What
Black-necked Garter Snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen in grass next to sidewalk on a cloudy day with light rain in the morning.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found underneath a rock. Temperature 70 degrees with sunny sky. Temps in the 40's the night passed drove many things under rocks. I also saw a spiny lizard under the rock next to the skink.
What
Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found under some sheet metal but then bolted to some over growth. Another Sceloporus olivaceous was seen in the tin. It was much smaller. Temp in the low 70's but the previous night has lows In the bottom 40's. the day was sunny but windy and cool.
What
Burrowing Wolf Spiders (Genus Geolycosa)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found underneath a large rock that was cracked in half with a web in the middle of the crack. The spider was also found with its molt. Was missing the left front limb but seemed to get by rather well.
What
Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found underneath a rock after a very cold night in the lower 40's. svl of 54mm
What
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)Observer
ericleonDescription
Several seen sun bathing and swimming on a warm day temps in upper 80's I tried to swim and catch one but they are crafty.
What
Texas Cooter (Pseudemys texana)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen basking on the shore on shoal creek along with several other turtles. Some where on the bank others were on logs. The temperature was rather warm in the upper 80's
Photos / Sounds
What
Frogs and Toads (Order Anura)Observer
ericleonDescription
Tadpoles found in a limestone creek bed that had been eroded to create many shallow pools within the barely running current. Several of these pools were occupied by a hundred or more tadpoles in about a 2 meter radius.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer ssp. sayi)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found on road 84 degrees. It was easy to catch but once in the pillowcase this snake began to hiss like crazy. It's breath heaves and it would let out a long opened moth hisssssssss. It sounded very much akin to a rattle snake. The snake was handled only briefly but it was so agitated that it attempted to strike multiple times. Even inside the pillow case it would strike at outside shadows and movement.
What
Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen rummaging through brush near the field station. The sun had recently set and thunder was heard getting closer. It was so unaware and focused on foraging that it walk directly into its captor. It was quickly further ambushed and secured. It's leathery tough skin was amazing. Only having weakness on its neck joint and its underbelly. It pooped several times durning the struggle to capture however it did not live up to its reputation as being a "sprinkler". Once released it ran quickly and have a mighty leap at least 2 feet off the ground and the ran/trotted away once it saw that we were not try to recapture it.
Photos / Sounds
What
Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen in the leafs collected by a small house it tried to run when discover however it ran into a wire mesh fence and could not escape. It hid under some stairs but that only made it easier to catch. Once captive it was surprising docile.
What
Tribe DiapheromeriniObserver
ericleonDescription
Found on a gate that went across a cattle guard. Very long intenea as long as the body which is about 10 cm long.
What
Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus)Observer
ericleonDescription
60mm svl 84 mm tail found under large rock 74 degrees
Photos / Sounds
What
Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found on roadside near a cattle pond. It was rather lively and hard to catch making some impressive multifoot leaps.
Photos / Sounds
What
Texas Toad (Anaxyrus speciosus)Observer
ericleonDescription
A warm day with temps in the high 80's was followed by a massive storm cell that rolled through and dumped rain. It cleared up quickly and as the thunder still rolled in the distance thousands of frogs of several species began to call. Texas toads were seen at many ponds however they were not calling due to the overwhelming roar of the spadefoots, at this pond however the toads were calling along side 3 others, the spadefoot, Gastrophryne olivaceous, and a Rana berlanderi. Inflated vocal pouches could be seen as the males sung their hearts out. The next day we returned the following morning to find frogs still calling as well as a cluster of frogs performing amplexus.
Photos / Sounds
What
Termites (Epifamily Termitoidae)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen living within some cow dung. These insects could be seen modifying their landscape all over the place covering small sticks in poop/dirt and then eating the wood within. But these termites were covering the dung and making there nests out of it. The termites only chose dry dung an the dung that they inhabited was of a more orange than non inhabited more brown colored dung.
What
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen in the turtle pond on ut campus. It was a cold day and this turtle stayed at the bottom of the pond only very rarely coming up for air. It was mostly hidden by a layer of thick plant matter but it long neck could be seen exploring the edge of its underwater fortress. It finally moved enough/ the plant matter dispersed enough to give me a clear look at its body. It's tail was very long in comparison to the trachemys scripta that surrounded it.
