - Eurycea longicauda and Pseudacris triseriata - are undocumented.
Salamanders are the most diverse group of amphibians to occur in Erie County and are
represented by 13 species.
Eastern Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis. The Eastern Hellbender
is an inhabitant of streams with a moderate to swift current, and a gravel or sandy bottom with large
flat rocks (Hulse et al 2001). In Erie County it is an uncommon salamander, being found only in the
French Creek watershed. This species has been found in Amity, LeBoeuf, and Waterford Townships.
A sample of ten Erie County specimens had a mean TL of 421.8 mm (sd=53.8, range 305-508).
This species has been observed between 21 June and 10 September, but due to its aquatic nature,
it is likely to be active in all months.
Specimens: UMMZ 75981
Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus maculosus . The Mudpuppy is found in Lake Erie and
Presque Isle Bay, and has also been found in Amity, Conneaut, LeBoeuf, North East (Lake Erie
shoreline), Springfield, Venango, Washington and Waterford townships. Inland populations are ap¬
parently restricted to Conneaut Creek and the French Creek drainage. Swanson (1948) stated that
he had taken mudpuppies at the outlet of Edinboro Lake. In 2002, a massive die-off of mudpuppies
occurred in Lake Erie, which was attributed to an outbreak of botulism (Bartlett, 2002). A total of
712 dead mudpuppies were counted along less than one mile of shoreline in North East Township
on 30 June 2002. On 14 July 1997, eggs (n=17) were found attached to the bottom of a rock in
French Creek. Mudpuppies have been taken in a trawl net from Lake Erie by the Pennsylvania Fish
and Boat Commission at a depth of 17.4 m (57 ft). The Mudpuppy has been observed between 15
April and 10 October in Erie County, but like the Hellbender it may be active in all months.
Specimens: CM 35238; CM 37292; CM 41285; CMNH 10210; EUP 1 15; GU 28; TREC
A-014; TREC A-027
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June 2008
Jefferson Salamander, Ambystoma jejfersonianum. The Jefferson Salamander is uncom¬
mon in Erie County, being known from sites in Amity, Harborcreek, Millcreek, North East, and
Union townships. An environmental impact study (Aquatic Ecology Associates, 1977a, b) of what
is now State Game Lands 314, and property east of Conneaut Creek in Ohio reported A. jejferso¬
nianum from along Turkey Creek in Ashtabula County. Additional surveys are needed to determine
whether this species occurs in Springfield Township. The Jefferson salamander needs hardwood or
mixed forest with vernal pools in which to breed. Ambystoma jejfersonianum is usually observed
during the spring breeding season, and adults are rarely encountered outside this season. Five Erie
County A. jejfersonianum had an average SVL of 76.6 mm (sd=0.9, range 75-77), and TL of 157.2
mm (sd=l.l, range 156-159). In Erie County, Jefferson Salamanders have been observed from 27
February to 15 June.
Specimens: AMNH 160139 - 160157; AMNH 163452 - 163456; AMNH 167073
- 167089; AMNH 167090 - 167096; CM 115957; TREC A-001
Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum. The Spotted Salamander is a common
salamander in Erie County. Like the Jefferson Salamander, the Spotted Salamander is an inhabitant
of wooded areas that contain vernal pools for breeding habitat. It is known from Presque Isle State
Park and also Amity, Conneaut, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, Millcreek,
North East, Springfield, Union, Venango, and Waterford townships. The average SVL of a sample
(n=20) of Erie County Spotted Salamanders was 88.4 mm (sd=8.4, range 68-102), TL was 170.6
(sd=17.5, range 128-195). The Spotted Salamander has been found between 1 March and 28 Oc¬
tober in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 159642- 159657; AMNH 166573; AMNH 166574; CM 1698;USNM
396999; USNM 397021; USNM 397022; TREC A-015; TREC A-017
Eastern Red-spotted Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens . The Eastern Red-
spotted Newt is common in the county, and has been observed in a variety of permanent and temporary
aquatic habitats. Juveniles (efts) are frequently observed moving about the forest floor after rains.
Notophthalmus viridescens has been observed in Amity, Girard, Greenfield, Harborcreek, LeBoeuf,
Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Summit, Union, Venango, Waterford, and Wayne townships.
Eastern Red-spotted Newts have been observed from 20 March to 30 October in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 166793 - 166795; AMNH 159806 - 159810; CM 1636; CM 1638;
CM 4488; CM 5038; CM 5415 - 5417; CM 5426; CM 5429; CM 29884; USNM 396919;
TREC A-025; TREC A-030
Northern Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus juscus fuscus. This species is common in
and along streams and seeps. The Northern Dusky Salamander has been found in the City of Erie,
as well as Amity, Concord, Conneaut, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, McKean,
Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Union, Washington and Venango townships. Two Erie County
specimens were 30 and 51 mm SVL, and 58 and 101 mm TL. The Northern Dusky Salamander
has been found between 1 March and 14 November. On 30 June 1999 in Millcreek Township, a
female was found under a log in a seep brooding seventeen eggs.
Specimens: AMNH 41493 -41495; AMNH 159863- 159872; AMNH 166629-166645;
CM 28811; CM 28812; CM 30321; CM 30322; CM 30415; CM 155289; EUP98 - 105, GU 45;
TREC A-002; TREC A-016; TREC A-031
Allegheny Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus ochrophaeus. The Allegheny
Dusky Salamander is more terrestrial than the former species, and is commonly found a consider-
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Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
able distance from water. Desmognathus o. ochrophaeus is a common species in Erie County, and
has been found in Amity, Conneaut, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Harborcreek, McKean, Millcreek,
North East, Springfield, Union, Venango, Washington, Waterford, and Wayne townships. A sample
of seventeen Erie County Allegheny Dusky Salamanders averaged 36.2 mm SVL (sd=7.2, range 22
- 56), and 72 mm TL (sd=17.7, range 45 - 125). In Erie County, the Allegheny Dusky Salamander
has been found between 8 February and 30 October.
Specimens: AMNH 41483; AMNH 41491; AMNH 41492; AMNH 159883 - 159893;
AMNH 166668 - 166671 ; CM 28813; CM 29878; CM 29879; CM 30320; USNM 396979-396990;
TRECA-008
Northern Redback Salamander, Plethodon cinereus. The Northern Redback Salaman¬
der is one of the most widespread and abundant salamanders encountered in wooded areas in Erie
County. This species has been found in Amity, Conneaut, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Greenfield,
Harborcreek, LeBoeuf, Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Union, Venango, Washington, Waterford,
and Wayne townships. The leadback phase of this species is rare in the county, and is only known
from a site in Millcreek Township. Northern Redback Salamanders with highly variable pigment
mottling were seen at Headwaters Park in Millcreek, with individuals varying from mostly red
to mostly black. The average TL of six Millcreek Township P. cinereus was 54.9 mm (sd=24.5,
range 19-72). Northern Redback Salamanders in Erie County have been observed from 1 March
to 1 8 November.
Specimens: AMNH 159477 - 159483; AMNH 166843 - 166853; CM 5419; CM 5420;
CM 5428; CM 29877; CM 37219; CM 91432; CM 91433; EUP 33 - 36, EUP 62-64; TREC A-032,
USNM 396889 - 396915; USNM 396923 - 396952; USNM 396954 - 396964; USNM 396967
- 396977; USNM 396993 - 396998; USNM 397000 - 397020
Northern Slimy Salamander, Plethodon glutinosus. The Northern Slimy Salamander is
frequently found on rocky slopes in forested areas. In Erie County, it has been observed in Conneaut,
Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, Millcreek, Springfield, Union, Venango, Washington, and
Wayne townships. Two Northern Slimy Salamanders from Millcreek Township were 35-52 mm
SVL, and 62-100 mm TL. In Erie County, the Northern Slimy Salamander has been found between
5 April and 16 October.
Specimens: AMNH 159923 - 159925; CM 5037; CM 5418; CM 5427; CM 37217; CM
37218; USNM 396916 - 396918; USNM 396953; USNM 396965; USNM 396978
Four-toed Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum. The Four-toed Salamander is the
smallest and least commonly seen species of salamander found in Erie County. Adults of this spe¬
cies attain a maximum total length (TL) of 102 mm (Conant and Collins, 1998). Four Millcreek
Township individuals had a mean SVL of 33.9 mm (sd=4.9, range 27-38), and TL of 52.3 mm
(sd= 22.1, range 34-82.6). This diminutive salamander is found in forested areas that contain bogs,
woodland swamps, or vernal pools in which to breed. It has been found in Millcreek, Springfield,
Union, and Waterford townships. The Four-toed Salamander has been observed from 3 1 March
to 28 October in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 166752 - 166754; CM 5421; CM 5422; USNM 396920 - 396922
Northern Spring Salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus. The Northern
Spring Salamander is infrequently seen in Erie County. It is a denizen of springs, seeps, and well
shaded cool streams. In Erie County, there are records from Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek,
Millcreek, North East, and Venango townships. This species seems to be absent from the western
portion of the county. In Erie County, the Northern Spring Salamander has been found between 6
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Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
April and 4 November. However, it is likely to be active for a more extended length of time due
to its primarily aquatic nature.
Specimens: AMNH 159882; CM 344; TREC A-026
Northern Red Salamander, Pseudotriton ruber ruber. The Northern Red Salamander is
found in shallow springs and streams that are usually well shaded, and have a rocky substrate, but
may be found in slow, muddy or silty streams with decaying vegetation. We have typically found
Pseudotriton r. ruber larvae in the latter habitat. Pseudotriton r. ruber is not encountered very
often in Erie County, and is known from Amity, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Harborcreek, Millcreek,
and Venango townships. A Millcreek Township individual was 79 mm SVL, and 120 mm TL. The
Northern Red Salamander has been observed from 6 April to 10 October in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 159961; CM 37211; GU 44; USNM 396966
Northern Two-lined Salamander, Eurycea bislineata. The Northern Two-lined Sala¬
mander is a common streamside salamander in the county. Eurycea bislineata has been observed at
sites in Amity, Conneaut, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, McKean, Millcreek,
North East, Springfield, Summit, Union, Venango, Washington and Waterford townships. A female
was found attending a clutch of fifty-two eggs that were adhering to the underside of a rock in Mill
Creek on 27 May 2005. Observations of the Northern Two-lined Salamander in Erie County were
between 30 January and 6 November.
Specimens: AMNH 41191; AMNH 41192; AMNH 148922 - 148924; AMNH 159763
- 159766; AMNH 166705; AMNH 166706; CM 28814; CM 30323 - 30325; CM 155287; CM
155288; EUP 37, TREC A-007; TREC A-010
Anura,
Nine species of anurans are known to occur in Erie County.
Eastern American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus americanus. This species of toad is
common in a variety of habitats in Erie County. Anaxyrus a. americanus has been reported from
the City of Erie, as well as Amity, Conneaut, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek,
LeBoeuf, McKean, Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Summit, Union, Venango, and Waterford
townships. Four Erie County individuals averaged 52.4 mm SVL (sd=35.3, range 19-88. 9).The
Eastern American Toad has been observed between 27 March and 1 8 October in Erie County.
Specimens: CM 2086; CM 2094; CM 5423; CM 36865; CM 37220; GU 18; TREC A-
018
Fowler’s Toad, Anaxyrus fowler i. Fowler’s Toad is uncommon in Erie County, and is only
known from Presque Isle State Park in Millcreek Township, and the mouth of Elk Creek in Girard
Township. Anaxyrus fowled prefers soils that are sandy and well drained. This species occasionally
hybridizes with the Eastern American Toad. It is not known whether hybridization occurs at Presque
Isle. Three Fowler’s Toads from Presque Isle averaged 57.7 mm SVL (sd=5.1, range 52-62). The
Fowler’s Toad has been observed from 4 April to 3 October in Erie County.
Specimens: CM 2084; CM 2085; CM 2087; CM 2142; CM 2143; CM 4489; CM 9966;
CM 12221; CM 12270 - 122273; USNM 39841; TREC A-009
Northern Spring Peeper, Pseudacris crucifer crucifer. While the Northern Spring Peeper
is common in Erie County, it is more likely to be heard than seen. During the breeding season, this
species is found in marshes, swamps, the edges of ponds, wet fields and in vernal pools. Outside
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Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
the breeding season P. c. crucifer returns to wooded areas.
It has been found in Amity, Conneaut, Fair view, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek,
LeBoeuf, Mill creek, Springfield, Union, Venango, Waterford, and Wayne townships. In Erie County,
the Northern Spring Peeper has been observed as early as 6 January, and as late as 28 October.
Specimens: AMNH 159396; CM 1996; CM 2002; CM 5954; TREC A-020
Gray Treefrog, Hyla versicolor. The Gray Treefrog is common in the county, but like the
peeper, is usually heard and not seen. Hyla versicolor is an inhabitant of deciduous forests near the
wetlands that this species needs for breeding. It has been observed in Amity, Conneaut, Fairview,
Girard, Greene, LeBoeuf, Millcreek, Springfield, Venango, and Waterford townships. The Gray
Treefrog has been found between 14 April and 6 October in Erie County.
Specimens: CM 119119; SMP- H2525
Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus. The Bullfrog is found in permanent bodies of water in
Erie County. It has been observed in Amity, Concord, Conneaut, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Har¬
borcreek, LeBoeuf, McKean, Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Union, Venango, and Washington
townships. In Erie County, The Bullfrog has been observed between 12 March and 20 October.
Specimens: CM 30311; CM 30312; CM 30314; CM 30315; GU 5; UMMZ 84472;
UMMZ 84473
Green Frog, Lithobates clamitans melanota. The Green Frog is a common frog in Erie
County, being found in the City of Erie, as well as Amity, Concord, Conneaut, Fairview, Girard,
Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, LeBoeuf, McKean, Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Union,
Venango, Washington, and Waterford townships. Lithobates c. melanota can be found in a wide
variety of habitats, such as ponds, marshes, swamps, the edges of lakes, sluggish portions of
streams, and even puddles. Four Lithobates clamitans melanota from Erie County averaged 75.2
mm SVL (24.4, range 40-95). The Green Frog has been observed as early as 6 January and as late
as 30 October in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 159455; AMNH 166900; CM 1861 - 1870; CM 1874 - 1878; CM
4490; CM 5425; CM 30313; CM 30316; CM 30326; CM 30327; CM 30416; CM 30417; CM 32531;
CM 33674; GU 9; GU 76; UMMZ 84474
Pickerel Frog, Lithobates palustris. The Pickerel Frog is found in the weedy edges of
ponds, swamps, vernal pools, and shallow streams, and in nearby terrestrial habitats. Lithobates
palustris is a fairly common frog and has been found in Fairview, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Le¬
Boeuf, Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Summit, Union, Venango, and Wayne townships. Two
Millcreek Township individuals were 30-3 1 .8 mm SVL. The Pickerel Frog in Erie County has been
found between 3 1 March and 30 October.
Specimens: AMNH 166915; CM 1743; CM 9802; CM 144187; GU 8
Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens. The Northern Leopard Frog is not as com¬
mon as the Pickerel Frog, and may have declined in the region. This species prefers grassy areas,
such as marshes, but may also be found along the edges of ponds, swamps, lakes, and streams.
Lithobates pipiens has been found in Amity, Conneaut, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, LeBoeuf,
Millcreek, Springfield, Union, Venango, and Waterford townships. This species may be declining
at Presque Isle State Park (Lethaby, 2001). Declines elsewhere within the species range have been
reported (Lannoo, 1998; Lannoo, 2005). A Presque Isle specimen was 58 mm SVL. The Northern
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Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
Leopard Frog in Erie County has been observed between 21 March and 9 November.
Specimens: CM 1739; CM 1740; CM 1803 - 1819; CM 2702 - 2705; CM 4491; CM
5424; CM 12222; CM 32530; CM 33630; GU 70
Wood Frog, Lithohates sylvaticus. The Wood Frog is, as its common name implies, a
species of wooded areas. In Erie County the Wood Frog has been observed in Amity, Conneaut, Fair-
view, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Union, Venango,
and Waterford townships. Three Erie County Wood Frogs averaged 54.2 mm SVL (sd=l 1 .0, range
46-66.7). The Wood Frog has been found from 27 February to 1 November in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 166949; CM 1946; CM 30310; CM 37212; CM 37213; GU 10;
TREC A-019
Reptiles,
Twenty - three reptile species are known to occur in Erie County. Snakes are the most
diverse group and are represented by thirteen species. However, the Eastern Hognose Snake may
have been extirpated from the county.
Queen Snake, Regina septemvittata. The Queen Snake is primarily an inhabitant of
lotic habitats. The streams where R. septemvittata is found usually are lined with shrubs and small
trees, in which these snakes bask. Crayfish, the Queen Snake’s primary food, is also a necessary
component of the habitat. In Erie County, the Queen Snake is known from Elk Creek and Con¬
neaut Creek in the following townships: Conneaut, Girard, McKean, Millcreek (Presque Isle), and
Springfield. The Presque Isle specimen (CM 1936) was collected in 1906 by Atkinson. McPherson
(1982) also reported this species from Presque Isle. However, recent surveys at Presque Isle have
not found Regina septemvittata (McKinstry et al, 1991 ; Hughes and Schnars, 2007). Queen Snakes
in Erie County have been observed between 14 May and 25 September. McKinstry and Felege
(1974) caught a specimen that was 35 cm TL, and weighed 8 grams. Scott Bloomstine (pers. com.)
collected a female from McKean Township that gave birth to 10 neonates during the first week of
September.
Specimens: BG 069*; BG 221; BG 242*; BG 244; CM 1936; MHP 9975; MHP 9976;
TREC R-033
Northern Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon sipedon. This species is common throughout
the county, and likely occurs in all townships. It has been observed from Amity, Concord, Fairview,
Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, LeBoeuf, McKean, Millcreek, North East, Springfield,
Union, Washington and Waterford Townships. Although it is more frequently encountered along
the edges of streams, Nerodia s. sipedon may be found along lakes, ponds, swamps, and vernal
pools. On 6 May 2004, a “mating ball” was observed at Asbury Woods in a buttonbush wetland.
The “ball” consisted of four males attempting to copulate with a female. Scott Bloomstine (pers.
comm.) reported a female that gave birth to 26 neonates during August 2004. The largest known
litter from an Erie County N. sipedon was 38 neonates. McKinstry and Felege (1974) reported an
average total length of 57 cm (range 30-106 cm), for fifteen specimens from Erie County. Northern
Water Snakes have been observed from 31 March to 15 November in Erie County.
