JULY FEATURED EXHIBIT 



Chicagoland's 



Reptiles 



and Amphibians 



Robert F. Inger 

 Curator, Amphibians and Reptiles 



Six-lined race runner 

 (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) 



A he Chicago area is remarkably rich in reptiles and amphib- 

 ians, considering how far north it is. Within 70 miles of the 

 center of the city live 10 species of salamanders, 11 frogs, 18 

 snakes, and 10 turtles, but only 3 lizards. We evidently are 

 beyond the northern limits for most lizards. By comparison, 

 all of France, which is larger than any of our states except 

 Alaska and Texas, has only 48 species of reptiles and am- 

 phibians. 



Left: 



Marbled 



salamander 



(Ambystenia 



opocum) 



Right: Fox snake 

 (Elaphe vulpina) 



that extend up the Wabash valley. A few, such as the plains 

 garter snake, the fox snake, and the bull snake, have come in 

 by way of the tongue of prairie that reaches the Chicago area 

 from the west. 



A series of four cases in Hall 18 (Hall of Reptiles) displays 

 the species of reptiles and amphibians of Chicagoland. Ex- 

 hibits of this sort comprise one of the ways in which the 

 Museum presents the natural history of our region to the gen- 

 eral public. Another, equally important way the Museum 

 uses to carry out this responsibility is through the publication 

 of leaflets and books. 



This month the Museum reprinted Amphibians and Reptiles 

 of the Chicago Area by Clifford H. Pope. The book was first 

 printed in 1944 while Mr. Pope, who has since retired, was 

 still Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles. 



Intended as a guide for local naturalists, the book describes 

 and illustrates all 52 species of frogs, salamanders, turtles, liz- 

 ards, and snakes found in the Chicago area. In addition, Mr. 

 Pope has summarized all that is known about their habits and 

 occurrence. Because many of these same species are found over 

 large parts of the north-central states, this guide will be valu- 



The explanation for the relative richness of our local fauna 

 probably lies in the fact that the Chicago area is at the junc- 

 tion of several climatic and vegetation zones. Animals, be- 

 cause they are usually adapted to living in one kind of environ- 

 ment, tend to be distributed according to these zones. 



We are accustomed to think of Chicago as a transportation 

 center, a juncture point for traffic from all directions. Actually, 

 the Chicago area has had the same role in connection with 

 movements of animals. A number of species are associated 

 with the mixed deciduous-coniferous forests of the northeast- 

 ern United States which just reach our area. The red-backed 

 salamander, the four-toed salamander, and Blanding's turtle 

 are examples of amphibians and reptiles that have spread to 

 Chicago via that environment. The hog-nosed snake, the 

 marbled salamander, and the mud turtle probably moved into 

 Chicagoland along with the more southern deciduous forests 



Page 2 JULY 



able to interested persons living at some distance from Chi- 

 cago: for example, in Davenport, Milwaukee, Detroit, and 

 Cleveland. This excellent little book should be in the library 

 of every local naturalist and biology teacher. It is available 

 through the Museum Book Shop. (end) 



