The American Midland Naturalist 



Published Bi-Monthly by The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 



Vol. 20 July. 1938 No. 1 



The Reptiles of Ohio 



Roger Conant 



Introduction 



A century has passed since the pubhcation of the first report on the 

 reptiles of Ohio (Kirtland, 1838). During that time rapid strides have been 

 made in the field of herpetology in general, but the reptiles of Ohio have not 

 been studied as thoroughly or as intensively as in other and particularly some 

 of the adjacent states. Two extensive papers on the herpetology of Ohio 

 (Smith, 1882, and Morse, 1904) brought the available information up to 

 their respective dates, but it has remained for the enormous development in 

 methods of communication and transportation to present an opportunity for 

 a more comprehensive survey. The modem rail and highway networks have 

 opened many areas difficult or impossible of access to our predecessors, and by 

 motor car the farthest comers of the state are now only four or five hours 

 distant from the capital. 



While the progress and prosperity of the commonwealth have been a boon 

 to field work they have also resulted in the destruction of many habitats and the 

 possible elimination of one or more species from the fauna of the state. The 

 expansion of agriculture and industry has upset original conditions to a great 

 degree, since it has caused the destruction of forests and prairies, the draining 

 of bogs and ponds and the pollution of many streams. 



The present work was undertaken with the desire in mind to study the 

 reptiles of the state in as many different ways as possible although the subject 

 of distribution has received somewhat the greatest attention. 



A brief resume of the work which has been done should be of interest. 

 Early in 1929 the literature was searched and the leading museums canvassed 

 in an effort to ascertain how much information might be at hand. The decided 

 paucity of specimens from Ohio and the need for extensive field work became 

 immediately evident. Only the Ohio State Museum possessed a representa- 

 tive collection. Field trips were begun on a small scale in 1930, became more 

 numerous the following year and reached a high in 1932. Travel was almost 

 exclusively by automobile and an examination of the mileage records reveals 

 that the writer drove approximately 41,000 miles in the state during the years 

 1930 to 1935 inclusive. Personal collections were made in 80 and visits were 



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