Specimens: BG 039; BG 063*; BG 065; BG 099*; BG 106; BG 1 68*; BG 170; BG 1 88*;
BG 191*; BG 225*; BG 228*; BG 229*; BG 231; BG 285*; BG 301*; BG 316; BG 319; BG 323;
BG 324: BG 343; BG 371; CM 473; CM 1476 - 1484; CM 1506 - 1518; CM 33677; EUP 135,
GU 54; MHP 9903 - 9910; MHP 11840; MHP 11855; TREC R-001; TREC R-016UMMZ 75945;
USNM 396991;
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Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Northern Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi dekayi. This species is common in areas that
contain old field habitat in Erie County, even in urban and disturbed areas. The Northern Brown
Snake has been found in the City of Erie; at Presque Isle State Park; and in Amity, Concord, Con
neaut, Girard, Greenfield, Harborcreek, LeBoeuf, McKean, Millcreek, North East, Springfield,
Union, Venango, Waterford, and Wayne Townships. Litters from three Erie County females ranged
from 10-19 (Table 1). McKinstry and Felege (1974) reported an average TL of 280 mm (range 130
-380 mm) for twenty eight Erie County specimens Average weight for these same specimens was
8 grams (range 1-22 g). Our sample of Erie County specimens (n=27) averaged 227.6 mm SVL
(sd=42, range 1 19.2-304), and 290.3 mm TL (sd=50.4, range 155.8-382); weight for fifteen Millcreek
specimens averaged 6.7 g (sd-4.0, range 3-14.25). Dates of parturition, with litter size in parentheses
for three Erie County individuals was 13 August (10), 16 August (17), and 20 August (19).
Northern Brown Snakes in Erie County have been observed as early as 6 January and as
late as 4 November.
Specimens: BG 017*; BG 070; BG 083*; BG 101; BG 114*; BG 137; BG 157*; BG
161*; BG 166*; BG 172*; BG 177*; BG 178*; BG 182*; BG 186*; BG 193*; BG 195*; BG 258;
BG 277; BG 313; BG 320; BG 326 - 328; BG 336; BG 337; BG 339; BG 340; BG 344 - 346; BG
348 - 353; BG 355; BG 358; BG 359; BG 368; BG 375 - 378; BG 380; BG 381 ; BG 383; BG 384;
BG 386 - 389; BG 391; BG 392; BG 395; BG 396; BG 399; BG401; BG 403; BG 405 - 407; BG
409; BG 426; CM 1708 - 1737; CM 1902 - 1914; CM 4221; CM 5351; CM 27711; CM 29883;
CM 51601; CM 53679; CM 53680; CM 144184; EUP 120; MHP 9981 -9985; MHP 9987 -9995;
MHP 11838; MHP 11861; GU 56; GU 81; GU 82; TREC R-014
Northern Red belly Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata. This species
is common in wooded and ecotone areas where forest and old fields converge. The Northern Red-
belly Snake has been observed in Amity, Greene, Harborcreek, LeBoeuf, Millcreek, Northeast,
Springfield, Summit, Union, Venango, Waterford, and Wayne Townships. This species has also
been found in the city of Erie (Bob Wellington pers. comm.). A female gave birth to 8 neonates on
27 July 2002; neonates were 66 - 68 mm SVL and 86 - 90 mm TL. McKinstry and Felege (1974)
report an average TL of 300 mm (range 250 - 350 mm) for ten Erie County specimens. Five ad¬
ditional Erie County individuals averaged 246 mm SVL (sd=14, range 234.9-267.5), and 303.6 TL
(sd - 19. 7, range 291-338.1). Melanistic individuals have been found near West Springfield and west
of the Erie International Airport. Northern Red belly Snakes have been observed from 30 March
to 28 October in Erie County.
Specimens: BG 038; BG 040*; BG 071; BG 074; BG 171*; BG 216; BG 246*; BG
289*; BG 299*; BG 303*; CM 27733; CM 144170 - 144173; CM 144182; CM 144183; GU 80;
MHP 10014 - 10017; MHP 11837; MHP 11851; MHP 11864; TREC R 004; TREC R-005; TREC
R-038.
Shorthead Garter Snake, Thamnophis brachystoma. The Shorthead Garter Snake
prefers open habitats with low herbaceous cover, such as meadows and old fields, and is rarely
found within densely forested areas. The Shorthead Garter Snake has been found within the City
of Erie, at Presque Isle State Park, and in Amity, Millcreek, Springfield, Summit, Union, and Wayne
Townships. Thamnophis brachystoma appears to be more common in the eastern two thirds of
the county, and at a few sites is abundant. It has been assumed by several authors (Conant, 1975;
Price, 1978; McCoy, 1982; Hulse et al 2001) that the urban Erie County populations of this species
were introductions. Price (1978) considered the absence of intervening populations between the
“natural” range and the supposed introductions as support for the human introduction hypothesis.
However, new T brachystoma sites in Erie County have been located, and are 30 - 72 km west of
the glacial boundary (Gray, 2008b). Furthermore, some of the new sites are located between the
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Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
supposed introductions and the “natural” populations as described by Price (1978). In light of the
recently discovered sites, it may be necessary to consider alternatives to anthropogenic introduction
as explanation for the presence of this species in rural glaciated areas. Two possible interpretations
are that the range of T brachystoma has expanded, or is expanding, or that the species once had
a range that was more extensive, and has since contracted. Litter sizes for Erie County specimens
range from 6 to 17 neonates. Thamnophis brachystoma in Erie County has been observed from 29
March - 10 October. Specimens: AMNH 105886 - 105888; BG 032; BG 043; BG 046*; BG 089*;
BG 113*; BG 158*; BG 159*; BG 187*; BG 189*; BG 204*; BG 205; BG 220*; BG 252; BG
253; BG 260; BG 284; BG 286; BG 302; BG 329; BG 331; BG 342; BG 369; BG 373; CM 29881 ;
CM 29882; CM 53678; CM 58751 - 58754; CM 61959; CM 153101; MHP 10018 - 10026; MHP
11839; MHP 11843; MHP 11845; MHP 11868; TREC R 007; TREC R 009, TREC R-013; TREC
R 028; TREC R-029; TREC R- 034.
Northern Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis. Northern Ribbon Snakes
are most often found near or within aquatic habitats such as lakes, marshes, swamps, and ponds.
