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Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas

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Great Plains Skink

Plestiodon obsoletus Baird and Girard, 1852

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Overview
The Great Plains Skink is the largest skink in the eastern or central US. Unlike other Kansas skinks, the scales on the sides of this species are not arranged in parallel rows, but rather in oblique (diagonal) rows and it is usually not striped (however, rarely, the black flecks on the back may form diffuse-edged stripes). They are strong, stocky, muscular lizards.
The Great Plains Skink is characterized by four limbs, an ear opening on each side of the head, flat, smooth, shiny scales on its body, a pattern of dark spots that create a striped appearance, and scale rows on each side of the body between the front and hind limbs that slant upward from front to back. The head, body, limbs, and tail are gray with dark borders on each scale that create a light and dark striped pattern. The unpatterned belly is whitish gray. Young are jet black with blue tails and small bluish white to orange spots on the sides of the head. Distinguishing between males and females is extremely difficult. During the spring the males may have orange patches on the sides of their head, and their heads may be slightly swollen.
Adults are normally 165-230 mm (6½-9 inches) in total length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a female (KU 189186) from Cheyenne County with a snout-vent length of 133 mm and a total length of 350 mm (13¼ inches) collected by Brad Anderson and John Fraser on 2 May 1981. This is the maximum length throughout the range (Powell et al., 2016). The greatest weight from Kansas is 49.2 grams (1.73 ounces) from Jefferson County collected by Robert R. Fleet and Russell J. Hall on 28 April 1968.

Distribution
Probably statewide, although infrequently encountered in the upper Smoky-Hill River drainage.
Preferring to hide a majority of the time, Great Plains Skinks use burrows or hide under rocks. In more arid areas, they can be found near permanent or semi-permanent bodies of water.

Reproduction
Fitch (1955), Hall (1971), and Platt (1985) studied the Great Plains Skink in Kansas, and much of the information on the species in Kansas is based on their observations.
This lizard inhabits open rocky hillsides with low vegetation and apparently avoids sandy areas. It is active from March to early October, providing high enough temperatures prevail. During the winter, this species burrows beneath the soil or into crevices where it remains deep enough to avoid freezing temperatures. Adult males emerge earlier in the spring than females. On the Konza Prairie near Manhattan, Heinrich and Kaufman (1985) observed 123 of these lizards active between 9 May and 31 August.
Great Plains Skinks show surface activity daily from 1000 to 1600 hours provided air temperatures are above 70°F. Below that temperature, these lizards generally remain hidden beneath rocks. This lizard rarely basks in open sunlight, evidently obtaining sufficient heat beneath sun-warmed rocks. This species has an average home range approximately fifty feet in diameter, but it may wander longer distances to establish a new home range when conditions become unfavorable in the original area.
Great Plains Skinks breed in May. Courtship is brief. The male approaches the female and touches her with flicks of his tongue. After pursuit, the male grasps the female with his mouth, biting the loose skin on her shoulder, and loops his hindquarters beneath hers. Copulation occurs for several minutes.
Evidence indicates that some females do not breed each year. Pregnant females dig deep burrows beneath large boulders and lay from five to 32 eggs, with an average of twelve (Fitch, 1985), remaining with the eggs during the one to two month incubation period. The young hatch and may require several years to reach sexual maturity.
According to Hall (1972), the Great Plains Skink eats beetles, roaches, grasshoppers, spiders, and snails. In captivity it will eat small rodents and other lizards. However, they will likely feed on any organism they can catch and swallow. Hartman (1906) reported on a juvenile that had consumed a fly, a spider, two leaf-hoppers, and a cricket. Burt and Hoyle (1935) reported on an adult Great Plains Skink (Plestiodon obsoletus) collected by Charles E. Burt, on 14 May 1933 in Morris County, that had consumed an adult Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis).
Predators of the Great Plains Skink include snakes, birds, and small mammals (Collins, 1993).

Remarks
First reported in Kansas by Hallowell (1857) with no more specific locality than "Kansas". Bocourt (1879) mentions (page 445; translated from French) "The adult copy in the Museum''s [National Museum of Natural History (Paris)] herpetological collection was donated by the Academy of Philadelphia as originating from Kansas." Cragin (1881) listed a specimen from Manhattan. The earliest existing specimen (University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute [KU 661]) was collected by Burtis B. Breese (a KU undergraduate from Eureka, Kansas and ultimately an eminent pediatrician; AB, 1896) on the campus of the University of Kansas (Douglas County) on 13 August 1892.
Burt (1929) considered it the second most widely distributed lizard (after the Six-lined Racerunner) in Kansas.They are harmless, but capable of delivering a pinching bite.
Based on a captive specimen, Snider and Bowler (1992) reported a maximum longevity for this lizard of six years, two months, and nineteen days.

References

Hallowell, Edward. 1856. Notice of a collection of reptiles from Kansas and Nebraska presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences, by Doctor Hammond, U. S. A. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 8:238-253.

Hallowell, Edward. 1859. Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Vol. X, Part IV, No. 1, Washington, D. C. 1-27 pp.

Cope, Edward D. 1880. On the zoological position of Texas. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (17):151.

Cragin, Francis W. 1880. A preliminary catalogue of Kansas reptiles and batrachians. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 7:112-123.

Bocourt, Marie F. 1881. Etudes sur les reptiles. [Studies on reptiles.]. Pages 441–488 in Duméril, Mocquard, and Bocourt, 1870-1909. Recherches Zoologiques pour servir a l'Histoire de Ia Faune de l'Amérique Centrale et du Mexique. Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amér. Livraison 7. [ Zoological Research to be used in the History of the Fauna of Central America and Mexico. Scientific Mission to Mexico and America. Delivery 7]. Imprimerie Impériale [Imperial Printing Office], Paris, France.

Yarrow, Henry C. 1882. Check list of North American Reptilia and Batrachia with catalogue of specimens in U. S. National Museum. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (24):1-249.

Garman, Samuel. 1884. The North American reptiles and batrachians. Bulletin of the Essex Institute 16:1-46.

Cope, Edward D. 1900. The crocodilians, lizards and snakes of North America. Pages 153-1270 in Report of the U. S. National Museum for the Year Ending June 30, 1898. , Washington, D. C.

Hartman, Frank A. 1906. Food habits of Kansas lizards and batrachians. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 20:225-229.

Ditmars, Raymond L. 1907. The Reptile Book; A comprehensive, Popularised Work on the Structure and Habits of the Turtles, Tortoises, Crocodilians, Lizards and Snakes which Inhabit the United States and Northern Mexico. Doubleday, Pae, and Company, New York. 472 pp.

Householder, Victor H. 1916. The Lizards and Turtles of Kansas with Notes on Their Distribution and Habitat. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 100 pp.

Taylor, Edward H. 1920. The lizards of Kansas with notes on habits. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 117 pp.

Burt, Charles E. 1927. An annotated list of the amphibians and reptiles of Riley County, Kansas. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (189):12.

Burt, Charles E. 1928. A key to the species of lizards definitely reported from Kansas. Privately printed, Enterprise Press, Bristow, Nebraska.

Burt, Charles E. 1928. Insect food of Kansas lizards with notes on feeding habits. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 1(3):50-68.

Burt, Charles E. 1928. The lizards of Kansas. Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis 26(1):1-81.

Burt, Charles E. 1929. The synonymy, variation, and distribution of the Sonoran Skink, Eumeces obsoletus (Baird and Girard). Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (201):18.

Burt, Charles E. and May Danheim Burt. 1929. A collection of amphibians and reptiles from the Mississippi valley, with field observations. American Museum Novitates (381):1-14.

Taylor, Edward H. 1929. List of reptiles and batrachians of Morton County, Kansas, reporting species new to the state fauna. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 19(6):63-65.

Hoover, Foster S. 1931. The myology of Eumeces obsoletus. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 77 pp.

Stejneger, Leonhard H. and Thomas Barbour. 1933. A Checklist of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 3rd Edition. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Burt, Charles E. 1933. Some distributional and ecological records of Kansas reptiles. Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis 26:186-208.

