CUMBERLAND ISLAND An Ecological Survey of the Coastal Region of Georgia NPS Scientific Monograph No. 3

Hilburn O. Hillestad
Institute of Natural Resources
University of Georgia, Athens

INTRODUCTION

Less is known about the amphibians and reptiles than any other groups of vertebrates on the Georgia coast. A long-range study of the herpetofauna of the barrier islands was begun in 1970. The incomplete list that follows summarizes existing data on the occurrence and distribution of amphibians and reptiles on the islands.

The list was compiled from records in the literature, from public and private collections, from reliable sight observations, and from surveys made during the preparation of this report.

The names of museum and private collections have been abbreviated in the list under the category "Specimens," The names of museum collections are as follows: Auburn University Museum of Paleontology (AUMP), Auburn University Museum of Zoology (AUM), The Charleston Museum (CM), The Florida State Museum (UF), Georgia State Museum (GSM), Savannah Science Museum (SSM), Tall Timbers Research Station (TTRS), and the University of Georgia Museum of Zoology (UG-Z). Private collections cited in the list are: l. L. Brisbin (ILB), C. W. Dopson (CWD), H. O. Hillestad (HOH), J. I. Richardson (JIR), and Mrs. Clifford B. West (CBW).

The information and assistance contributed by the following people are gratefully acknowledged: I. L. Brisbin, G. W. Folkerts, A. S. Johnson, Helen Jordan, W. G. Minser, H, N. Neuhauser, R. R. Odom, E. E. Provost, J. I. Richardson, M. D. Spanel, C. H. Wharton, and B. Woodall, Special appreciation is expressed to the following curators and their respective institutions for providing lists of species in their collections or for allowing the author to examine specimens in their custody: W. Auffenberg (UF), W. W. Baker (TTRS), H. H. Converse, Jr. (UF), J. L. Dobie (AUMP), C. W. Dopson (UG-Z), R. H. Mount (AUM), A. E. Sanders (CM), and G. K. Williamson (SSM).

Class AMPHIBIA
Order CAUDATA

Family SALAMANDRIDAE
Notophthalmus vinidescens—newt
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z, UF)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)

Family AMPHIUMIDAE
Amphiuma means—two-toed amphiuma
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG— Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)

Order ANURA

Family PELOBATIDAE
Scaphiopus holbrooki—eastern spadefoot toad
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (TTRS, CM, GSM)
Literature— Sapelo (Martof 1963)
Sight observations—Little Cumberland

Family RANIDAE
Rana grylio—pig frog
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)

Rana sphenocephala—southern leopard frog
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), St. Catherines (SSM), Sapelo (UG-Z), Little Cumberland (JIR), Cumberland (CM, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Blackbeard

Family MICROHYLIDAE
Gastrophryne carolinensis—eastern narrow-mouthed toad
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z, UF), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Little Cumberland

Family BUFONIDAE
Bufo quercicus—oak toad
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)

Bufo terrestris—southern toad
Distribution:
Specimens—Tybee (HOH), Wassaw (TTRS), St. Catherines (SSM), Blackbeard (UG-Z, AUM), Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (TTRS, CM, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)
Sight observations—Ossabaw, Blackbeard, Little Cumberland
Remarks: A very large specimen has been reported from Blackbeard Island (G. W. Folkerts, pers. comm.)

Family HYLIDAE
Hyla cinerea—green tree frog
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), Sapelo (UG-Z, AUM), Jekyll (GSM), Little Cumberland (UG-Z), Cumberland (CM, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Ossabaw

Hyla femoralis—pine woods tree frog
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z, UF)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)

Hyla squirella—squirrel tree frog
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), Sapelo (UG-Z), Jekyll (GSM), Cumberland (CM, GSM) Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963, Teal and Teal 1964)

Limnaoedus ocularis—grass frog
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)

Pseudacris nigrita—southern chorus frog
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z)

Class REPTILA
Order TESTUDINATA

Family CHELYDRIDAE
Chelydra serpentina—snapping turtle
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (CM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)
Sight observations—Little St. Simons, Ossabaw

Kinosternon subrubrum—mud turtle
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z, HOH), Little Cumberland (HOH)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)

Family EMYIDAE
Terrapene carolina—eastern box turtle
Distribution:
Literature— Sapelo (Martof 1963)

Malaclemys terrapin—Diamondback terrapin
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z), Jekyll (UF)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—The diamondback terrapin is common throughout the salt marsh estuary of Georgia

Pseudemys scripta—yellow-bellied turtle
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), Cumberland (CM)

Deirochelys reticularia—chicken turtle
Distribution:
Specimens—Ossabaw (CBW)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)

Family TESTUDINIDAE
Gopherus polyphemus—gopher tortoise
Distribution:
Sight observations—Cumberland
Remarks: The gopher tortoise was introduced on Cumberland Island.

