A few Reptiles & Amphibians at Brazos Bend State Park

Last week I went to Brazos Bend State Park in Rosharon, TX.  It was a very nice fall day.  The weather was cool and the bright sun was blocked by the light overcast. I primarily went to bird watch and look for migrating waterfowl but I was surprised to see a variety of reptiles and amphibians during this trip.

American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis,

 2-week old hatchling at the visitors center. 

Water Moccasin - Agkistrodon piscivorous, 

sunning itself along the forested creek bank.  

Broad-banded Water Snake - Nerodia fasciata confluens, 

slithering through the wetland plants along the shore of Elm Lake. 

American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis,

covered in duckweed.

Red-eared Slider - Trachemys scripta elegans,

we saw many of these throughout the park sunning themselves. 

A juvenile Alligator is in this picture.  Can you spot it?

American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis,

was napping peacefully. 

American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis

American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis, on of the many baby alligators around its mother. 

Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Turtle - Apalone spinifera guadalupensis, 

on the right.

Bronze Frog - Rana clamitans

Bronze Frog - Rana clamitans

We also heard a few Bull Frogs - Rana catesbeiana, but couldn't spot any. 

Western Ribbon Snake

Yesterday night I went to water my tropical carnivorous plants that are growing on a garden shelf in my backyard. On the second shelf I found a Western Ribbon Snake. It must have climbed up looking for the Rio Grande Chirping Frogs (see previous post). The frogs chirp constantly and the snake was right next to a pot that had a Chirping Frog in it.

Here is the Western Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis sauritus nitae. A very appropriate name for this snake. The Ribbon Snake is non-venomous and eats insects, slugs, frogs, and small fish.

It was very docile and never tried to bite even when I touched it. It is surprisingly fast at slithering away too.

This was actually the third one I've seen in my yard this year. The last time I saw one it was by my front yard street light being eaten by a Yellow-crowned Night Heron, which swallowed it whole.

Gulf Coast Toad

Lately, when I have come home from the gym at night, I've noticed something next to my driveway. When I get close it hops back and goes under a buckle in the driveway caused by an Oak tree. Upon closer inspection I found it is a Gulf Coast Toad - Bufo nebulifer.

The taxonomy of the Gulf Coast Toad is a bit confusing. The scientific name of this species has been undergoing some changes. This toad seems to be the most abundant specie of toad in the Houston area. I have seen it all over the city in neighborhoods and apartment complexes. It is very easily found at night after a rain where it can be seen hoping around the streets, sidewalks, and lawns. It eats any small animal that will fit in its mouth.

Here is the toad sitting outside of its home. Garden centers sell toad homes which are like an upside-down pots with a hole on the side for them to enter but toads will use many things to make there homes. A lot of times I find toad homes at the base of a tree betweeen the groves that will form roots below the surface of the soil.

One of the keys to identifying the Gulf Coast Toad is the dark band that runs a long side of the animal. They also have a deep V ridge between the eyes. The size is about 4 inches from tip of mouth to the tail end.

At night time after a rain look out for these toad while driving through your neighborhood. Drive slowly because they usually just look like a stone or leaf until they hop-hop-hop. Also, be careful not to run them over. Toads are beneficial to humans because they eat tons of insects (including big disgusting cockroaches) and keep those insect populations down.

Rio Grande Chirping Frog

Finally!!! We had a very much needed rainy day...

...but before the rain, during the extreme drought conditions, I would find many of these small frogs in my pots of carnivorous plants. They are Rio Grande Chirping Frogs - Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides. They were probably the only source of moisture these little frogs could find. I only see them at night time when I would get home from work and water my plants. Sometimes I would find a few in one small pot.

Here's one Rio Grande Chirping Frog tucked under the leaf of a Nepenthes. The Sphagnum moss is constantly moist/wet so these frogs would find these spots comfortable in the very dry conditions. They make a short little chirping sound: Rio Grande Chirping Frog

So what is the Rio Grande Chirping Frog doing in my Houston, TX yard?? My Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians states that they are introduced to Houston and San Antonio and also that it adapts well to residential areas.

That is a good thing that came out of the drought - finally be able to see what was making all the chirping! I used to think it was the Mediterranean Geckos - Hemidactylus turcicus I always see at night.

Here is the Mediterranean Gecko climbing the wall of my back porch.These are abundant in Houston! ...they sound nothing like the Chirping Frog.

And here is there sound: Mediterranean Gecko sound.