Brennan, Lawrence A. 1934. A check list of the amphibians and reptiles of Ellis County, Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 37:189-191.

Burt, Charles E. and W. L. Hoyle. 1934. Additional records of the reptiles of the central prairie region of the United States. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 37:193-216.

Brennan, Lawrence A. 1935. Notes on the distribution of Amphibia and Reptilia of Ellis County, Kansas. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 114 pp.

Burt, Charles E. 1935. Further records of the ecology and distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the middle west. The American Midland Naturalist 16(3):311-366.

Brumwell, Malcolm J. 1936. Distributional records of the reptilia and amphibians of Kansas. Privately printed. 22 pp.

Taylor, Edward H. 1936. A taxonomic study of the cosmopolitan scincoid lizards of the genus Eumeces, with an account of the distribution and relationships of its species. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 23(1):1-643.

Brennan, Lawrence A. 1937. A study of the habitat of reptiles and amphibians of Ellis County, Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 40:341-347.

Branson, F. and C. Deyoe. 1941. A study of snakes and lizards of Ellis County. Unpublished data, Fort Hays State University.

Anderson, Paul. 1942. Amphibians and reptiles of Jackson County, Missouri. Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of Sciences 6(11):203-222.

Marr, John C. 1944. Notes on amphibians and reptiles from the central United States. The American Midland Naturalist 32(2):478-490.

Lane, Henry H. 1946. A survey of the fossil vertebrates of Kansas, Part III. The reptiles. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 49(3):289-332.

Hall, Henry H. and Hobart M. Smith. 1947. Selected records of reptiles and amphibians from southeastern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 49(4):447-454.

Smith, Hobart M. 1950. Handbook of Amphibians and Reptiles of Kansas. University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History, Miscellaneous Publication (2):336.

Wolfenbarger, Keith. A. 1951. Systematic and Biological Studies on North American Chiggers of the genus Eutrombicula (Acarina, Trombiculidae). Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 77 pp.

Brumwell, Malcolm J. 1951. An ecological survey of the Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation. The American Midland Naturalist 45(1):187-231.

Freiburg, Richard E. 1951. An ecological study of the narrow-mouthed toad (Microhyla) in northeastern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 54(3):374-386.

Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280 pp.

Tihen, Joseph A. 1954. A Kansas Pleistocene herpetofauna. Copeia 1954(3):217-221.

Fitch, Henry S. 1955. Habits and adaptations of the Great Plains skink (Eumeces obsoletus). Ecological Monographs 25(1):59-83.

Smith, Hobart M. 1956. Handbook of Amphibians and Reptiles of Kansas. Second edition. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Miscellaneous Publication (9):1-356.

Loomis, Richard B. 1956. The chigger mites of Kansas (Acarina, Trombiculidae). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 37:1195-1443.

Etheridge, Richard E. 1958. Pleistocene lizards of the Cragin Quarry fauna of Meade County, Kansas. Copeia 1958(2):94-101.

Evans, Llewellyn T. 1959. A motion picture study of maternal behavior of the lizard, Eumeces obsoletus Baird and Grard. Copeia 1959(2):103-110.

Hibbard, Claude W. and Dwight W. Taylor. 1960. Two Late Pleistocene Faunas from southwestern Kansas. Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, The University of Michigan 16(1):1-223.

Etheridge, Richard E. 1960. Additional notes on the lizards of the Cragin Quarry fauna. Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters 45:113-117.

Gish, Charles D. 1962. The Herpetofauna of Ellis County, Kansas. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 34 pp.

Clarke, Robert F. 1965. Lizards in Kansas. Kansas School Naturalist 11(4):1-16.

Choate, Jerry R. 1967. Wildlife in the Wakarusa Watershed of Northeastern Kansas. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 46 pp.

Fitch, Henry S. 1970. Reproductive cycles in lizards and snakes. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Miscellaneous Publication (52):1-247.

Fitch, Henry S. and Robert R. Fleet. 1970. Natural history of the milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) in northeastern Kansas. Herpetologica 26(4):387-396.

