A synopsis of the reptiles and amphibians of Illinois

Garman Harrison 1858-

Sujets

• Reptiles

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• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 5
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 10 Mo

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HlvSTORY.NATURAL Champaign, Illinois. VOLUME III. AiiTicLE XIII.—A ISynopsis of the Reptiles and Axfi'iifBijNs OF Illinois. By FT. Garman. 1892. w IR.XN'KS 4 SONS, PRINTERS^l^^lj^t PEORIA, ILLINOIS. — Article XIII. A Synopsis the Reptiles and Amphibiansof of Illinois. By H. Garman. PEEFATOEY NOTE. This synopsis is presented largely as it was written several years ago. Before final report oura on reptiles and amphibi- ans is prepared, it is sincerely to be desired that examples of every Illinois species may be in the Illinois Laboratory collection for description, and that the local features of the fauna may be brought out criticalby a comparison of Illinois specimens with collectionsfrom other parts of the United States. Specimens of following species, and observationsthe upon them, are especially desirable: Cistudo ornata^ Chrysemys picfa^ Fseudemys hiero- glyphica, P. co7icinna, Heterodon simus, Ophibolus rhomhomacu- Nerodia sipedonlatus, yav.fasciata, Rana areolata, R. sylvatica, Hyla cinerea, Desmognathusfusca, Spelerpes ruber, Amhlystoma jejf'ersonianum and A. pmnctatum. A few additional species known to occur in adjacent, states ' may be looked for in Illinois. Chelopus guttatus may occur in northeastern Illinois. It has been found in northern Indiana and in Michigan." />

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HlvSTORY.NATURAL
Champaign, Illinois.
VOLUME III.
AiiTicLE XIII.—A ISynopsis of the Reptiles and
Axfi'iifBijNs OF Illinois. By FT. Garman.
1892.
w IR.XN'KS 4 SONS, PRINTERS^l^^lj^t
PEORIA, ILLINOIS.—
Article XIII. A Synopsis the Reptiles and Amphibiansof of
Illinois. By H. Garman.
PEEFATOEY NOTE.
This synopsis is presented largely as it was written several
years ago. Before final report oura on reptiles and amphibi-
ans is prepared, it is sincerely to be desired that examples of
every Illinois species may be in the Illinois Laboratory collection
for description, and that the local features of the fauna may be
brought out criticalby a comparison of Illinois specimens with
collectionsfrom other parts of the United States. Specimens of
following species, and observationsthe upon them, are especially
desirable: Cistudo ornata^ Chrysemys picfa^ Fseudemys hiero-
glyphica, P. co7icinna, Heterodon simus, Ophibolus rhomhomacu-
Nerodia sipedonlatus, yav.fasciata, Rana areolata, R. sylvatica,
Hyla cinerea, Desmognathusfusca, Spelerpes ruber, Amhlystoma
jejf'ersonianum and A. pmnctatum.
A few additional species known to occur in adjacent, states
' may be looked for in Illinois.
Chelopus guttatus may occur in northeastern Illinois. It
has been found in northern Indiana and in Michigan.
Aspidonectes ferox has been found in the Ohio River, and
is likely to occur in this stream and in the Mississippi, along
our borders.
Hijla squirella has been taken at Brookville, Indiana, by
Mr. A. W. Butler. It is a southern species, most likely to
occur in the south part of the State.
Amblystoma copianum was described in 1885 by Prof. 0.
P. Hay from a single specimen taken at Irvington, Indiana.
It seems to bear a general resemblance to the young A. tif/rinum
just from the water. It may be distinguished from all re-
corded Illinois members of the genus by the presence of eleven
costal grooves and two plantar tubercles.
H. Garman.
May 1891.6,21f) Illinois State Lnhoratory Natural History.of
CLASS KEPTILIA.
ofExoskeleton in the form horny scales or bony plates.
One occipital condyle. Mandible present, each ramus of sev-
eral bones. Vertebrae without terminal epiphyses. No mam-
mary glands. Generally no diaphragm (an incomplete dia-
phragm is present in crocodiles). Respiration always by means
of lungs, sometimes aided by the walls of the pharynx. Heart
generally with three, sometimes with four, chambers. Two
aortic arches. Blood not warm; red corpuscles nucleated.
Alimentary canal terminating in a cloaca. Oviparous or ovo-
viparous.
Body enclosed in a bony shell, wide, and more or less de-
pressed. Legs four. Turtles Order Chelonia.
more or less cylindrical, never greatly depressed,Body covered
with small scales, generally imbricated. Eyelids and ex-
ears present. Legscommonly four; if wanting,ternal with
rudimentary sternal arch. Lizards Order Saukia.
Body very long and slender, cylindrical, back covered with
small imbricated scales, belly commonly with larger scales.
No legs, or at most with rudiments of the hind pair.
Sternal arch, eyelids, and external ears wanting. Snakes.
Order Ophidia.
ORDER CHELONIA.
twoBody enclosed between shields (carapace, upper, and
plastron, lower) consisting of bony plates. Dorsal vertebrae
and ribs immovably united with the carapace. Bones of head
firmly united. Jaws covered with bony plates. No teeth.
No external auditory organs. Eyes with a nictitating mem-
brane. Four well-developed limbs. Oviparous.
This well-defined group is represented in Illinois by a
rather small number of species. Our streams and lakes, more
especially the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, with their exten-
sloughs, their numerous sandy shores suited to the processsive
oviposition, and their abundance of animal and vegetableof
life, would seem to form an ideal cheloniau habitat. About