Introduction

  The natural history of Uvalde County, Texas is one of the most diverse in the entire continental United States.  Uvalde County falls within two major physiographic regions of the U.S., the Interior Plains and the Gulf Coastal Plain. 

  These major physiographic regions can be further divided into two smaller ecoregions.  The subdivision of the Interior Plains within Uvalde County is the Edward’s Plateau (locally known as the Texas Hill Country) and occurs in the northern one-third of the County.  The subdivision of the Gulf Coastal Plain is the South Texas Plains and occurs in the southern two-thirds of the County. 

  The Edward’s Plateau can be further divided into the Balcones Canyon-lands.  The South Texas Plains can be further divided into the Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains and the Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub.  Detailed information about the natural history, physiography, geology and ecology of Uvalde County has been compiled [in previous pages of this website].

  For the purpose of this proposal it is most important to highlight that two major physiographic regions meet in Uvalde County, with several subdivisions providing a vast array of habitat and ecological conditions.  Due to this fact, Uvalde County is a crossroads for different groups of plants and animals that are highly varied in species from east to west and north to south.   

  The purpose of this proposal and research is to examine the herpetofaunal (amphibian & reptile) diversity and abundance of Uvalde County, Texas.  The amphibians and reptiles inhabiting Uvalde County and south-central Texas are some of the most diverse and unique in the entire United States.  Within the United States at least 621 herpetofaunal species are currently recognized (Collins).  Texas has one of the highest numbers of herpetofaunal species of any state in the U.S. with at least 225 native species inhabiting the State (Herps of Texas).  This herpetofaunal diversity is high in the biogeographical crossroads of Uvalde County and potentially at least 102 native species occur here (Studenroth).  A checklist of potential herpetofaunal species of Uvalde County and the region has been included below. 

  Amphibians and reptiles are often overlooked, but are one of the most important groups of animals in many ecosystems.  Many species form the base of the food chain, or play a critical role in the success and survival of higher vertebrate forms.  Herpetofauna also play a very important role in consuming insects, a number of which are harmful to humans and agriculture.  Snakes are also one of the greatest predators of rodents.  When rodent populations are not controlled they can consume high amounts of crops, spread human disease and cause fires by chewing on electrical wiring in buildings.  Amphibians and reptiles also possess many extraordinary life cycles and for relatively small animals can endure or adapt to extremes in temperature, climate and conditions.  Even species that are feared by humans, such as venomous snakes, can be used to produce anti-venom, medicines or other beneficial products.  When herpetofaunal abundance and balance is offset it has a ripple-effect on many other species, including humans.  Much can be learned by studying such a simple, yet complicated group of animals.  

  This research project will also examine many factors influencing the distribution and abundance of herpetofauna in the Uvalde region.  Factors examined will include: human impact, development and disturbance and alteration of native habitat; native habitat conditions; local trends of herpetofaunal abundance and distribution over time; and species adaptations and use of altered habitats.  When a species is documented its locality data will be recorded as: Natural (N), Ruderal (R), Developed (D) or Agricultural (A).  In as many cases as possible when an individual animal is documented in a natural habitat, the specific ecosystem type will be determined.

  Abundance and diversity of herpetofauna and many native species have been greatly impacted by human activities.  Many species have declined over Texas since the earliest explorations and development by European settlers.  As much as possible this study will examine those changes and herpetofaunal adaptations to human activities.

  Special attention will also be given to rare and endangered species occurrence (those listed and monitored by State and Federal agencies).  Reports will be provided to various agencies of rare species documented and data will be submitted to current monitoring programs for declining species such as the Texas Horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum).  Special surveys for unique and endemic species will also be conducted...    

Addendum #1: A Checklist of Potential Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles)

of Uvalde County & South-Central Texas

? Indicates the species may occur in the County or region.

() A scientific name within parenthesis indicates a new or disputed name.

