Selected Records of Reptiles and Amphibians from Kansas

Excerpt

Preparation of a handbook of reptiles and amphibians by the junior author has led to a survey of the collections of these animals at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. Numerous locality records of interest and importance have been accumulated there through the efforts of the senior author and a number of his students, particularly Mr. Allen Downs. The more important records, including the first record for Kansas of Rana sylvatica, are reported here. We have not mentioned specimens that are from counties from which the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History already has specimens.

Specimens examined by Smith are indicated by an asterisk; those identified by the late Dr. F. N. Blanchard are indicated by an encircled period (none of these specimens are now available). All other specimens here recorded have been examined either by the senior author or by Mr. Allen Downs, or by both. Specimen numbers, unless otherwise indicated, are those of the Kansas State Teachers College collection.

Triturus viridescens louisianensis (Wolterstorff), Newt.—Cherokee Co.: 1 mile north and 4 miles east of Crestline (No. 164).* This is a terrestrial adult, and provides the second known locality for the species in the state.

Ambystoma texanum (Matthes), Narrow-mouthed Salamander.—Lyon Co.: Emporia.

Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium (Baird), Tiger Salamander.—Lyon Co.: (No. 292); 2 miles east of Americus. Ness Co.: Ness City (No. 591).

Scaphiopus bombifrons Cope, Plains Spadefoot.—Ness Co.: 4 miles west, 1.5 miles north of Ness City (No. 592).

Bufo americanus americanus (Holbrook), American Toad.—Chase Co.: 10 miles southwest of Saffordville. Cherokee Co.: 4 miles southeast of Columbus. Lyon Co.: 6 miles south of Plymouth (No. 290)*; Emporia (Nos. 442, 443).* The records from Chase and Lyon counties represent the westernmost localities for the species in Kansas.

Bufo cognatus Say, Great Plains Toad.—Ness Co.: 4 miles west and 1.5 miles north of Ness City (No. 594).

Bufo woodhousii woodhousii (Girard), Rocky Mountain Toad.—Clark Co.: 11 miles south of Bucklin (No. 401).* Decatur Co.: Sappa Creek near Oberlin (2 spec.).* Ford. Co.: 5 miles southwest of Dodge City (1 spec.).* Lyon Co.: Emporia (No. 352).* Ness Co.: Ness City (Nos. 502-504, 595, 596)*; 4 miles west, 1.5 miles north of Ness City (No. 593).* Sheridan Co.: Sheridan County State Park (Nos. 565-568).

Acris crepitans Baird, Northern Cricket Frog.—Ness Co.: 4 miles west and 1.5 miles north of Ness City (Nos. 506, 507, 597-606).*

Pseudacris nigrita triseriata (Wied), Striped Chorus Frog.—Lyon Co.: 10 miles south of Plymouth; 3 miles north of Emporia (No. 300); 7 miles west of Olpe; 2 miles northeast of Emporia (Nos. 434-441).* Neosho Co.: 3 miles west of Erie.

Hyla versicolor versicolor (Le Conte), Common Tree Toad.—Chautauqua Co.: Elk City (No. 621).

Rana catesbeiana Shaw, Bullfrog.—Ness Co.: 4 miles west and 1.5 miles north of Ness City (No. 607).* Wallace Co.: 3 miles east of Sharon Springs (1 spec.).*

Rana pipiens brachycephala Cope, Leopard Frog.—Clark Co.: 11 miles south of Bucklin (Nos. 398-400).* Ness Co.: 4 miles west and 1.5 miles north of Ness City (Nos. 505, 508, 509, 608).*

Rana sylvatica cantabrigensis Baird, Wood Frog.—Lyon Co.: extreme southwestern corner, 3 miles east of Chase County line, between the Verdigris River and the corner of the county (1 specimen, now Mus. Nat. Hist., Univ. Kans., No. 23149).* This specimen provides for the first time a basis for inclusion of the species in the fauna of Kansas. It measures 50 mm. snout to vent; hind leg from vent 80 mm.; tibia 23 mm. The ratio of hind leg to snout-vent measurement is 0.625, and that of the tibia to snout-vent measurement is 2.17....