Hall, Russell J. 1971. Ecology of a population of the Great Plains Skink (Eumeces obsoletus). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 48:357-388.

Hall, Russell J. and Henry S. Fitch. 1972. Further observations on the demography of the Great Plains Skink (Eumeces obsoletus). Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 74(1):94-98.

Hall, Russell J. 1972. Food habits of the Great Plains Skink (Eumeces obsoletus). The American Midland Naturalist 87:258-263.

Collins, Joseph T. 1974. Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Public Education Series (1):283 pp.

Karns, Daryl, Ray E. Ashton, Jr., and Thomas Swearingen. 1974. Illustrated Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas: An Identification Manual. University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History Public Education Series(2):viii + 18.

Perry, Janice. 1975. A trip to southeastern Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (7):4.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1976. Field checklist (of) amphibians and reptiles of Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society, Lawrence.

Caldwell, Janalee P. and Gregory. Glass. 1976. Vertebrates of the Woodson County State Fishing Lake and Game Management Area. Pages 62-76 in Preliminary inventory of the biota of Woodson County State Fishing Lake and Game Management Area. Report No. 5. State Biological Survey of Kansas, Lawrence.

Hall, Russell J. 1976. Eumeces obsoletus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (186):1-3.

Knight, James L. and Joseph T. Collins. 1977. The amphibians and reptiles of Cheyenne County, Kansas, Report Number 15. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 19 pp.

Irwin, Kelly J. 1977. KHS Ottawa County meeting profitable. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (20):1-2.

Simbotwe, Philip M. 1978. Geographic Variation and Natural Selecton in Eumeces obsoletus (Reptilia: Sauria: Scincidae). Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 101 pp.

Curl, Richard L. 1978. Final Environmental Statement: Milford Lake Kansas operation and maintenance. US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District. 158 pp.

Fitch, Henry S. and E. Raymond Hall. 1978. A 20year record of succession on reseeded fields of tallgrass prairie on the Rockefeller Experimental Tract. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Special Publication (4):1-15.

Schwaner, Terry D. 1978. KHS field trip to Grant County, Kansas, 12-14 May 1978. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (25):3-4.

Skie, Shelley and Martha Bickford. 1978. KHS takes to the field in July at Winfield. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (26):42798.

Capron, Marty B. 1978. Four county collecting raid: A south central Kansas herping saga. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (26):9-12.

Collins, Joseph T. and Janalee P. Caldwell. 1978. New records of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles in Kansas for 1977. Technical Publication of the State Biological Survey of Kansas 6:70-88.

Collins, Joseph T. 1979. New records of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles in Kansas for 1978. Technical Publication of the State Biological Survey of Kansas 8:56-66.

Holman, J. Alan. 1979. Herpetofauna of the Nash local fauna (Pleistocene: Aftonian) of Kansas. Copeia 1979(4):747-749.

Clarke, Robert F. 1980. Herptiles and fishes of the western Arkansas River in Kansas. United States Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 55 pp.

Spencer, Dwight. 1980. Spencer, D. 1980. Ross Natural History Reservation: the first twenty years, 1959 to 1979. Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas.. 64 pp.

Collins, Joseph T. 1980. New records of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles in Kansas for 1979. Technical Publication of the State Biological Survey of Kansas 9:1-11.

Simbotwe, Philip M. 1981. Natural selection in the lizard Eumeces obsoletus (Lacertilia: Scincidae). Amphibia-Reptilia 2:143-151.

Collins, Joseph T. 1981. New records of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles in Kansas for 1980. Technical Publication of the State Biological Survey of Kansas 10:7-19.

Eshelman, Ralph E. and Claude W. Hibbard. 1981. Nash Local Fauna (Pleistocene: Aftonian) of Meade County, Kansas. Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, The University of Michigan 25(16):317-326.

Collins, Joseph T. 1982. Report to the Kansas Fish and Game Commission on the status of three amphibians in southeastern Kansas. Kansas Fish and Game Commission, Pratt. 57 pp.