Turtles (Testudines):

Kinosternidae (Mud & Musk turtles):

1) Yellow mud turtle - Kinosternon flavescens

?2) Mississippi Mud turtle - Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis

3) Stinkpot/Common Musk turtle - Sternotherus odoratus

Emydidae (Water & Box turtles):

?4) Texas Map turtle - Graptemys versa

5) Rio Grande cooter - Pseudemys gorzugi

6) Texas river cooter - Pseudemys texana

7) Ornate box turtle - Terrapene o. ornata

8) Red-eared slider - Trachemys scripta elegans

Chelydridae (Snapping turtles):

9) Common snapping turtle - Chelydra s. serpentina

Trionychidae (Softshell turtles):

10) Guadalupe spiny softshell turtle - Apalone spinifera guadalupensis

Testudinidae (Gopher tortoises):

11) Texas tortoise - Gopherus berlandieri

Lizards (Lacertilia):

Anguidae (Legless Lizards):

?1) Texas Alligator Lizard - Gerrhonotus infernalis

?2) Western Slender Glass Lizard - Ophisaurus a. attenuatus

Polychrotidae (Anoles):

3) Green Anole - Anolis carolinensis

Crotaphytidae (Collared & Leopard Lizards):

4) Eastern Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus collaris

5) Reticulate Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus reticulatus

Gekkonidae (Geckos):

6) Texas Banded Gecko - Coleonyx brevis

Phrynosomatidae (Sand, Horned & Spiny Lizards):

7) Texas Greater Earless Lizard - Cophosaurus texanus

8) Southern/Spot-tailed Earless Lizard - Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis

9) Texas Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma cornutum

10) Roundtail Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma modestum

?11) Canyon Lizard - Sceloporus merriami

12) Texas Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus olivaceus

13) Crevice Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus poinsettii

14) Blue Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus serrifer

15) Southern Prairie Lizard - Sceloporus undulatus consobrinus (Sceloporus consobrinus)

16) Rosebelly Lizard - Sceloporus variabilis marmoratus

17) Eastern/Texas Tree Lizard - Urosaurus o. ornatus

Scincidae (Skinks):

18) Great Plains Skink – Eumeces (Plestiodon) obsoletus

19) Short-lined Skink - Eumeces (Plestiodon) tetragrammus brevilineatus

20) Ground Skink - Scincella lateralis

Teiidae (Whiptails):

21) Texas Spotted Whiptail – Cnemidophorus (Aspidoscelis) gularis

22) Trans-Pecos Striped Whiptail - Cnemidophorus (Aspidoscelis) inornatus heptagrammus

23) Laredo Striped Whiptail - Cnemidophorus (Aspidoscelis) laredoensis

?24) Marbled Whiptail - Cnemidophorus (Aspidoscelis) marmoratus

25) Prairie Racerunner - Cnemidophorus (Aspidoscelis) sexlineatus viridis

Snakes (Serpentes):

Leptotyphlopidae (Blind Snakes):

1) Plains Blind Snake - Leptotyphlops d. dulcis

2) Trans-Pecos Blind Snake - Leptotyphlops humilis segregus

Colubridae:

3) Texas Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans arenicola

4) Trans-Pecos Rat Snake - Bogertophis s. subocularis

5) Eastern Yellowbelly Racer - Coluber constrictor flaviventris

6) Texas Indigo Snake - Drymarchon melanurus erebennus

7) Baird's Rat Snake - Elaphe (Pantherophis) bairdi

8) Great Plains Rat Snake - Elaphe (Pantherophis) guttata emoryi

9) Texas Rat Snake – Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri)  

?10) Western Hooknose Snake - Gyalopion canum

?11) Grey-Banded Kingsnake - Lampropeltis alterna

?12) Prairie Kingsnake - Lampropeltis c. calligaster

13) Desert Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula splendida

14) Mexican Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum annulata  

15) Western Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum testaceus

16) Schott's Whipsnake - Masticophis s. schotti

17) Central Texas Whipsnake - Masticophis taeniatus girardi

18) Rough Green Snake - Opheodrys aestivus

19) Bull Snake - Pituophis catenifer sayi

20) Texas Longnose Snake - Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus

21) Texas Patchnose Snake - Salvadora grahamiae lineata

22) Ground Snake - Sonora semiannulata

23) Flathead Snake - Tantilla gracilis

24) Southwestern Blackhead Snake - Tantilla hobartsmithi

25) Plains Blackhead Snake - Tantilla nigriceps

Dipsadidae:

26) Prairie Ringneck Snake - Diadophis punctatus arnyi

27) Texas Night Snake - Hypsiglena torquata jani

Elapidae:

28) Texas Coral Snake - Micrurus fulvuis tenere

Natricidae:

29) Blotched Water Snake - Nerodia erythrogaster transversa

30) Diamondback Water Snake - Nerodia rhombifer

31) Texas Brown Snake - Storeria dekayi texana

32) Eastern Blackneck Garter Snake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus

33) Checkered Garter Snake - Thamnophis marcianus

34) Redstripe Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus

35) Texas Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis annectens

36) Texas Lined Snake - Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum

37) Rough Earth Snake - Virginia striatula

?38) Western Earth Snake - Virginia valeriae

Xenodontidae:

39) Mexican Hognose Snake - Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi

40) Eastern Hognose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos

Viperidae (Vipers), Crotalinae (Pit-Vipers):

41) Broad-banded Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus

42) Western Cottonmouth - Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma

43) Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox

44) Mottled Rock Rattlesnake - Crotalus l. lepidus

45) Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake - Crotalus m. molossus

Frogs & Toads (Anura):

Bufonidae (True Toads):

1) Eastern Green Toad – Bufo (Anaxyrus) d. debilis

2) Red-spotted Toad – Bufo (Anaxyrus) punctatus

3) Texas Toad - Bufo (Anaxyrus) speciosus

4) Gulf Coast Toad – Bufo valliceps (Ollotis nebulifer)

5) Woodhouse's Toad - Bufo woodhousei 

Hylidae (Treefrogs):

6) Blanchard’s Cricket Frog - Acris crepitans blanchardi

7) Cope's Gray Treefrog - Hyla chrysoscelis

8) Green Treefrog - Hyla cinerea

9) Gray Treefrog - Hyla versicolor 

10) Spotted Chorus Frog - Pseudacris clarkii

11) Strecker's Chorus Frog - Pseudacris streckeri

Leptodactylidae (Tropical Frogs):

12) Eastern Barking Frog - Eleutherodactylus (Craugastor) augusti

13) Cliff Chirping Frog - Eleutherodactylus marnockii

Microhylidae (Narrowmouth Toads):

14) Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad - Gastrophryne olivacea

Pelobatidae (Spadefoot Toads):

15) Couch's Spadefoot Toad - Scaphiopus couchii

Ranidae (True Frogs):

16) Rio Grande Leopard Frog - Rana (Lithobates) berlandieri

17) Bullfrog - Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana

Salamanders (Caudata):

Sirenidae:

1) Rio Grande Lesser Siren – Siren intermedia texana

Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders):

?2) Eastern Tiger Salamander - Ambystoma t. tigrinum

Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders):

?3) Cascade Caverns Salamander – Eurycea latitans (Possible occurrence based on TXPWD range map)

4) Texas Salamander - Eurycea neotenes

5) Valdina Farms Salamander - Eurycea troglodytes

6) Western Slimy Salamander - Plethodon albagula

Exotics/Non-native species:

Gekkonidae (Geckos):

1) Mediterranean Gecko - Hemidactylus turcicus

Summary:

Turtles: 11, Lizards: 25, Snakes: 45, Frogs: 17, Salamanders: 6, Exotics: 1. 

Total = 105 species.

References: 

www.herpsoftexas.org/.  2013.  Herps of Texas. 

Addendum 2.  Target Herpetofaunal Species

Reason: LS = Listed State, LF = Listed Federal, TM = Tropical/Mexican species, BC = Big Bend/Chihuahuan desert, E = Endemic, US = Unusual/Specialized, P = Personal interest

? Indicates the species may occur in the County or region.