Thamnophis s. septentrionalis is only known from a few localities in Erie County, having been
found at Presque Isle State Park, and in Girard, Greene, Millcreek, Union, and Waterford Townships.
McKinstry and Felege (1974) reported an average TL of 70 cm (range 42 - 96 cm) and an average
weight of 57 grams (range 9 - 120 g) for five Erie County specimens. Erie County T, sauritus have
been observed 9 May to 26 November. We have observed Northern Ribbon Snakes active in neigh¬
boring Crawford County in late March. McKinstry (1975) noted that Ribbon Snakes at Presque Isle
State Park were particularly “abundant” during sunny days in October. A Northern Ribbon Snake
captured on 8 July 2007 in Waterford Township produced a litter of 24 young on 2 Aug 2007. This
is two less than the maximum recorded litter size (26) for the species, and is substantially higher
than the maximum of 13 for Pennsylvania specimens (N=8) noted by Hulse et al (2001).
Specimens: BG 064*; BG 291*; CM 478; CM 1432; CM 1485; CM 1500; CM 1915;
CM 1916; EUP 125, MHP 10027; MHP 11849; TREC R-011; TREC R-023
Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. The Eastern Garter Snake is a
common snake in Erie County, and can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including old fields,
meadows, forest edges, along streams and other bodies of water. It has been found in the City of
Erie, and Amity, Concord, Coeneaut, Fairview, Girard, Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, LeBoeuf,
McKean, Millcreek, North East, Springfield, Summit, Union, Venango, Washington, Waterford, and
Wayne Townships. Melanistic individuals are known to occur at Presque Isle State Park. Litter
sizes for Erie County females range from 8 - 50, with dates of parturition being between 14 July
and 31 August. McKinstry and Felege (1974) reported an average TL of 490 mm (range 160-730
mm), and an average weight of 41 grams (range 20 - 161 g) for 93 Erie County specimens. Our
Erie County sample averaged 386.8 mm SVL (n=26, sd=110.8, range 205-648), and 495.9 mm TL
(n=25, sd=132.9, range 260-795). Gray et al (2001, 2003) reported on anomalies observed in the
litters of females collected from a Millcreek Township population. Thamnophis sirtalis has been
observed between 27 March and 1 December in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 147196; AMNH 152254; AMNH 152255; AMNH 154312; AMNH
1543 14; BG 004*; BG 005*; BG 01 1 - 014; BG 029; BG 030; BG 034* ; BG 035 - 037; BG 041 *;
BG 042*; BG 047*; BG 054*; BG 057* - 060*; BG 062*; BG 072; BG 077; BG 081 *; BG 087*;
BG 090; BG 093*; BG 100; BG 102; BG 149*; BG 150*; BG 167*; BG 169*; BG 173*; BG
174*; BG 179*; BG 180; BG 190*; BG 192*; BG 212*; BG 213*; BG 214; BG 230*; BG 249;
BG 282*; BG 283*; BG 287*; BG 296* - 298*; BG 311; BG 312; BG 356; BG 372; BG 374; BG
379; BG 382; BG 385; CM 474 - 480; CM 1433; CM 1486 - 1499: CM 1501 - 1505; CM 5350;
CM 28024; CM 34278 - 34279; CM 50767; CM 144176 - 144181; GU 83; GU 84; MHP 10043
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Volume 44 Number 2 June 2008
- 10075; MHP 11472; MHP 11848; MHP 11856; 11859; MHP 11862; MHP 11865; MHP 11870;
UCM 61071 - 61078; UCM 61080 - 61081 ; TREC R-008; TREC R-030
Eastern Hognose Snake, Heterodon platirhinos. The Eastern Hognose Snake prefers
areas with sandy soils in which it can burrow. These sites may be open or forested. In Erie County,
the Eastern Hognose Snake is only known from Presque Isle State Park, where it has almost certainly
been extirpated. The last specimen was collected from the park in 1933, by R. R. Carr. Carnegie
Museum of Natural History records indicate that H. platirhinos has been collected between 5 June
and 13 September at Presque Isle State Park.
Specimens: CM 472; CM 1519; CM 1980 - 1983; CM 2028; CM 2029; CM 6618
Northern Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus edwardsii. The Northern Ringneck
Snake is known from Amity, Conneaut, Greene, Harborcreek, Millcreek, North East, Union, and
Waterford Townships. Diadophis p. edwardsii is common at most of the known localities in Erie
County, especially in wooded areas with plenty of cover and plethodontid salamanders, this species’
preferred prey. McKinstry and Felege (1974) reported an average TL of 35 cm (range 18-42 cm)
and an average weight of 9 grams (range 2 - 16 g) for six Erie County specimens. Our Erie County
sample averaged 284.7 mm SVL (n=5, sd=48.3, range 227.3-350), TL averaged 363.6 mm (n=5,
sd=54, range 302.1-434.6), mean weight was 7.6 g (n=5, sd=4.6, range 3-15). In Erie County
Diadophis p. edwardsii has been observed between 6 April and 30 September.
Specimens: BG 008; BG 103; BG 135*; BG 136*; BG 156*; BG 162*; BG 175; BG
181*; BG 222*; BG 224*; BG 226*; BG 227*; BG 290; BG 293; BG 295; BG 390
CM 37207 - 37210; CM 144174; CM 144175; CM 144185; CM 144186; MHP 9829;
MHP 9830; MHP 9832 - 9834; MHP 9837 - 9840
Northern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor. Harold Surface (1906) reported
that he had received a specimen from Waterford. This species may have been extirpated from the
county, or if it occurs in the county, it is rare and occurs in isolated populations. Coluber constrictor
constrictor has been found in adjacent Ashtabula County, Ohio (Morgan and Rome Townships) as
recently as 1980 (Wynn and Moody, 2006).
In Pennsylvania, Northern Black Racers inhabit old fields, meadows and agricultural
areas, and may be active from mid- April to late October (Hulse et al. 2001). These snakes are
diurnal and not found under cover as often as other species (Hulse et al 2001), and therefore, may
not be as readily detected using coverboards. If a specimen is found in Erie County, it should be
retained for verification by a herpetologist, or alternatively a good quality photograph should be
taken (preferably with a close view of the body scales), and submitted to a herpetologist or the
Pennsylvania Online Herpetological Atlas.