Fitch, Henry S. 1982. Resources of a snake community in prairie-woodland habitat of northeastern Kansas. Pages 83-97 in Herpetological communities: A symposium of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists League, August 1977.  Wildlife Research Reports 12. 239 pp. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D. C.

Collins, Joseph T. 1982. Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas. 2nd edition. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Public Education Series (8).

Fraser, John C. 1983. A trip to the 'TransPecos'. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (54):18-23.

Miller, Larry L. 1983. Bourbon County field trip well attended and successful. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (54):6-7.

Collins, Joseph T. 1983. New records of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles in Kansas for 1982 . Technical Publication of the State Biological Survey of Kansas 13:9-21.

Brown, Kenneth L. 1984. Pomona: A plains village variant in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Dissertation. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 519 pp.

Heinrich, Mark L. 1984. Herpetofauna of the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in the Flint Hills region of Kansas with respect to habitat selection. Thesis. Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. 57 pp.

Secor, Stephen M. and Charles C. Carpenter. 1984. Distribution maps of Oklahoma reptiles. Oklahoma Herpetological Society Special Publication (3):1-57.

Miller, Larry L. 1985. KHS 1985 field trip to Kirwin Reservoir. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (61):11-12.

Lynch, John D. 1985. Annotated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 13:33-57.

Belfit, S. C. and V. F. Belfit. 1985. Notes on the ecology of a population of Eumeces obsoletus (Scincidae) in New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 30:612-614.

Olson, R. Earl, Bertram Marx, and Robert Rome. 1987. Descriptive dentition morphology of lizards of middle and north America II: Iguanidae. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 23(1):12-34.

Collins, Joseph T. 1988. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1987. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (71):13-19.

Nulton, Michael T. and Michael S. Rush. 1988. New county records of amphibians and reptiles in Gray County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (74):10-12.

Collins, Joseph T. 1989. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1988. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (75):15-18.

Collins, Joseph T. 1989. First Kansas herp counts held in 1989. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (77):11-.

Collins, Joseph T. 1989. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1989. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (78):16-21.

Simon, Martin P. and Joseph H. Dorlac. 1990. The results of a faunistic survey of reptiles and amphibians of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. 11 pp.

Collins, Joseph T. 1990. Results of second Kansas herp count held during April-May 1990. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (81):10-12.

Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. 1991. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts.

Collins, Joseph T. and Suzanne L. Collins. 1991. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Cimarron National Grasslands, Morton County, Kansas. U. S. Forest Service, Elkhart, Kansas. 60 pp.

Fitch, Henry S. 1991. Reptiles and amphibians of the Kansas ecological reserves. Pages 71-74 in Ecology and Hydrology of Kansas Ecological Reserves and the Baker Wetlands. Multidisciplinary Guidebook 4. Kansas Academy of Science, Lawrence, Kansas.

Collins, Joseph T. 1991. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1990. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (83):7-13.

Collins, Joseph T. 1991. Results of third Kansas herp count held during April-May 1991. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (85):9-13.

Collins, Joseph T. 1992. Results of the fourth Kansas herp count held during April-May 1992. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (89):10-.

Taggart, Travis W. 1992. Results of the KHS annual field trip to Sheridan County State Lake. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (90):3-4.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1992. Results of the KHS 1992 fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (90):4.

Taggart, Travis W. 1992. Eumeces obsoletus. Geographic distribution. Herpetological Review 23:89.

Collins, Joseph T. and Suzanne L. Collins. 1993. Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas. Third Edition. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Lawrence. 397 pp.

Collins, Joseph T. and Rundquist, Eric M. 1993. Results of the fifth Kansas herp count held during April-June 1993 . Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (94):7-11.

Viets, Brian E. 1993. An annotated list of the herpetofauna of the F. B., and Rena G. Ross Natural History Reservation. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 96(1/2):103-113.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1994. Results of the sixth annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1994. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (97):5-14.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1994. Additions and corrections [to the results of the sixth annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1994]. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (98):4.

Holman, J. Alan. 1995. Pleistocene Amphibians and Reptiles. Oxford University Press, New York. 243 pp.

