Amphibian and Reptile Checklists of the United States

Konza Prairie

Manhattan, Kansas

Reptiles and Amphibians Checklist

This list includes the 34 species of amphibians and reptiles known to occur on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area as of 1 August, 1993. For more information on these animals on the Konza Prairie and throughout Kansas, refer to the following publications:

Heinrich, M.L., and D.W. Kaufman. 1985. Herpetofauna of the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas. Prairie Naturalist 17(2):101-112.

Collins, J.T. 1993. Amphibians and reptiles in Kansas. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. 397 pp.

SALAMANDERS

___ Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium (Barred Tiger Salamander)

FROGS AND TOADS

___ Spea bombifrons (Plains Spadefoot)
___ Bufo woodhousii woodhousii (Woodhouse's Toad)
___ Acris crepitans blanchardi (Blanchard's Cricket Frog)
___ Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope's Gray Treefrog)
___ Pseudacris triseriata triseriata (Western Chorus Frog)
___ Rana blairi (Plains Leopard Frog)
___ Rana catesbeiana (Bullfrog)
___ Gastrophryne olivacea (Plains Narrowmouth Toad)

TURTLES

___ Chelydra serpentina serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle)
___ Chrysemys picta bellii (Western Painted Turtle)
___ Terrapene ornata ornata (Ornate Box Turtle)

LIZARDS

___ Crotaphytus collaris collaris (Eastern Collared Lizard)
___ Phrynosoma cornutum (Texas Horned Lizard)
___ Eumeces obsoletus (Great Plains Skink)
___ Eumeces septentrionalis (Northern Prairie Skink)
___ Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink)
___ Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis (Prairie Racerunner)
___ Ophisaurus attenuatus (Western Slender Glass Lizard)

SNAKES

___ Carphophis vermis (Western Worm Snake)
___ Diadophis punctatus arnyi (Prairie Ringneck Snake)
___ Tantilla gracilis (Flathead Snake)
___ Coluber constrictor flaviventris (Eastern Yellowbelly Racer)
___ Elaphe emoryi (Great Plains Rat Snake)
___ Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta (Black Rat Snake)
___ Lampropeltis calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake)
___ Lampropeltis getula (Common Kingsnake)
___ Lampropeltis triangulum (Milk Snake)
___ Pituophis catenifer sayi (Bullsnake)
___ Nerodia sipedon sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
___ Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (Red-sided Garter Snake)
___ Tropidoclonion lineatum (Lined Snake)
___ Storeria dekayi texana (Texas Brown Snake)
___ Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster (Osage Copperhead)

Despite reports to the contrary, the only verified venomous species on the Konza Prairie is the Copperhead. No species of rattlesnake has yet been documented here; however, a Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) was recently collected about 4 miles north of Konza Prairie.

The collection or removal of animals from the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area is not allowed. In Kansas, the capture of all amphibians and reptiles is regulated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. For information on regulations pertaining to the legal collection of these animals in Kansas, contact:

                   Kansas Dept. Wildlife and Parks
                   Operations Office
                   Rt 2, Box 54A
                   Pratt, KS 67124-9599
                   Telephone: 316/672-5911

You are encouraged to report interesting observations or sightings of species not on this list to us at:

                   John Zimmerman
                   Biology Division
                   Kansas State University
                   Manhattan, KS 66506-4901
                   Telephone: 913/532-6620

This list was prepared by Richard Kazmaier.

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