Smooth Green Snake, Liochlorophis vernalis. The Smooth Green Snake is found in
open fields, meadows, and ecotones. Liochlorophis vernalis is known from Amity, North East,
Springfield, and Waterford Townships. Surface (1906) lists E. A. Baron as providing a specimen
from McKean. On 9 August 1999, a nest with seven eggs was found in a cavity beneath a board at
a Springfield Township site. Six Erie County specimens averaged 306.5 mm SVL (sd=41.5, range
248-370.5), and 442 mm TL (sd=49.8, range 367-510). In Erie County Liochlorophis vernalis has
been observed 5 April to 28 October.
Specimens: BG 022; BG 078; BG 086*; BG 098; BG 292*; BG 294*; MHP 9913; MHP
9914; MHP 11836; MHP 11863; UMMZ 74737; TREC R-003
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Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Eastern Rat Snake, Elaphe alleghaniensis. The Eastern Rat Snake is found in decidu¬
ous forest, ecotonal areas, and frequently in old dilapidated bams. Elaphe alleghaniensis is known
from only a few sites in Erie County: from within the City of Erie, as well as Conneaut, Fairview,
Millcreek, North East, and Springfield townships. Surface (1906) reported specimens from Miles
Grove and North East. An Erie County specimen was 1120 mm SVL and 1320 mm TL. The Eastern
Rat Snake has been observed in Erie County from 21 April to 13 October.
Specimens: BG 084; BG 085*; BG 107; BG 176*; BG 202*; BG 211*; BG 219*;
BG 300; BG 315; MHP 9942 - 9945; MHP 9958; MHP 11867
Eastern Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum . The Eastern Milk Snake is
common in Erie County, and is reported from the City of Erie, Amity, Fairview, Girard, Greene,
Greenfield, Harborcreek, McKean, Millcreek, Springfield, Union, and Wayne Townships. Lampro¬
peltis t. triangulum is usually found under debris in open fields, meadows, or ecotones. On 13 July
1997, a female (750 mm SVL; 848 mm TL) collected from a Millcreek Township site deposited
eleven eggs, which hatched 3 September. The weight of hatchlings (6 females :5 males) averaged
4.1 grams. McKinstry and Felege (1974) reported an average TL of 490 mm (range 230 -910 mm)
for seventeen specimens from Erie County. Our sample of Erie County L. t. triangulum averaged
684.3 mm SVL (n=6, sd=78.3, range 615-811), and 814.8 mm TL (n=7, sd=99.8, range 725-960).
Eastern Milk Snakes in Erie County have been observed from 28 April to 10 October.
Specimens: BG 009; BG 019; BG 024 - 027; BG 044*; BG 045; BG 056; BG 082*; BG
091*; BG 117 - 122; BG 183; BG 184*; BG 194*; BG 200*; BG 201*; BG 203; BG 206; BG 215*;
BG 310; CM 467 - 471; CM 29880; MHP 9869 - 9875; MHP 10035; TREC R-015
There is only a single lizard species found in Erie County
Five-lined Skink, Eumeces fasciatus. In Erie County, the Five-lined Skink is found in
old fields and ecotonal areas between field and forest. This species is known only from a few sites
in Conneaut and Springfield Townships. On 22 May 1991, two Five-lined Skinks were observed
mating on abandoned railroad bridge in Conneaut Township. The female was maintained in cap¬
tivity, and produced nine eggs on 21 June, eight of which hatched on 21 July. A female was found
brooding eleven eggs in a cavity beneath a piece of tin on 4 August 1997 in Springfield Township.
A female captured 27 June 2003 in Conneaut Township produced 12 eggs in captivity on 12 July,
11 of which hatched on 12 Aug. Three Springfield Township Five-lined Skinks averaged 68 mm
SVL (sd=7.0, range 61-75), TL averaged 166.7 mm (sd=9.1, range 157-175). Erie County Eumeces
fasciatus have been observed from 29 March - 29 September.
Specimens: CM 119167; CM 119168; CM 148007; TREC R 002
There are nine turtle species known to occur in Erie County.
Wood Turtle, Glyptemys insculpta . The Wood Turtle is a streamside species, and often
utilizes nearby woods, meadows, and old fields. Glyptemys insculpta were collected from “near
Erie, Presque Isle” In 1933 and “Erie Harbor” in 1934. Considering the strong association of this
species with stream habitats, it seems unlikely that Wood Turtles ever existed on the peninsula of
Presque Isle in an established population. It is probable that if a population occurred around Presque
Isle Bay, it was In the vicinity of some of the streams entering the bay, such as Cascade Creek. No
additional specimens have been documented in the county. Garber and Burger (1995) documented
the extirpation of a Connecticut Wood Turtle population following the permitting of hiking and
fishing In an area that was formerly closed to the public. There have been occasional unsubstanti¬
ated reports of this species in the French Creek Watershed in the eastern portion of Erie County.
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
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Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Further work is needed to confirm the presence of this species in that area. Both specimens in the
Carnegie Museum of Natural History were collected in August.
Specimens: CM 6880; CM 7503
Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina serpentina. The Common Snapping
Turtle is found in a wide variety of habitats, from vernal pools to large lakes and streams. The
Common Snapping Turtle has been found at Presque Isle State Park, and in Amity, Conneaut,
Girard, Elk Creek, Fairview, Girard, McKean, Millcreek, Springfield, Union, Venango, Washing¬
ton, Waterford, and Wayne Townships. Ten Erie County Common Snapping Turtles averaged 237
mm CL (sd=85.1, range 101-381). Chelydra s. serpentina has been observed from 29 March to 9
September in Erie County.