Family CHELONIDAE
Caretta caretta—loggerhead sea turtle
Distribution:
Specimens (skulls)—Blackbeard (UG-Z, HOH), Ossabaw (CBW), Sapelo (AUMP, UG-Z), Jekyll (UF), Little Cumberland (JIR), Cumberland (CWD, HOH)
Literature—Sapelo (Ragotzkie 1959; Caldwell et al. 1959a,b; Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964), St. Simons (Caldwell 1962), Jekyll (Caldwell et al., 1959a,b), Little Cumberland (Caldwell et al., 1959a,b; Carr 1967), Cumberland (Caldwell et al. 1959b), Blackbeard (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1962)
Sight observations—Tybee, Wassaw, St. Catherines, Wolf, Little St. Simons, Sea, St. Simons, Little Cumberland

Lepidochelys kempi—Ridley turtle
Distribution:
Specimens (skulls)—Sapelo (UG-Z), Mcintosh Co. (UF, exact locality unknown), Chatham Co. (UF, exact locality unknown)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)
Remarks: The Ridley is rarely observed on the Georgia coast and has not been reported to nest on the coast.

Chelonia mydas—green turtle
Distribution:
Sight observation—Glenn County
Remarks: A small green turtle was taken by a fisherman near Brunswick and was observed alive on 15 June 1968. Exact locality unknown. The green turtle has not been reported to nest on the coast.

Order CROCODILIA

Family CROCODYLIDAE
Alligator mississippiensis—alligator
Distribution:
Literature—St. Catherines (Baldwin 1966), Blackbeard (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1962), Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964), Cumberland (Moore 1934)
Sight observations—Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Blackbeard, Sapelo, Little Cumberland, Cumberland

Order SQUAMATA

Family IGUANIDAE
Anolis carolinensis—green anole
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), Sapelo (UG-Z), Jekyll (GSM), Cumberland (TTRS, GSM)
Literature— Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Tybee, Ossabaw, Little Cumberland

Sceloporus undulatus—fence lizard
Distribution:
Specimens—Jekyll (GSM), Cumberland (TTRS, GSM)

Family SCINCIDAE
Lygosoma laterale—ground skink
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), St. Catherines (SSM), Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal. 1964)

Eumeces fasciatus—five-lined skink
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Teal and Teal 1964)

Eumeces laticeps—broad-headed skink
Distribution:
Specimens—St. Catherines (SSM), Sapelo (UG-Z), Jekyll (GSM), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Ossabaw, Little Cumberland

Eumeces inexpectatus—southeastern five-lined skink
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), St. Catherines (SSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Teal and Teal 1964)

Family TEIIDAE
Cenmidophorus sexlineatus—six-lined racerunner
Distribution:
Specimens—Blackbeard (HOH), Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations— Little Cumberland

Family ANGUIDAE
Ophisaurus ventralis—eastern glass lizard
Distribution:
Specimens—Tybee (HOH), Blackbeard (UG-Z), Sapelo (UG-Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)
Sight observations— Little Cumberland

Family ANGUIDAE
Ophisaurus compressus—island glass lizard
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963), Wolf (Neill 1948)

Family COLUBRIDAE
Natrix fasciata—banded water snake
Distribution:
Specimens—St. Catherines (SSM), Blackbeard (UG-Z), Sapelo (UG-Z), Jekyll (GSM), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Teal and Teal 1964)
Remarks: Martof (1963) reported N. sipedon on Sapelo Island. Although he did not list subspecies this snake was probably the currently recognized N. fasciata, formerly N. sipedon fasciata.