Anderson, Lewis, Mark Shaw, Jeff Blodig, and Tom Walker. 1995. Report to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks: Herps encountered during REmap project, summer 1994. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (99):10-17.

Collins, Joseph T. 1995. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1994. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (100):24-47.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1995. Results of the seventh annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1995. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (101):11-17.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1995. Additional KHS herp counts for 1995. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (102):11-.

Miller, Larry L. 1996. Results of the KHS 1995 fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (103):3.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1996. Results of the eighth annual KHS herp counts Held 1 April-31 May 1996. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (104):6-17.

Miller, Larry L. 1996. Third graders conduct amphibian and reptile field study. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (106):15.

Miller, Larry L. 1996. Many amphibian and reptile species identified during KHS 1996 fall field trip to Wabaunsee County. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (106):2-3.

Rakestraw, J. 1996. Spring herp counts: A Kansas tradition. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine (March-April):75-80.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1997. Results of the ninth annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1997. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (108):12-17.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1997. Addendum to 1997 KHS herp counts. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (109):14-15.

Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. 1998. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. 3rd ed, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts.

Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 1998. A Key to Amphibians & Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 131 pp.

Gamble, Jerre. 1998. Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hartford, Kansas. 91 pp.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1998. Results of the tenth annual KHS herp counts for 1998, held 1 April-31 May. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (112):11-18.

Rundquist, Eric M. 1999. Kansas Herpetological Society herp counts: A 10 year summary and evaluation. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (115):42962.

Collins, Joseph T. 2000. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1999. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (119):7-9.

Schmidt, Curtis J. 2000. Observations on reptilian predation. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):18.

Taggart, Travis W. 2000. KHS spring field trip sets record for attendance. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):5-5.

Taggart, Travis W. 2000. Biogeographic analysis of the reptiles (Squamata) in Ellis County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (121):7-16.

Rundquist, Eric M. 2000. Results of the eleventh and twelfth annual KHS herpetofaunal counts for 1999-2000, held 1 April-31 May. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (122):11-16.

Griffith, Hugh, Andre Ngo, and Robert W. Murphy. 2000. A cladistic evaluation of the cosmopolitan genus Eumeces Weigmann (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae). Russian Journal of Herpetology 7(1):1-16.

Taggart, Travis W. 2001. The KHS 2001 spring field trip: A rainy rendezvous. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (124):12-14.

Taggart, Travis W. 2001. Results of the KHS spring field trip west. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):10.

Ellis, Mark R. 2001. Reproduction in the Common Garter Snake in Shawnee County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):12.

Rundquist, Eric M. 2001. Results of the thirteenth annual KHS herp counts for 2001, held 1 April-30 June. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):13-16.

Kingsbury, Bruce and Joanna Gibson. 2002. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. Publication of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Address not given. 152 pp.

Fogell, Daniel D. 2002. Occurrence and relative abundance of amphibians and reptiles at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. Interim Report. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 6 pp.

Riedle, J. Daren and A. Hynek. 2002. Amphibian and reptile inventory of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Labette County, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):18-20.

Ellis, Mark R. 2002. Fall 2002 KHS field trip to Washington County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):4-5.

Taggart, Travis W. 2002. Results of the spring 2002 KHS field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (3):6-7.

Miller, Larry L. 2002. Shawnee County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):15.

Rundquist, Eric M. 2002. Natural history of the Night Snake, Hypsiglena torquata, in Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):16-20.

Fogell, Daniel D. 2003. A herpetofaunal inventory of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 59 pp.

Suleiman, G. 2003. Fort Riley herpetofaunal count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (5):11-12.

Taggart, Travis W. 2003. KHS conducts first systematic road survey. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):11-12.

Platt, Dwight R. 2003. Lizards and snakes (Order Squamata) of Harvey County, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):13-20.

Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the 2003 KHS spring field trip to Wilson County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):2-5.

Miller, Larry L. and Suzanne L. Miller. 2003. Wakarusa herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):10.

Volkmann, Al. 2003. Cowley County herp count 1. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):7.

Collins, Joseph T. 2003. Douglas County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.

Gubanyi, James E. 2003. Osage County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.

