Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of the United States, livre ebook

The first complete field guide to the exotic amphibians and reptiles established in the continental United States and Hawaiʻi, this volume covers 74 species that are not native to the country and 29 species that are native but occur beyond their original geographic range. Dispersed from their former habitats by human activity, many of these species are invasive in their new environments, causing ecological or economic harm.

Ideal for naturalists of all levels, Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of the United States details each species’ taxonomy, distribution, history, and ecology and portrays each one with vibrant photographs. Drawing on county-level distribution maps from 2,908 published records, this guide provides an in-depth understanding of local factors that drive the success of exotic species. It connects species-specific information to conservation issues as it explores human causes of exotic and invasive establishment. The book also includes eight invited essays which provide regional perspectives on scientific, economic, and management-related aspects of this phenomenon.

As ecological pressures on native species and habitats increase, understanding the histories and roles of exotic species is becoming more and more important for conservation efforts. Providing practical identification skills and an awareness of the environmental impacts of these amphibians and reptiles, this indispensable guide equips readers to confront the unusual biodiversity crisis of exotic species.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

PART 1. SALAMANDERS

The Role of Aquaculture in the Problem of Exotic Species

Malcolm L. McCallum

Salamanders (Caudata)

Mole Salamanders: Ambystomatidae

Western Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma mavortium

Lungless Salamanders: Plethodontidae

Seal Salamander, Desmognathus monticola

Southern Two-lined Salamander, Eurycea cirregera

PART 2. FROGS AND TOADS

The Invasive Coqui: How Far Will It Go, and What Can We Do to Stop It?

Karen H. Beard

Context Matters in the Fight to Save Frogs

Brian Gratwicke

Frogs and Toads (Anura)

Toads: Bufonidae

Cane Toad, Rhinella marina

Poison Dart Frogs: Dendrobatidae

Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog, Dendrobates auratus

Rainfrogs: Eleutherodactylidae

Coqui, Eleutherodactylus coqui

Rio Grande Chirping Frog, Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides

Cuban Flat-headed Frog, aka Greenhouse Frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris

Treefrogs: Hylidae

Green Treefrog, Hyla cinerea

Squirrel Treefrog, Hyla squirella

Cuban Treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis

Clawed Frogs: Pipidae

African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis

True Frogs: Ranidae

Japanese Wrinkled Frog, Glandirana rugosa

Rio Grande Leopard Frog, Lithobates berlandieri

North American Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus

North American Green Frog, Lithobates clamitans

Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens

Southern Leopard Frog, Lithobates sphenocephalus

Wood Frog, Lithobates sylvaticus

Northern Red-legged Frog, Rana aurora

California Red-legged Frog, Rana draytonii

PART 3. TURTLES

Introduced and Extralimital Species of Freshwater Turtles in the Pacific Northwest

R. Bruce Bury and Brent M. Matsuda

Turtles (Testudines)

Snapping Turtles: Chelydridae

Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina

Box and Water Turtles: Emydidae

Southern Painted Turtle, Chrysemys dorsalis

Western Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta belli

False Map Turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica

Florida Red-bellied Cooter, Pseudemys nelsoni

Northern Red-bellied Cooter, Pseudemys rubriventris

Red-eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans

Softshells: Trionychidae

Florida Softshell, Apalone ferox

Smooth Softshell, Apalone mutica

Spiny Softshell, Apalone spinifera

Wattle-necked Softshell, Palea steindachneri

Chinese Softshell, Pelodiscus sinensis

PART 4. LIZARDS

Observations from a Reptile Sanctuary in South-Central Pennsylvania

Jesse Rothacker

The Story of the Argentine Giant Tegu, Salvator merianae, in South Florida: When a New Invader Meets Bureaucratic Reality, Who Will Win?

Frank J. Mazzotti

Counting Herps

Walter E. Meshaka Jr.