Specimens: AMNH 152185; CM 3041; CM 3193; CM 144168; CM 144169
Common Musk Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus. The Common Musk Turtle in Erie County
is known from Presque Isle State Park in Millcreek Township, and possibly Springfield Township
(Aquatic Ecology Associates, 1977a). Matson et al (2004) found a specimen in Conneaut Creek in
Ohio, near the Ohio - Pennsylvania border. Due to high water conditions the previous week, they
suggested that it may have been swept downstream from Pennsylvania waters; therefore it is pos¬
sible that this species occurs in Conneaut or Springfield Townships in Erie County as well. Eighteen
Common Musk Turtles from Presque Isle averaged 103.1 mm CL (sd=9.2, range 83-114); weight
averaged 184.9 g (n=14, sd=48.6, range 106-245). Sternotherus odoratus has been observed from
24 April to 30 September.
Specimens: CM 3185; CM 7500; CM 7501; CM 21740; EUP 112; EUP 148
Spotted Turtle, Clemmys guttata . The Spotted Turtle is uncommon in Erie County, hav¬
ing been found only in the western half of the county, including Presque Isle. This species prefers
more shallow habitats, such as vernal pools, marshes, small slow-flowing creeks, and occasionally,
the shallow edges of ponds and lakes. Carapace length of Erie County Spotted Turtles ranged from
80.7 - 121.8 mm (X = 106.5; sd = 8.1 ; n = 20) in males, and 85.5 - 1 14.8 mm (X = 105.6; sd = 7.6;
n = 18) in females. Weight of these same turtles was 88-225 grams (X = 174.4; sd = 31.5; n = 20)
in males, and 92-241 grams (X = 189.7; sd = 36.1; n = 18) in females.
A western Erie County population was estimated to contain 35 - 45 (95% confidence
interval) adult turtles (Gray, 2004). The Spotted Turtle in Erie County has been observed between
26 February and 20 July. In adjacent Crawford County, Clemmys guttata have been seen active as
late as early October (Anderson and Stull, 1995.)
Specimens: CM 3204; CM 7502
Blanding’s lYirtle, Emydoidea blandingii. This species is rare in Erie County, and is only
known from Presque Isle State Park, the only site in Pennsylvania where this species is currently
known to occur. Emydoidea blandingii is usually found in habitats containing a mosaic of inter¬
connected habitats, such as marshes, wet meadows, ponds, and slow moving streams (Hulse et al.
2001). Sightings of E. blandingii have been made between 24 April (R. Grubbs, pers. comm.) and
September (Anderson, 1983). Hulse et al (2001) considered specimens at Presque Isle as possible
waifs from other populations. However, the recent increase in sightings of at least five different
individuals at the park suggests that this might not be the most parsimonious explanation. The status
of this species at Presque Isle is in need of additional study.
Specimens: TREC R-035.
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Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2
June 2008
Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene Carolina Carolina. The Eastern Box Turtle is rare and may
be extirpated from Erie County. Terrapene c. Carolina is reportedly most often found in decidu¬
ous forest and ecotonal areas between forest and old field (Hulse et al 2001). It has been recorded
from Presque Isle State Park, and also from Fairview and Millcreek Townships. However, the
recent observations of this species in Fairview and Millcreek were most likely released pets. When
captured, the Fairview individual did not display the typical defensive behavior of this species
- withdrawal into the shell.
The specimens in the Carnegie Museum were collected between 7 June and August.
Specimens: CM 3168; CM 7504
Common Map TUrtie, Graptemys geographica. In Erie County, the Common Map Turtle
is found in Presque Isle State Park and Presque Isle Bay, and occasionally along the Lake Erie shore¬
line to North East, especially in protected harbors. It has been introduced to Edieboro Lake. Records
exist for the City of Erie and the townships of Fairview, Millcreek, North East and Washington. At
Presque Isle, the Common Map Turtle is abundant. The Common Map Turtle prefers large bodies
of water, such as rivers and lakes with basking sites that provide access to deep water. A sample
of twenty-seven male Common Map Turtles from Presque Isle averaged 110.4 mm CL (sd=12.2,
range 58-130); male mass averaged 172 g (n=17, §d=22.7, range 133-217); females averaged 220.9
mm CL (n=18, sd=20.9, range 172-245); female mass averaged 1380.9 g (n=18, sd=374.4, range
587-2079). Graptemys geographica has been observed from 29 February to 4 November.
Specimens: AMNH 146744; CM 3006 - 3008; CM 3040; CM 3199; CM 3215; CM
7483; CM 7505; CM 58880; EUP 24-28; EUP 38-39; EUP 122-124; EUP 134 ; EUP 147; MCZ
54707; USNM 51192
Midland Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta marginata. The Midland Painted Turtle has
been found in just about every type of aquatic habitat in Erie County, including swamps, marshes,
vernal pools, and man-made ponds to name just a few. Chrysemys p. marginata is a common species
in Erie County. It has been observed at Presque Isle State Park, and in Amity, Conneaut, Fairview,
Greene, Greenfield, Harborcreek, McKean, Millcreek, Springfield, Union, Venango, Washington,
and Waterford Townships. Males from Erie County average 119.2 mm CL (n=27, sd-14.1, range
92-141); while females averaged 124.2 mm (n-20, sd=26.8, range 78-155.5). Juveniles from Mill¬
creek Township (n=6) averaged 60 mm CL (sd 10,6, range 50-78.3). Mass for five adults averaged
268.6 g (sd=50.6, range 201-325). Chrysemys p. marginata has been observed in every month in
Erie County, with the earliest date being 6 January, and the latest being 7 December.
Specimens: CM 3009 -3011; CM 3039; CM 3080; CM 3151; CM 3175; CM 3218; CM
3221; CM 7482; CM 7496 - 7499; CM 7508; CM 7755; CM 7756; CM 12318; CM 21741; CM
21742; CM 30317; CM 33673; CM 35137; CM 144167
Eastern Spiny Softshell, Apalone spinifera spinifera. The Eastern Spiny Softshell is
uncommon in Erie County, and has been found at Presque Isle State Park, as well as in the Con¬
neaut Creek drainage in Conneaut and Springfield townships, and in the French Creek drainage in
Greene, LeBoeuf, Washington, and Waterford Townships. In Erie County, Apalone s. spinifera has
been observed between 1 3 April and 5 August.
Specimens: CM 1321; CM 3012; CM 3038; CM 3192; CM 3222; CM 43865; EUP 2-6
Possible species.
The following species have not been documented in Erie County. However, in several
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
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Volume 44 Number 2
field guides, the depicted ranges of these species include Erie County.
June 2008
Longtail Salamander, Eurycea longicauda longicauda. Hulse et al (2001) show the likely
distribution of this species as including all of Erie County. However, there are no museum specimens,
nor literature records for this species in Erie County (McCoy 1982). In Ohio, the closest record to
Erie County is in southeastern Ashtabula County (Pfingsten and Matson 2003); in New York the range
only extends to southeastern Chautauqua County (Gibbs et al. 2007). A recent survey of amphibians
and reptiles along Conneaut Creek in Ashtabula County, Ohio failed to find any Eurycea longicauda
(Matson et al 2004). In addition, the authors of the current paper have spent a considerable amount
of time in the field throughout Erie County and have not observed this species.
