Details

The Missouri Herpetological Association held its third annual fall field trip on Sunday 28 September 2008 at Onondaga Cave State Park, Crawford County, Missouri. Habitats searched included a glade, wooded hillsides, the Meramec River, and Onondaga Cave.

Eleven members, representing five different institutions, caught more than 119 individual reptiles and amphibians, representing a total of 17 species.

The entire weekend was characterized by warm temperatures (80oF+) and sunny conditions. The total species list along with numbers of individuals can be seen below. The ratsnake was represented solely by a freshly shed skin. Spring peepers were heard calling at most sites. Eastern Gray Treefrogs were also heard calling near the river. Finally, many of the “Cave Salamanders” (Eurycea lucifuga) seen in the cave were hybrids with Long-Tailed Salamanders (Eurycea longicauda).

Species Common Name Number Photos
Eurycea lucifuga Cave Salamander 10 Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo
Eurycea spelaea Grotto Salamander 4 Photo Photo
Plethodon albagula Western Slimy Salamander 7 Photo
Acris crepitans Cricket Frog 13+ Photo
Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper 6+ No photo from this location
Hyla versicolor Gray Treefrog 2 No photo from this location
Lithobates catesbeianus Bullfrog 2 No photo from this location
Lithobates palustris Pickerel Frog 13 Photo
Graptemys geographica Northern Map Turtle 4 Photo Photo
Terrapene carolina Three-toed Box Turtle 1 Photo Photo
Trachemys scripta Red-Eared Slider 16 Photo Photo
Apalone spinifera Spiny Softshell 2 Photo
Sceloporus consobrinus Prairie Lizard 22+ Photo
Scincella lateralis Ground Skink 6 Photo
Diadophis punctatus Ringneck Snake 9 Photo
Pantherophis obsoletus Texas Ratsnake 1 (skin only) No photo from this location
Lampropeltis triangulum Red Milksnake 1 Photo Photo

The MHA would like to thank the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Tara Flynn for providing permission to use state park land for the field trip. Special appreciation is extended to Greg Hanson, our contact at the park, and Daniel Gruhn, our guide for the glade and cave portions of the trip.

Group Photograph

Fall Field Trip 2008 Group Photograph

Front row (standing): Alex Edmond, Joseph Edmond.
Second row (standing): Michelle Bowe (MSU), Don Newman (MDC), Kevin Stohlgren (MDC), Kathleen Mahoney (MDC), Matt Schrum (DNR), Daniel Gruhn (DNR), Brian Edmond (MSU).
Third row (standing): Richard Daniel (UMC), Glenn Manning (UAM).
Key: DNR=Missouri Department of Natural Resources, MDC=Missouri Department of Conservation, MSU=Missouri State University, UAM=University of Arkansas at Monticello, UMC=University of Missouri at Columbia.

Other Photographs