Lizards (Squamata)

Agamid Lizards: Agamidae

Peter’s Rock Agama, Agama picticauda

Indo-Chinese Bloodsucker, Calotes mystaceus

Variable Bloodsucker, Calotes versicolor

Butterfly Lizard, Leiolepis belliana

Chameleons: Chamaeleonidae

Veiled Chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus

Oustalet’s Chameleon, Furcifer oustaleti

Jackson’s Chameleon, Trioceros jacksonii

Casque-headed Lizards: Corytophanidae

Brown Basilisk, Basiliscus vittatus

Anoles: Dactyloidae

Allison’s Anole, Anolis allisoni

North American Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis

Hispaniolan Green Anole, Anolis chlorocyanus

Puerto Rican Crested Anole, Anolis cristatellus

Hispaniolan Stout Anole, Anolis cybotes

Bark Anole, Anolis distichus

Knight Anole, Anolis equestris

Jamaican Giant Anole, Anolis garmani

Cuban Green Anole, Anolis porcatus

Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei

True Geckos: Gekkonidae

Bibron’s Thick-toed Gecko, Chondrodactylus bibronii

Rough-tailed Gecko, Cyrtopodion scabrum

Mutilating Gecko, Gehyra mutilata

Golden Gecko, Gekko badenii

Tokay Gecko, Gekko gecko

Common House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus

Indo-Pacific House Gecko, Hemidactylus garnotii

Tropical House Gecko, aka Wood Slave, Hemidactylus mabouia

Sri Lankan Spotted House Gecko, Hemidactylus parvimaculatus

Asian Flat-tailed House Gecko, Hemidactylus platyurus

Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus

Indo-Pacific Tree Gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus

Mourning Gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris

Madagascan Giant Day Gecko, Phelsuma grandis

Orange-spotted Day Gecko, Phelsuma guimbeaui

Gold Dust Day Gecko, Phelsuma laticauda

Ringed Wall Gecko, Tarentola annularis

Moorish Gecko, Tarentola mauritanica

Sphaerodactyl Geckos: Sphaerodactylidae

Yellow-headed Gecko, Gonatodes albogularis

Ocellated Gecko, Sphaerodactylus argus

Ashy Gecko, Sphaerodactylus elegans

Iguanas: Iguanidae

Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura pectinata

Gray’s American Spiny-tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura similis

Green Iguana, Iguana iguana

Wall Lizards and Lacertas: Lacertidae

Western Green Lacerta, Lacerta bilineata

Common Wall Lizard, Podarcis muralis

Italian Wall Lizard, Podarcis siculus

Curly-tailed Lizards: Leiocephalidae

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard, Leiocephalus carinatus

Red-sided Curly-tailed Lizard, Leiocephalus schreibersii

Horned Lizards: Phrynosomatidae

Texas Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum

Eugongylid Skinks: Eugongylidae

Pacific Snake-eyed Skink, Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus

Copper-tailed Skink, Emoia cyanura

Azure-tailed Skink, Emoia impar

Plague Skink, Lampropholis delicata

Sun Skinks: Mabuyidae

Brown Mabuya, Eutropis multifasciata

African Five-lined Skink, Trachyleopis quinquetaeniata

Sphenomorphid Skinks: Sphenomorphidae

Moth Skink, Lipinia noctua

Ameivas, Whiptails, Racerunners, and Tegus: Teiidae

Giant Ameiva, Ameiva ameiva

Dusky Giant Ameiva, Ameiva praesignis

Giant Whiptail, Aspidoscelis motaguae

Rainbow Whiptail, Cnemidophorus lemniscatus

Argentine Giant Tegu, Salvator merianae

Gold Tegu, Tupinambis teguixin

Monitor Lizards: Varanidae

Nile Monitor, Varanus niloticus

PART 5. SNAKES

Burmese Python Colonization and Eradication: A Stitch in Time Unnecessarily Missed in the Everglades

Michael R. Rochford

Snakes (Squamata)

Boas: Boidae

Boa Constrictor, Boa constrictor

Harmless Live-bearing Snakes: Natricidae

Southern Watersnake, Nerodia fasciata

Common Watersnake, Nerodia sipedon

Short-headed Gartersnake, Thamnophis brachystoma

Pythons: Pythonidae

Burmese Python, Python bivittatus

Northern African Python, Python sebae

Blindsnakes: Typhlopidae

Brahminy Blindsnake, Indotyphlops braminus

PART 6. CROCODILIANS

Crocodilians (Crocodylia)

Alligators and Caimans: Alligatoridae

Spectacled Caiman, Caiman crocodilus

References

About the Authors

Index