Mason Neck Survey

The Virginia Herpetological Society would like to thank Jess Lowry and David Stapleton for allowing us access to Mason Neck State Park and for David attending and speaking at our meeting. We also like to thank Daffny Hoskie for expeditiously processing our permit and allowing us access to the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

Species List:

SPECIES	NUMBER
Acris crepitans	50
Ambystoma maculatum	12
Ambystoma opacum	3
Anaxyrus amercanus	7
Anaxyrus fowleri	3
Carphophis amoenus	48
Chelydra serpentina	4
Chrysemys picta picta	11
Coluber constrictor	9
Diadophis punctatus	5
Hemidactylium scutatum	1
Heterodon platyrhinos	1
Hyla cinerea	9
Hyla chrysoscelis	2
Hyla versicolor	1
Kinosternon subrubrum	4
Lithobates catesbeiana	13
Lithobates clamitans	13
Nerodia sipedon	17
Notophthalmus viridescens	3
Pantherophis alleghaniensis	9
Plestiodon fasciatus	43
Plestiodon laticeps	1
Plethodon cinereus	1
Plethodon glutinosus	7
Pseudacrtis crucifer	2
Regina septemvittata	2
Scaphiopus holbrookii	1
Scincella lateralis	2
Storeria dekayi	1
Terrapene carolina	19
Thamnophis sauritus	3

TOTAL	307
Amphibian Species	17
Reptiles Species	15

Susan with Mud Turtle
Southern Leopard Frog
Paul with a Northern Watersnake
Paul & Mike with Northern Watersnake
Paul with one of the Snakehead Fish We inadvertently captured three snakehead fish in a turtle trap baited with sardines. The largest snakehead escaped while retrieving the trap, the other two were killed. On Sunday we used a minnow trap baited with sardines for a couple hours, with the intent of capturing additional snakeheads. Unfortunately none were captured. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that the snakeheads are responsible for the fairly drastic reduction over the last few years of Lithobates catesbeianus, L. clamitans and L. sphenocephalus in the pond.

* Click on a photo to see a larger version.

Amy & Racer	Box turtles	Courting Skinks	N. Cricket Frog	N. Cricket Frog	N. Cricket Frog

Dan & Wormsnake	Eastern Ratsnake	Five-lined with Ticks	Green Frog	Green Treefrog	Fishing Spider

John & Box Turtle	N. Watersnake	Larry & Kory	Susan, Mitch & Rosemary	Greenfrog	Little Brown Skink

Little Brown Skink	Time for a Snack	Marbled Salamander	N. Watersnake	Tony & Ribbon Snake	Paul & Queen Snake

Spring Peeper	Kory, Gene & John	Black Racers	Racer Stretching	Black Racer	Red-bellied Turtle

Ribbon Snake	Ring-neck Snake	Slimy Salamander	Snapping Turtle	Spotted Salamander	Spotted Salamander

Spotted Salamander	Super Pattie	Larry & Kory	Mud Turtle & Bullfrog	Eastern Painted Turtle	Paul & Snakehead