Western Chorus Frog, Pseudacris triseriata triseriata. Like the Longtail Salamander,
the range of the Western Chorus Frog has been illustrated as including Erie County (Conant and
Collins 1998; Hulse et al 2001). No museum specimens and no literature records are known from
Erie County (McCoy 1982). The Western Chorus Frog is known from southeastern Cattaraugus
County, New York (Gibbs et al 2007) and southeastern Ashtabula County, Ohio (Davis and Menze
2000). Pseudacris t. triseriata is reported to be somewhat tolerant of human-altered landscapes, as
long as pollution is not severe (Conant and Collins 1998). This diminutive anuran should be sought
in swamps, marshes, and water-filled roadside ditches, especially in border regions in Concord,
Conneaut, Springfield, and Wayne townships.
Nonnatke_SpedesA,
The following are examples of nonnative amphibian and reptile taxa that have been found
in Erie County: Chrysemys picta picta, Terrapene Carolina triunguis, Terrapene ornata (McKinstry,
1987), Trachemys scripta elegans, Anolis carolinenis, Rhamphotyphlops hraminus (Paul Curtis, pers.
comm.), Caiman crocodilus (McKinstry, 1987). Graptemys pseudo geo graphica (Robert Wellington,
Peter Lindeman, pers. comm.), and Osteopilus septentrionalis (Mike Dohanic, pers. comm.).
Most of these specimens were released or escaped pets, although some arrive as stowaways
in shipments of products. Most of these species are unlikely to become established, as they are not
adapted to survive the harsh winters, but a few could potentially establish in the county (e.g. the
Red-eared Slider). Nonnative species and released pets present several threats to native species,
such as the potential to introduce disease or genes into populations where their introduction would
be detrimental. They may also compete with native populations, possibly causing declines.
Statm^and^omervatjon of Erie County Amphibians andReptjles^
Habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation are suspected to be the greatest threats to global
amphibian and reptile populations (Mitchell and Klemens, 2000; Semlitsch, 2003; Gallant et al.
2007). As urban and suburban development continues in Erie County, amphibian and reptile habitat
will continue to decrease. The county contains a variety of protected habitats (two state parks, 16
state game lands, one county park, and numerous municipal parks), but most are small and scat¬
tered, and as such will become increasingly insular. We have witnessed habitat alteration at many
sites that may have negatively affected species of amphibians and reptiles (Gray, 2006; 2007a and
b). Conservation of Erie County’s amphibian and reptile populations will require educating the
public about the importance of biodiversity, the encouragement of responsible land use practices,
and additional land protection, including acquisition and conservation easements.
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Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2
Acknowledgements.
June 2008
The following individuals and their respective institutions are greatly thanked for helping
with data regarding the Erie County specimens in their collections: Tim Matson (CMNH), Steve
Rogers (CM), Traci Hartsell (USNM), Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. (SMP), Steve Ropski (GU), Peter
Lindeman (EUP). In addition, biodiversity occurrence data was provided by the Sternberg Museum
of Natural History (MHP) (Accessed through GBIF Data Portal, www.gbif.net, 2007-09-4). The
following individuals provided assistance to the authors by sharing information, helping in the field,
granting access to property and reviewing the manuscript: Scott Bloomstine, Paul Curtis, Joseph
T. Collins, Mike Dohanic, Boris Kitevski, Peter Lindeman, Don McKinstry, Shane Snyder, Bob
Wellington, Brian Wettekin, and Brian Winslow.
All sources cited in the text are included here. In addition, we have assembled a compre¬
hensive bibliography on the herpetology of Erie County, Pennsylvania. References preceded by
an asterisk form this bibliography.
* Anderson, E.
1983. Turtle attracts statewide attention. Erie Morning News, Sept. 15.
* Anderson, E.
1989 a. Nature’s way: Amphibians and turtles. Erie Morning News. April 13,
1989.
* Anderson, E.
1989 b. Nature’s way: The lucky frog. Erie Morning News. April 17, 1989.
* Anderson, E. and J. Stull.
1995. Nature Watch: 1985-1995 Erie, Pennsylvania and nearby areas. RNS Printing.
Erie, PA 1 25 pp.
* Aquatic Ecology Associates.
1977a. First interim data report for the period MarchS, 1977 to May 20, 1977 for
United States Steel Corporation, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
15230, May 31, 1977.
* Aquatic Ecology Associates.
1977b. Aquatic and terrestrial ecology studies, Lake Front Plant, Coneeaut, Ohio,
summary report for the period May 21, 1977 to June 15, 1977. Ecology As¬
sociates, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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*Bartlett, J.
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*Gray, B.
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*Gray, B.
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The herpetofauna of a national superfund site in Erie, Pennsylvania. Bull.
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2007b. Inventory of amphibians along Wolf Run, Erie, Pennsylvania. Bull. Chicago
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*Gray, B. S.
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2003. A note on sexual dichromatism in Clemmys guttata from Erie County, Penn¬
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*Gray, B. S. and M. Lethaby.
2004. A den site utilized by the Northern Red-bellied Snake, Storeria occipito -
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*Gray, B., H. M. Smith, and D. Chiszar.
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Some bizarre effects on snakes, supposedly from pollution, at a site in Penn¬
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*McKinstry, D. M. and H. N. Cunningham.
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2006.
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Erie County, Pennsylvania. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 40(6): 110-1 11.
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Brian S. Gray, 1217 Clifton Drive, Erie, Pennsylvania 16505-5215, brachystoma@hotmail.com.
Mark Lethaby, 535 East 29^ Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16504, mlethaby@verizon.net.
Received: 10 April 2008
Accepted: 6 May 2008
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society page 69
Volume 44 Number 2
News and Notes
June 2008
Editors Note: In the last issue Vol. 44, No. 1 , pp. 1-7, the figures 1 and 2 were inadvertently
switched during type setting. The figure on page two belongs under the caption on page 3 (Figure
2) and the figure on page three belongs under the caption on page two (Figure 1). We apologize for
any inconvenience this may have caused.
HSH
page 70
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society
Volume 44 Number 2
News and Notes: Book Review
June 2008
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News and Notes
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