1999 Spring Field Meet
The 59th annual field meeting of the Texas Herpetological Society was held 9-11 April 1999, near Runge, Karnes Co., Texas. The headquarters of this meeting was on the Larry Dement Ranch, which is approximately 1.5 mi ENE Runge, immediately off the southeast side of Texas State Highway 72.
We were also allowed to search two parcels of the nearby Kenneth Foster Ranch. One contains over a mile of river frontage on the San Antonio River (east side), and is located about 6-7 miles due south of Runge along FM 885 (see map). This ranch also has a portion of land that crosses into DeWitt County.
Finally, we were allowed to search several parcels of the Dennis Schlinke Ranch. The Schlinke Ranch is approximately one mile N of the THS Headquarters site, immediately off Co. Rd. 322. The Schlinke Ranch lies NW of the county road, will have two entrances marked with tape or signs, and contains native brush, pastures, and stock tanks. Just opposite the Schlinke Ranch is another portion of the Foster Ranch. This portion also contains a well, brushland, and stock tanks. Both of these parcels cross into DeWitt County for a short distance.
There are 40 amphibians and reptiles recorded for Karnes County, and 45 for DeWitt County (part of the site will lie in DeWitt Co.). If you include all contiguous counties surrounding Karnes Co. (Atascosa, Bee, Live Oak, Goliad, Gonzales, Wilson), there is a total of 85 amphibian and reptile species in the general area (list provided at THS registration desk). There are 9 species of frogs and toads, 9 snakes, 5 lizards, 4 turtles, and the alligator common to Karnes and DeWitt Counties. Karnes County contains 1 salamander, 3 frogs and toads, 1 tortoise, 2 lizards, and 5 snakes not found in DeWitt County. Conversely, DeWitt County contains 1 frog, 3 turtles, 3 lizards, and 10 snakes not found in Karnes County.
Species taken from Karnes County during the
1999 Spring field Meeting,
with a list of Karnes, Dewitt and Wilson County Records appended at the
end of the message.
Acris crepitans blanchardi Blanchard's cricket frog
Bufo speciosus Texas toad
Bufo valliceps Gulf Coast toad
Gastrophryne olivacea Great Plains narrowmouth toad
Hyla cinerea Green treefrog
Rana berlandieri Rio Grande Leopard frog
Rana catesbeiana Bullfrog
Rana sphenocephala Southern Leopard frog
Kinosternon flavescens Yellow mud turtle
Terrapene ornata Ornate Box turtle
Trachemys scripta elegans Red-eared slider
Trionyx (Apalone) spinifera Spiny softshell (SEEN)
Cnemidophorus gularis Texas Spotted Whiptail
Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard
Sceloporus olivaceus Texas Spiny lizard
Scincella lateralis Ground Skink
Arizona elegans arenicola Kansas Glossy snake
Crotalus atrox Western Diamond-back rattlesnake
Elaphe guttata emoryi Great Plains Rat snake
Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri Texas Rat snake
Heterodon platyrhinos Eastern Hognose snake
Masticophis flagellum testaceus Western Coachwhip
Micrurus fulvius tener Texas Coral Snake
Thamnophis marcianus Checkerted Garter Snake
Thamnophis proximus orarius Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake
New Karnes County Records:
Hyla chrysoscelis Copes Gray Treefrog
Pseudacris clarki Spotted Chorus Frog
Pseudemys texana Texas River Cooter
Anolis carolinensis Green Anole
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Six-lined Racerunner
Lampropeltis getula splendida Desert King Snake
Leptotyphlops dulcis dulcis Texas Blind snake
Nerodia erythrogaster transversa Blotched Water Snake
Nerodia r. rhombifer Diamond-backed water snake
New Wilson County Record:
Lampropeltis getula splendida Desert King Snake
New Dewitt County Record:
Terrapene carolina triunguis Three-toed Box Turtle