Lokke, John L. and Jill Lokke. 2003. Cowley County herp count 2. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.

Suleiman, Gibran. 2003. Fort Riley herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):9.

Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the KHS 2003 fall field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (8):14-15.

Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the 2004 KHS spring field trip to Logan County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):2-7.

Volkmann, Al. 2004. Cowley County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):10.

Washburne, M. 2004. Ellsworth County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):10.

Collins, Joseph T. 2004. Marais des Cygnes herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):11.

Schmitz, Andreas, Patrick Mausfeld, and Dirk Embert. 2004. Molecular studies on the genus Eumeces Weigmann, 1834: Phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic implications. Hamadryad 28(1-2):73-89.

Smith, Hobart M. 2005. Plestiodon: A replacement name for most members of the genus Eumeces in North America. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (14):15-16.

Brandley, Matthew C., Andreas Schmitz, and Todd W. Reeder. 2005. Partitioned Bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of Scincid Lizards. Systematic Biology 54(3):373–390.

Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Addendum report to biological inventory of the sandsage prairie near Holcomb, Kansas. Sunflower Electric Cooperative, Hays, Kansas. 31 pp.

Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Distribution and status of Kansas herpetofauna in need of information. State Wildlife Grant T7. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. vii + 106 pp.

Wilgers, Dustin J. and Eva A. Horne. 2006. Effects of different burn regimes on tallgrass prairie herpetofaunal species diversity and community composition in the Flint Hills, Kansas. Journal of Herpetology 40:73-84.

Dloogatch, Michael A. (Editor). 2006. Herpetology 2006. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 41(6):111-114.

Wilgers, Dustin J., Eva A. Horne, Brett K. Sandercock, and Allan W. Volkmann. 2006. Effects of rangeland management on community dynamics of the herpetofauna of the tallgrass prairie. 62:378-388.

Taggart, Travis W. 2007. A biological inventory of the Sunflower Electric Site near Holcomb, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 23:11-16.

Taggart, Travis W. 2008. KHS 2008 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (25):2-3.

Mayers, Zachary. 2008. Geographic distribution. Plestiodon obsoletus (Great Plains Skink). Journal of Kansas Herpetology (26):6.

Murrow, Daniel G. 2009. KHS 2009 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (29):42769.

Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2010. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of Kansas. Eagle Mountain Publishing., Provo, Utah. 400 pp.

Murrow, Daniel G. 2010. Kansas Herpetological Society spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (33):2-3.

Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2011. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of the Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas. Second (Revised) Edition. U. S. Forest Service.

Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the KHS Spring Field Trip to Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (38):2-4.

Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Fall Field Trip to Lovewell State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):4-5.

Houck, Mike. 2011. Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Survey for 2011. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):9.

Rohweder, Megan R. 2012. Spatial conservation prioritization of Kansas for terrestrial vertebrates. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 151 pp.

Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2012. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada: Second Edition, Revised and Updated. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 152 pp.

Hamilton, Bryan Tyler, Rachel Hart, and Jack W. Sites Jr. 2012. Feeding ecology of the Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum, Colubridae) in the western United States. Journal of Herpetology 46(4):515-522.

Baldwin, Mary Kate. 2013. “Herps in Havensville” Herp Surveys. Collinsorum 2(3/4):10.

Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Spring Field Trip to Bourbon County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.

Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Summer Field Trip to Meade County State Park. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.

Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Fall Field Trip to Atchison County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):4.

Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Summer Field Trip to Coldwater Lake, Comanche County. Collinsorum 2(3/4):5.

Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Fall Field Trip to Butler County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):6.

Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Spring Field Trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):11.

Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Fall Field Trip to Woodson County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):12.

Houck, Mike. 2015. 2015 Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Count final report. Collinsorum 4(1):10-11.

Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Spring Field Trip to the Greenhorn Limestone of Russell County. Collinsorum 4(3):2.

Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Summer Field Trip In The Harvey County Sandhills. Collinsorum 4(3):3.

Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Fall Field Trip Held In Washington County. Collinsorum 4(3):4.

Rothe-Groleau, Colleen S. 2016. Natural history and reproductive biology of a population of Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) from Kansas. Thesis. University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska. 46 pp.

Pittman, Galen L., Henry S. Fitch, and W. Dean Kettle. 2016. Vertebrate animals on the Fitch Natural History Reservation (1948-2002). Kansas Biological Survey Report Number 188, Lawrence. 48 pp.

Powell, Robert, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. 494 pp.

Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Spring 2016 KHS field trip to Clark County was a soggy success. Collinsorum 5(2-3):2-3.

Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS ‘Fall’ field trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 5(2-3):6-7.

Taggart, Travis W. and J. Daren Riedle. 2017. A Pocket Guide to Kansas Amphibians, Turtles and Lizards. Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas. 69 pp.

Crother, Brian I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Eighth edition. Herpetological Circulars (43):1-102.

Mardis, Dexter R. 2017. Results from three Herpetofaunal tallies at Wichita State University’s Youngmeyer Ranch in Northwestern Elk County. Collinsorum 6(1):8-10.

Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Results of the 2017 KHS Spring Field Trip to Elk County, Kansas. Collinsorum 6(2-3):6-8.

Schmidt, Curtis J. 2017. Herp Count: Southeast Ellis County. Collinsorum 6(2-3):9.

Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Herp Count: Northeast Barton County. Collinsorum 6(2-3):9.

Houck, Mike. 2018. Herp Count: Fort Riley Military Installation. Collinsorum 7(1):17.

Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2019. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada. Third Edition. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 192 pp.

Daniel, Richard E. and Brian S. Edmond. 2020. Atlas of Missouri Amphibians and Reptiles for 2019. Privately printed, Columbia, Missouri. 86 pp.

Riedle, J. Daren. 2020. Revisiting Kansas Herpetological Society field trip and Herp Count data: Distributional patterns and trend data of Kansas amphibians and reptiles. Collinsorum 9(1):7-16.

Hullinger, Allison, Zackary Cordes, Daren Riedle, and William Stark. 2020. Habitat assessment of the Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) and the associated squamate community in eastern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 123(1-2):137-150.

Abbott, Samuel S. 2021. Herp Count: Cowley County: KHS-2020-06. Collinsorum 9(3):12.

Riedle, J. Daren. 2021. Herp Count: Pratt County: KHS-2020-07. Collinsorum 9(3):12.

Mardis, Dexter R. 2021. Herp Count: Greenwood County: KHS-2020-14. Collinsorum 9(3):13.

Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Hodgeman County: KHS-2020-09. Collinsorum 9(3):13.

Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-13. Collinsorum 9(3):13.

Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Comanche County: KHS-2020-15. Collinsorum 9(3):13-14.

Schmidt, Curtis J. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-16. Collinsorum 9(3):14.

Schmidt, Curtis J. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-19. Collinsorum 9(3):14.

Taggart, Meg, Amelia Jaeger, Jesse J. Taggart, and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Ellis County: KHS-2020-21. Collinsorum 9(3):14.

Taggart, Travis W. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-24. Collinsorum 9(3):14-15.

Taggart, Megan M. and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-27. Collinsorum 9(3):15.

Taggart, Travis W., Dan Fogell, and Christopher Visser. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-25. Collinsorum 9(3):15.

Russell, Elisabeth. 2023. Habitat associations and fine-scale movements of the Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) in Kansas and the efficacy of remote telemetry for monitoring small-scale movements. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 81 pp.

Bahe, Lauren M. and Keith Geluso. 2023. Geographic distribution: Plestiodon obsoletus. Nebraska. Herpetological Review 54(4):596.

Devender, Van, Thomas R., and Dales S. Turner. 2023. The herpetofauna of the municipality of Bacanora and the biogeography of amphibians and reptiles of Sonora, Mexico. Herpetological Review 54(5):550-560.

Wright, Jake. 2024. Herpetofaunal assemblage at a former rock quarry in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Collinsorum 13(1):8-9.

Last Updated: 02/27/2024 9:34:05 AM CT

THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY — Accessed: Tuesday 09 June 2026 13:09 CT