Fly Gap Reptiles

Fly Gap Reptile List

A preliminary list of reptile species identified at the Fly Gap Division of Double Helix Ranch, Mason County, Texas. This list is a work in progress.

Family	Genus	species	Common Name	Voucher	Comments
Chelydridae	Chelydra	serpentina	Common Snapping Turtle		Observed in ranch lake
Kinosternidae	Kinosternon	flavescens	Yellow Mud Turtle		Observed in ranch ponds
Kinosternidae	Kinosternon	subrubrum	Mississippi Mud Turtle		Probable on ranch; recorded from Mason County
Kinosternidae	Sternotherus	odoratus	Stinkpot		Observed in ranch ponds, as well as in nearby Llano River
Emydidae	Graptemys	versa	Texas Map Turtle		Observed in nearby Llano River
Emydidae	Pseudemys	texana	Texas River Cooter		Observed in ranch lake
Emydidae	Terrapene	ornata	Ornate Box Turtle		Formerly regularly seen on ranch in spring, especially after rains; may have been wiped with introduction of imported fire ants
Emydidae	Terrapene	carolina	Three-toad Box Turtle		Possible; recorded from surrounding counties
Emydidae	Trachemys	scripta	Red-eared slider		Most common turtle in ranch ponds and along streams
Trionychidae	Apalone	mutica	Smooth Softshell Turtle		Found in nearby Llano River
Trionychidae	Apalone	spinifera	Spiny Softshell Turtle		Observed on ranch in ponds and streams
Polychrotidae	Anolis	carolinensis	Green Anole		Probable; recorded from surrounding counties
Phynosomatidae	Cophosaurus	texanus	Greater Earless Lizard		Fairly common along sandy creek beds and in open areas
Phynosomatidae	Crotaphytus	collaris	Collared Lizard		Commony observed basking on rocks; populations have declined since 2002 after introduction of imported fire ants (locally exterminated?)
Phynosomatidae	Holbrookia	lacerata	Plateau Earless Lizard		Possible; recorded from surrounding counties
Phynosomatidae	Holbrookia	maculata	Eastern Earless Lizard		Possible; recorded from surrounding counties
Phynosomatidae	Phyrnosoma	cornutum	Texas Horned Lizard		Formerly common; now only seen rarely in this area
Phynosomatidae	Sceloporus	olivaceus	Texas Spiny Lizard		Common on trees, walls of buildings
Phynosomatidae	Sceloporus	poinsetti	Crevice Spiny Lizard		Fairly common on rock outcroppings
Phynosomatidae	Sceloporus	undulatus	Southern Prairie Lizard		Common low on trees, on the ground, and in brush
Phynosomatidae	Urosaurus	ornatus	Eastern Tree Lizard		Common on trees
Scincidae	Plestiodon	obsoletus	Great Plains Skink		Fairly common, usually under cover
Scincidae	Plestiodon	septentrionalis	Southern Prairie Skink		Possible; recorded from surrounding counties
Scincidae	Plestiodon	brevilineatus	Short-lined Skink		Most abundent skink in area
Scincidae	Scincella	lateralis	Ground Skink		Usually observed in heavy leaf litter of oak motts
Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	gularis	Texas Spotted Whiptail		Common; active in full sun on hot days
Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	sexlineatus	Prairie-lined Racerunner		Common; active in full sun on hot days
Anguidae	Gerrhonotus	infernalis	TexasAlligator Lizard		Possible; recorded from surrounding counties
Anguidae	Ophisaurus	attenuatus	Western Slender Glass Lizard		Possible; recorded from surrounding counties
Leptotyphlopidae	Leptotyphlops	dulcis	Plains Blind Snake		Fairly common, usually observed under rocks after heavy spring rains
Colubridae	Arizona	elegans	Kansas Glossy Snake		Common in sandy soils of the ranch; often seen on local roads or under cover
Colubridae	Coluber	constrictor	Eastern yellow-bellied Racer		Probable; recorded from surrounding counties
Colubridae	Diadophis	punctatus	Prairie Ring-necked Snake		Probable on ranch; recorded from Mason County
Colubridae	Pantherophis	emoryi	Great Plains Rat Snake		Fairly common; often seen on roads, under cover
Colubridae	Pantherophis	obsoletus	Texas Rat Snake		One of most common snakes in area
Colubridae	Gyalopion	canum	Western Hook-nosed Snake		Probable on ranch; recorded from Mason County
Colubridae	Heterodon	nasicus	Western Hog-nosed Snake		Probable; recorded from surrounding counties
Colubridae	Heterodon	platirhinos	Eastern Hog-nosed Snake		Fairly common, but apparently decreasing along with toad populations
Colubridae	Hypsigena	torquata	Texas Night Snake		Not common, but a few records from the ranch
Colubridae	Lampropeltis	getula	Desert Kingsnake		Not common, but observed in area
Colubridae	Lampropeltis	triangulum	Mexican Milk Snake		Uncommon
Colubridae	Masticophis	flagellum	Western Coachwhip		Common
Colubridae	Masticophis	taeniatus	Central Texas Whipsnake		Common
Colubridae	Nerodia	erythrogaster	Blotched Water Snake		Common around ponds
Colubridae	Nerodia	rhombifer	Diamondback Water Snake		Common along streams and in ponds
Colubridae	Pituophis	catenifer	Bull Snake		Common; often found in gopher holes or crawling on surface
Colubridae	Rhinocheilus	lecontei	Texas Long-nosed Snake		Fairly common; usually seen on roads
Colubridae	Salvadora	grahamiae	Texas Patch-nosed Snake		Fairly common, one of most evident snakes in winter
Colubridae	Sonora	semiannulata	Ground Snake		Common under rocks in spring, but less so than formerly
Colubridae	Storeria	dekayi	Texas Brown Snake		Uncommon under rocks
Colubridae	Tantilla	gracilis	Flatheaded Snake		Fairly common under rocks
Colubridae	Tantilla	nigriceps	Plains Black-headed Snake		Probable on ranch; recorded from Mason County
Colubridae	Thamnophis	cyrtopsis	Black-necked Garter Snake		Fairly common along streams and shores of ponds
Colubridae	Thamnophis	marcianus	Checkered Garter Snake		Common across the ranch, especially near water
Colubridae	Thamnophis	proximus	Red-striped Ribbon Snake		Common along streams and shores of ponds
Colubridae	Tropidoclonion	lineatum	Texas Lined Snake		Probable; recorded from surrounding counties
Colubridae	Virginia	striatula	Rough Earth Snake		Common under rocks
Elapidae	Micurus	fulvius	Texas Coral Snake		Probable on ranch; recorded from Mason County
Viperidae	Agkistrodon	contortrix	Broad-banded Copperhead		Common
Viperidae	Agkistrodon	piscivorus	Western Cottonmouth		Possible on ranch; recorded from Mason County
Viperidae	Crotalus	atrox	Western Diamondback Rattlesnake		Common, especially in rocky outcrops
Viperidae	Crotalus	molossus	Black-tailed Rattlesnake		Probable; recorded from surrounding area
Viperidae	Sistrurus	catenatus	Massasauga		Possible; recorded from surrounding counties

Species vs subspecies