Thamnophis sirtalis—garter snake
Distribution:
Specimens—Blackbeard (UG-Z), Sapelo (HOH), Cumberland (TTRS, CM, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Ossabaw, Little Cumberland

Thamnophis sauritus—ribbon snake
Distribution:
Specimens—Blackbeard (AUM, UG-Z), Sapelo (UG-Z), Little Cumberland (JIR), Cumberland (CM, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)

Coluber constrictor—black racer
Distribution:
Specimens—Ossabaw (ILB), St. Catherines (SSM), Blackbeard (AUM), Sapelo (UG-Z, HOH), Cumberland (TTRS, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Wassaw, Little Cumberland

Masticophis flagellum—coachwhip
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)
Sight observations—Little Cumberland

Opheodrys aestivus—rough green snake
Distribution:
Specimens—Blackbeard (AUM), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Little Cumberland

Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata—greenish rat snake
Distribution:
Specimens—Blackbeard (HOH), Sapelo (UG-Z, HOH), Jekyll (HOH), Cumberland (TTRS, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)
Sight observations—Tybee, Ossabaw, Little Cumberland
Remarks: The form occurring on the islands is the "greenish rat snake." Conant (1958) states that it is an intergrade between the yellow rat snake (E. o. quadriviittata) and the black rat (E. o. obsoleta).

Elaphe guttata—corn snake
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Little Cumberland

Cemophora coccinea—scarlet snake
Distribution:
Specimens—Ossabaw (ILB), Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963)

Lampropeltis getulus—kingsnake
Distribution:
Specimens—Sapelo (UG-Z), Cumberland (TTRS, GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Wassaw, Ossabaw, Little Cumberland

Family VIPERIDAE
Agkistrodon piscivorus—cottonmouth
Distribution:
Specimens—Wassaw (TTRS), Blackbeard (UG-Z), Sapelo (UG-Z, HOH), Little Cumberland (UG-Z), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal 1964)
Sight observations—Ossabaw

Crotalus adamanteus—diamondback rattlesnake
Distribution:
Specimens—Ossabaw (CBW), Blackbeard (UG-Z), Sapelo (UG-Z), Little Cumberland (UG-Z), Cumberland (GSM)
Literature—St. Catherines (Baldwin 1966), Blackbeard (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1962), Sapelo (Martof 1963; Teal and Teal. 1964), Little St. Simons (Anon.), St. Simons (Leigh 1883)

REFERENCES

ANONYMOUS. Undated. Saga of the band—adventures of Chamberlain Berolzheimer's 1922 hikers, Little St. Simons Island. Privately published. 64 p.

BALDWIN, W. P. 1966. Considerations in the future management of St. Catherines Island, Georgia. Report to the E. J. Noble Foundation.

CALDWELL, D. K. 1962. Comments on the nesting behavior of Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles, based primarily on tagging returns. Q. J. Fla. Acad. Sci. 25(4): 287-302.

______, A. CARR, and L. H. OGREN. 1959a. Nesting and migration of the Atlantic loggerhead. Bull. Fla. State Mus. Biol. Sci. 4(10):295-308.A

______, F. H. BERRY, A. CARR, and R. A. RAGOTZKIE. 1959b. Multiple and group nesting by the Atlantic loggerhead turtle. Bull. Fla. State Mus. Biol. Sci. 4(10):309-318.

CARR, A. 1967. So excellent a fishe. The Natural History Press, Garden City, N.Y. 248 p.

CONANT, R. 1958. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of the United States and Canada east of the 100th meridian. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 366 p.

LEIGH, FRANCES B. 1883. Ten years on a Georgia plantation since the war. R. Bentley and son, London. 347 p.

MARTOF, B. S. 1963. Some observations on the herpetofauna of Sapelo Island, Georgia. Herpetologica 19(1): 70-72.

MOORE, R. W. 1934. The golden isles of Guale. Natl. Geogr. Mag. 65(2):235-264.

NEILL, W. T. 1948. The lizards of Georgia. Herpetologica 4(4): 153-158.

RAGOTZKIE, R. A. 1959. Mortality of loggerhead turtle eggs from excessive rainfall. Ecology 40(2):303-305.

TEAL, MILDRED, and J. TEAL. 1964. Portrait of an island. Atheneum, New York, 167 p.

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. 1962 Master Plan, Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Bur. Sport. Fish. Wildl. Reg. 4., Atlanta.