Photos / Sounds
What
Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen sunning in the crook of a tree about a foot above ground. It was near another larger Nerodia and another was seen nearby. The temperature was in the upper 60's lower 70's but the sun was shinning hard. The snakes svl was about 50 cm
Photos / Sounds
What
Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found in a small strip of shade this moth was none responsive, I detached it from the wall into a small container at which point it discharged a bright yellow liquid (about three drops worth) and then also a sticky brown mixture that smelled like peanut butter. The moth never showed much life to it however it was still able to move slowly when it was disturbed. My guess is that it just got caught in the cold weather and did not have a chance to warm up this morning. When I found him the temperature was in the high 50's
What
Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis)Observer
ericleonDescription
Food under rock next to a tantilla in a field surrounded by woodland the day was cool and cloudy.
Photos / Sounds
What
Flat-headed Snake (Tantilla gracilis)Observer
ericleonDescription
Svl 65mm found under rock in a field surrounded by woodland. The day was cool and cloudy
Photos / Sounds
What
Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)Observer
ericleonDescription
I saw these two basking next to one another on my wood pile. The smaller one did not let me get to close and scurried away as I was within 5 feet retreating to the tangle of small branches. The larger one is an old friend of mine and has lived in the wood pile for about 2 years and does not scurry unless I'm within a couple of inches or making a lot of raucous. She is a female of fairly large size although I have never caught her to measure I would say svl of 10-12cm. She will come and feed when I am stirring my compost pile which is directly next to the wood pile. After every shovel or rake she is quick to come in and eat what ever bugs I have disturbed, or she will just wait on the edge and pick off what ever is running away from me. These bugs mostly consist of roaches, wood louse, and earwigs. Although i have seen her eat grasshopper as well. There is a large male that has also been seen actively courting around her showing off his blue underbelly and doing push ups, he to is becoming more accustomed to my presence. A smaller Sceloporus was also seen near the female and seemed to be following her lead as she made her way to the compost pile to feed. It then bit her back hind leg but the Large female did not seem disturbed by this. The little lizard went limp and then proceeded to be carried around by the large female.
Photos / Sounds
What
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)Observer
ericleonDescription
Seen displaying in the patched sun. Although spoked by coming in close to take photos never left the area until finally it proceeded down a stone wall displaying in each patch of sun. Moment after the first anole left a smaller anole took its place in the sun but never became as vibrant green as the first an did not display. Three more anoles were seen within a 20 foot radius and I suspect even more remained unseen. The large green one later returned after about an hour and displayed in the center of the other 4 anoles. Some of the anoles hid or at least stayed out of the way of the bright green male. Only one who I suppose was an interested female held there ground. She was a very beautiful blueish brown green however I could not manage to get a picture of this however because when I got up to get a better view of there courtship I interrupted the magic.
What
Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found on road. Temperatures in the 70's. another toad was caught and began making a loud chirp.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)Observer
ericleonDescription
45mm found under rock on old foundation for a sawmill. The temperature was rather cool however the day was warm
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea)Observer
ericleonDescription
17mm found under juniper log 52 degrees
Photos / Sounds
What
Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis)Observer
ericleonDescription
42mm found in leaf litter a couple of feet off a board walk trail. It was out in the open despite it being somewhat chilly in the low 70's to upper 60's. it was the only thing I saw that night not under a rock.
What
Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer)Observer
ericleonDescription
10cm snout vent length. Found in small hole beneath half buried piece of sheet metal.
What
Western Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus)Observer
ericleonDescription
Approximately 3 feet snout to vent. Male. Found under large piece of sheet metal. Eyes very cloudy. Was aggressive when handling
What
Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)Observer
ericleonDescription
Found on path near east of the pond site at Stengal field lab. The path was covered in a mix of pine needles and oak leaves making this frog very well hidden. When picked up it remained very calm and was very willing to be petted. Many more of the species were seen near by though calling was very limited.