Ohio Reptiles and Amphibians, 2024

A Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) larva, found in early February. It's always nice to see something in the middle of the winter.

A Mud Salamander (Pseudotriton montanus) larva, found in early March.

A Red Salamander larva (Pseudotriton ruber) larva.

A Red Salamander larva (top) and a Mud Salamander larva (bottom) found in the same seepage.

A pretty little waterfall seen on a rainy March day.

An Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), eft stage. Shown almost as found. Found near the above waterfall.

A mother Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) with her eggs.

Rox and I spent a couple of days in North Carolina over our spring break. Here are some critters that we saw.

A Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus). The same species we get in southeast Ohio.

A basking Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus).

Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis), observed on the Duke University campus. This is probably the same light pole that I saw them at last year in the early spring. I will say it again, because it is interesting to me. They were not present here when we lived in this area (1994-2001). I worked on the Duke campus and would surely have noticed them if they were here back then. I wonder if this is a range expansion due to climate change.

Another basking Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus).

A basking Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon).

A basking Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata) and its habitat.

Another basking Queen Snake.

A Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus). Another species that we have in Ohio.

An Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus), shown as found.

Now I am back in Ohio.

More Mud Salamander (Pseudotriton montanus) larvae, from mid March.

A closer look at one of them.

Another Mud Salamander larva.

And a closer look.

Yet some more Mud Salamander larvae.

A closer look at one of the younger ones. It would have hatched out this winter.

White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum). I think this is the only example of the white species that I have every seen in SE Ohio.

A Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum), almost as found under cover. This animal was observed on March 31, the first time that I have ever observed this species in Ohio in March.

Amusing signage.

A baby Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) observed on the Ohio University campus.

In early April, I did some fish looking with friends. They had an aquarium setup that aided in getting some photos.

Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum).

Another look. These are amazing fish.

Western Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys obtusus).

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii).

Rosyside Dace (Clinostomus funduloides).

More Rosyside Dace.

The habitat where the fish were found.

On April 8, Ohio experienced a solar eclipse. The path of totality went through the northwest part of the state. Roxanne and I saw 2017 total eclipse in Tennessee and it was super cool. This time, we only had to drive a couple of hours north to see it.

It turned out that there were a number of eclipse watchers at the place we visited. It was an interesting mix of folks. A lot of scientist/engineer geeks, but also guitar-playing hippies, and people who took their kids out of school to see it. Some people had gear that was worth more than their vehicle...

While waiting for totality, Rox and I did some reptile looking.

A Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis), as spotted.

A Plains Gatersnake (Thamnophis radix). Almost as found.

Another Plains Gartersnake, almost as found.

A Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis), spotted by Rox. Shown as found. This is the first time that I have ever seen this species.

A closer look.

And the eclipse did not disappoint. There is no substitute for totality. This is it for the eclipse and herp bycatch from April 8. If you ever have a chance to see a total eclipse, do not pass it up!

A young Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus), posed on the board it was found under. The young ones like this have odd proportions.

An Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) that Andy and I found. You do not see these very often in southeast Ohio.

The habitat where the Ribbon was found.

A Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) found near the Ribbon.

A Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoleta), as found basking.

A couple of Morel Mushrooms.

Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna).

More Morel Mushrooms.

A Northern Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus) larva.

In late April, Roxanne spotted this Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sitalis) eating an American Toad (Bufo americanus) in our yard. It took it down hind end first.

Making progress.

More progress.

Fully consumed and basking in the late afternoon sun.

An abandoned cemetery deep in the woods. The graves are over 150 years old.

The Chevelle got out into the field a couple of times this spring.

A Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula nigra), as found under a board. The shed skin most likely came from this snake.

Another Black Kingsnake found under a board.

A Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus), as found under under some carpet.

Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora).

A Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoleta) that I drove up on one afternoon as a storm was moving in.

Some signage. I have a soft spot for hand-made political signs.

A Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) observed in Michigan with my friend Jason.

A pair of Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) found under a board.

A closer look at one of them.

A Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae), as found under cover.

A young Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula nigra), posed on the carpet it was found under.

A Smooth Earth Snake, posed on the carpet it was found under.

My friend Andy and a Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoleta).

A Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis), found under a plastic wading pool. This was a large gravid female.

A Smooth Earth Snake.

A closer look at the Smooth Earth.

A Dekay's Snake (Storeria dekayi), as found under carpet.

A Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum), as found under carpet.

A Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) found between folds of carpet.

A large copperhead found under a board.

In southeast Ohio, we received very little rain between mid May and the late fall. This was the driest summer that we have had since moving here in 2001.

The green asterisk shows the location of Athens, Ohio. We we were in the ``exceptional drought'' region. The dry conditions made it very difficult to find reptiles and amphibians this summer. I did not try very hard.

The northern lights observed in mid October. This is using a cell phone looking north from our driveway.

That's it for 2024. I saw very few herps after June. There were several reasons for this, including the aforementioned drought. I also made two work-related trips to Europe over the summer, visiting Sicily, Edingburgh, and Vienna. And most significantly, my father's health declined over the course of 2024 and he passed away in November. I made several trips to California to visit him, my mom, and the rest of my family. He had a full life and lived to the age of 94.

Here' a photo of my dad, along with Roxanne and Ryan, from the summer of 2006. We were collecting raw materials for making walking sticks, somewhere out in the boonies of southeast Ohio. Making walking sticks was one of my dad's favorite hobbies.

I am looking forward to getting back after the Ohio herps in 2025! I actually did a little bit already before the snow hit (I am writing this in late January, 2025).