The web site for the Missouri Herpetological Atlas Project has been updated with collection data through the 2016 season. Two statewide publications have also been updated:

• Daniel, R.E. and B.S. Edmond. 2016. Atlas of Missouri Amphibians and Reptiles for 2016. <http://atlas.moherp.org/pubs/atlas16.pdf>
• Daniel, R.E., B.S. Edmond, and J.T. Briggler. 2016. Checklists for Missouri Amphibians and Reptiles for 2016. <http://atlas.moherp.org/pubs/checklist16.pdf>

The checklist document contains a state checklist and individual county checklists, with two counties per page. Note that individual one-page county checklists are also available, one each with and without common names. These can be found at the bottom of each county page. To navigate to a county page of interest, start with the county list or clickable county map.

For this update, two non-native lizards have been added to the state’s herpetofauna: the Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidatylus turcicus) and the Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis siculus).

Thus far, non-native reptiles in Missouri have only been found in urban areas and do not appear to constitute a threat to our native herpetofauna. This is not the case everywhere and non-native species that become invasive are considered by many biologists to be a major threat, second only to habitat loss, to our native species. Care should be taken to prevent the spread of all non-native species. Furthermore, it is illegal to release non-native species into the environment.

Please note that any records submitted in 2017 will not be reflected in the updates until at least the next year.