Embedded Files
The picture above is of The Nature Conservancy's Clymer Meadow Preserve. It is said to be one of the few and best preserved examples of Texas Blackland Prairie remaining. County Road 1140, Hunt County, Texas, USA (33.3107°N, 96.2450°W, 193 m.). Photographed on 24 June 2021 by William L. Farr.
The picture above is of The Nature Conservancy's Clymer Meadow Preserve. It is said to be one of the few and best preserved examples of Texas Blackland Prairie remaining. County Road 1140, Hunt County, Texas, USA (33.3107°N, 96.2450°W, 193 m.). Photographed on 24 June 2021 by William L. Farr.
What are the Blackland Prairies?
The Blackland prairies are an ecosystem of temperate grassland exclusive to Texas. It extends from the Red River all the way to San Antonio (See Map). The soil is a rich black, alkaline clay.
The Blackland Prairies are the most endangered ecosystem in North America. Historically there was about 170 million acres of blackland prairie with now less than 4% of that remaining and only 1% of the original vegetation remaining(1).
Snakes of the Blackland Prairies
Of the reptiles, snakes are the most diverse group found in the blackland prairies. Representatives of the colubrids, viperids, leptotyphlopids, and elapids can be found throughout this ecoregion. There are 48 species and subspecies of snakes that inhabit the Blackland Prairies(2,3).
Western Rat Snake - Panterhophis obsoleta
Emory's or Great Plains Rat Snake - Pantherophis emoryii emoryii
Bull Snake - Pituophis catenifer sayi
Prairies King Snake - Lampropeltis calligaster
Speckled King Snake - Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
Desert King Snake - Lampropeltis getula splendida
Louisiana Milksnake - Lampropeltis triangulum amaura
Diamond Back Water Snake - Nerodia rhombifera
Blotched Water Snake - Nerodia fasciata confluens
Banded Water Snake - Nerodia erythogaster transversa
Graham's Crayfish Snake - Regina grahamii
Texas Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis annectens
Eastern Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Checkered Garter Snake - Thamnophis marcianus
Western Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus
Western Mud Snake - Farancia abacura reinwardti
Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake - Heterodon platirhinos
Texas Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans arenicola
Chihuahuan Night Snake - Hypsiglena jani
Rough Green Snake - Opheodrys aestivus
Eastern Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum flagellum
Western Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum testaceus
Yellow Bellied Racer - Coluber constrictor flaviventris
Prairie Ring Necked - Diadophis punctatus arnyi
Texas or Plains Thread Snake - Rena dulcis dulcis
Texas Long Nosed Snake - Rhinocheilus lecontei
Texas Patch Nosed Snake - Salvadora grahamiae
Variable Ground Snake - Sonora semiannulata semiannulata
Southern Texas Ground Snake - Sonora semiannulata taylori
Texas Brown Snake - Storeria dekayi texana
Flat-Headed Snake - Tantilla gracilis
Plains Black-Headed Snake - Tantilla nigriceps
Lined Snake - Tropidoclonion lineatum
Rough Earth Snake - Virginia striatula
Smooth Earth Snake - Virginia valeriae
Western Diamond Back Rattle Snake - Crotalus atrox
Timber Rattle Snake - Crotalus horridus
Black-Tailed Rattle Snake - Crotalus molossus
Southern Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix
Broad Banded Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix lacticinctus
Cottonmouth - Agkistrodon piscivorous
Western Massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus
Pygmy Rattle Snake - Sistrurus miliarius
Texas Coral Snake - Micrurus tener
(1) https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/12/28/north-americas-most-endangered-ecoregion-is-in-north-texas-backyard-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
(2)Dixon, James. Amphbians & Reptiles of Texas, With Keys, Taxonomic Synopses, Bibliography, and Distribution Maps. 2013. Texas A&M University Press.
(3) Dixon, James, J.E. Werler, and M.R.J. Forstner. Texas Snakes - A Field Guide. 2020. University of Texas Press.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse