Lizards and Snakes of Alabama (Gosse Nature Guides)

**An up-to-date and comprehensive herpetological guide to Alabama** __Lizards and Snakes of Alabama__ is the most comprehensive taxonomy gathered since Robert H. Mount’s seminal 1975 volume on the reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. This richly illustrated guide provides an up-to-date summary of the taxonomy and life history of lizards and snakes native to, or introduced to, the state. Alabama possesses one of the most species-rich biotas in north temperate areas and this richness is reflected in some groups of lizards, such as skinks, and especially in snakes. The authors examine all known species within the state and describe important regional variations in each species, including changes in species across the many habitats that comprise the state. Significant field studies, especially of Alabama’s threatened and endangered species, have been performed and are used to inform discussion of each account. The life-history entry for each species is comprised of scientific and common names, full-color photographs, a morphological description, discussion of habits and life cycle, and a distribution map depicting the species range throughout the state, as well as notes on conservation and management practices. The illustrated taxonomic keys provided for families, genera, species, and subspecies are of particular value to herpetologists. This extensive guide will serve as a single resource for understanding the rich natural history of Alabama by shedding light on an important component of that biodiversity. Accessible to all, this volume is valuable to both the professional herpetologist and the general reader interested in snakes and lizards. Cover Page Half Title Page Title Page Copyright Page Epigraph Contents Abbreviations Introduction The Squamate Fauna of Alabama Indigenous Species Introduced Species Taxonomic Changes and Problems Climate of Alabama Alabama Geography River Basins Important Geographic Units The Coastal Plain Lower Coastal Plain Red Hills Black Belt Fall Line Hills Upland Regions Piedmont Talladega Upland Ridge and Valley Appalachian Plateaus Tennessee Valley Highland Rim Species Accounts Keys Names Photographs Descriptions Alabama Distribution Habits Conservation and Management Taxonomy Lizards and Snakes—Squamata Key to the Major Lineages of Squamata of Alabama Iguanas, Anoles, and Their Relatives Group Iguania Key to Families of Iguania of Alabama Family Dactyloidae Key to the Genera of Dactyloidae of Alabama Beta Anoles Genus Norops Cuban Brown Anole Norops sagrei sagrei Anoles Genus Anolis Northern Green Anole Anolis carolinensis carolinensis Horned and Spiny Lizards Family Phrynosomatidae Key to the Genera of Phrynosomatidae of Alabama Horned Lizards Genus Phrynosoma Texas Horned Lizard Phrynosoma cornutum Spiny Lizards Genus Sceloporus Eastern Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus Geckos and Their Relatives Group Gekkota Family Gekkonidae House Geckos Genus Hemidactylus Turkish House Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus Skinks, Whiptails, and Their Relatives Group Scincomorpha Key to the Families of Scincomorphs of Alabama Family Scincidae Key to the Genera of Scincidae of Alabama Ground Skinks Genus Scincella Ground Skink Scincella lateralis Toothy Skinks Genus Plestiodon Key to the Species of Plestiodon of Alabama Coal Skink Plestiodon anthracinus Key to the Subspecies of Plestiodon anthracinus of Alabama Northern Coal Skink Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus Southern Coal Skink Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis Northern Mole Skink Plestiodon egregius similis Southeastern Five-lined Skink Plestiodon inexpectatus Broad-headed Skink Plestiodon laticeps Five-lined Skink Plestiodon fasciatus Family Teiidae Whiptails Genus Aspidoscelis Eastern Six-lined Racerunner Aspidoscelis sexlineata Glass Lizards and Their Relatives Group Anguimorpha Family Anguidae Glass Lizards Genus Ophisaurus Key to the Species of Ophisaurus of Alabama Mimic Glass Lizard Ophisaurus mimicus Eastern Glass Lizard Ophisaurus ventralis Eastern Slender Glass Lizard Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus Snakes Group Serpentes Key to the Families of Snakes of Alabama Family Colubridae Subfamily Colubrinae Key to the Genera of Colubrinae of Alabama Black-headed, Crowned, and Flat-headed Snakes Genus Tantilla Southeastern Crowned Snake Tantilla coronata Bullsnakes, Pinesnakes, and Gophersnakes Genus Pituophis Eastern Pinesnake Pituophis melanoleucus Key to the Subspecies of Pituophis melanoleucus of Alabama Black Pinesnake Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi Florida Pinesnake Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus Northern Pinesnake Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus North American Ratsnakes Genus Pantherophis Key to the Species of Pantherophis of Alabama Red Cornsnake Pantherophis guttatus Gray Ratsnake Pantherophis obsoletus Greensnakes Genus Opheodrys Northern Rough Greensnake Opheodrys aestivus aestivus Indigo Snakes Genus Drymarchon Eastern Indigo Snake Drymarchon couperi North American Racers, Coachwhips, and Whipsnakes Genus Coluber Key to the Species of Coluber of Alabama Eastern Coachwhip Coluber flagellum flagellum North American Racer Coluber constrictor Key to the Subspecies of Coluber constrictor of Alabama Northern Black Racer Coluber constrictor constrictor, Southern Black Racer Coluber constrictor helvigularis Scarletsnakes Genus Cemophora Northern Scarletsnake Cemophora coccinea copei Kingsnakes Genus Lampropeltis Key to the Species of Lampropeltis of Alabama Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula Key to the Subspecies of Lampropeltis getula of Alabama Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula getula Black Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula nigra Speckled Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula holbrooki Scarlet Kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides Key to the Subspecies of Lampropeltis triangulum of Alabama Red Milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum syspila Eastern Milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum Key to the Subspecies of Lampropeltis calligaster of Alabama Mole Kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata Prairie Kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster Subfamily Dipsadinae Key to the Genera of Dipsadinae of Alabama Mudsnakes and Rainbow Snakes Genus Farancia Key to the Species of Farancia of Alabama Common Rainbow Snake Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma Key to the Subspecies of Farancia abacura of Alabama Eastern Mudsnake Farancia abacura abacura Western Mudsnake Farancia abacura reinwardtii North American Wormsnakes Genus Carphophis Key to the Subspecies of Carphophis amoenus of Alabama Midwestern Wormsnake Carphophis amoenus helenae Eastern Wormsnake Carphophis amoenus amoenus North American Hog-nosed Snakes Genus Heterodon Key to the Species of Heterodon of Alabama Southern Hog-nosed Snake Heterodon simus Eastern Hog-nosed Snake Heterodon platirhinos Ring-necked Snakes Genus Diadophis Key to the Subspecies of Diadophis punctatus of Alabama Southern Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus punctatus, Northern Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus edwardsii, Mississippi Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus stictogenys Littersnakes Genus Rhadinaea Pine Woods Littersnake Rhadinaea flavilata Subfamily Natricinae Key to the Genera of Natricinae of Alabama Swampsnakes Genus Liodytes Key to the Species of Liodytes of Alabama Gulf Glossy Swampsnake Liodytes rigida sinicola Northern Florida Swampsnake Liodytes pygaea pygaea North American Earthsnakes Genera Virginia and Haldea Key to the Species of Virginia and Haldea of Alabama Rough Earthsnake Haldea striatula Key to the Subspecies of Virginia valeriae of Alabama Eastern Smooth Earthsnake Virginia valeriae valeriae Western Smooth Earthsnake Virginia valeriae elegans North American Brownsnakes Genus Storeria Key to the Species of Storeria of Alabama Northern Red-bellied Snake Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata Key to the Subspecies of Storeria dekayi of Alabama Midland Brownsnake Storeria dekayi wrightorum Marsh Brownsnake Storeria dekayi limnetes Queensnakes Genus Regina Queensnake Regina septemvittata North American Gartersnakes Genus Thamnophis Key to the Species of Thamnophis of Alabama Eastern Gartersnake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Eastern Ribbonsnake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus North American Watersnakes Genus Nerodia Key to the Species of Nerodia of Alabama Plain-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster Key to the Subspecies of Nerodia erythrogaster of Alabama Red-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster Yellow-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster Green Watersnake Nerodia cyclopion Florida Green Watersnake Nerodia floridana Gulf Saltmarsh Watersnake Nerodia clarkii clarkii Brown Watersnake Nerodia taxispilota Diamond-backed Watersnake Nerodia rhombifer Key to the Subspecies of Nerodia fasciata of Alabama Florida Watersnake Nerodia fasciata pictiventris Banded Watersnake Nerodia fasciata fasciata Broad-banded Watersnake Nerodia fasciata confluens Midland Watersnake Nerodia sipedon pleuralis Vipers Family Viperidae Key to the Genera of Viperidae of Alabama American Moccasins Genus Agkistrodon Key to the Species of Agkistrodon of Alabama Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix Key to the Subspecies of Agkistrodon piscivorus of Alabama Florida Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti Northern Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus Massasauga and Pygmy Rattlesnakes Genus Sistrurus Key to the Subspecies of Sistrurus miliarius of Alabama Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius barbouri Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius miliarius Western Pygmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius streckeri Rattlesnakes Genus Crotalus Key to the Species of Crotalus of Alabama Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Family Elapidae American Coralsnakes Genus Micrurus Eastern Coralsnake Micrurus fulvius Appendixes Glossary Photo Credits Works Cited About the Authors Index "Lizards and Snakes of Alabama is the most comprehensive taxonomy gathered since Robert H. Mount's seminal 1975 volume on the reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. This richly illustrated guide provides an up-to-date summary of the taxonomy and life history of lizards and snakes native to, or introduced to, the state. Alabama possesses one of the most species-rich biotas in north temperate areas and this richness is reflected in some groups of lizards, such as skinks, and especially in snakes. The authors examine all known species within the state and describe important regional variations in each species, including changes in species across the many habitats that comprise the state. Significant field studies, especially of Alabama's threatened and endangered species, have been performed and are used to inform discussion of each account. The life-history entry for each species is comprised of scientific and common names, full-color photographs, a morphological description, discussion of habits and life cycle, and a distribution map depicting the species range throughout the state, as well as notes on conservation and management practices. The illustrated taxonomic keys provided for families, genera, species, and subspecies are of particular value to herpetologists. This extensive guide will serve as a single resource for understanding the rich natural history of Alabama by shedding light on an important component of that biodiversity. Accessible to all, this volume is valuable to both the professional herpetologist and the general reader interested in snakes and lizards."-- Provided by publisher