RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



A total of 47 sites were surveyed of which 29 had one or more amphibian or reptile species 

 present (Figure 1, Appendices 2 and 3); one site was surveyed two times. Although no species 

 were found at 1 8 sites, their absence may have been due to the time of day, weather conditions, 

 or other factors at the time of sampling. With three exceptions, all of the sites were on HNF 

 land. 



In addition to the 48 sur\'eys, there were a number of sightings (i.e. road kills, chance 

 observations) for which data are available and the sightings considered reliable. Species location 

 data from surveys, chance encounters, and historic records (from the literature and museum 

 specimens) are listed in Appendix 4. Distribution maps were created using survey and sighting 

 data and historical records; inset statewide maps for each species are based on sight and 

 specimen records, both recent and historic. 



No previous publications or reports on reptiles or amphibians concentrate on the HNF area. 

 Based on museum specimens, publications, surveys and incidental obsers'ations, four 

 amphibians and three reptiles have been located on the HNF; an additional four amphibians and 

 seven reptiles may eventually be found to occur there. Tliree amphibian and one reptile species 

 were actually obser\'ed during the study. The following results are presented as individual 

 species summaries for the Forest as a whole, followed by specific infonnation on each mountain 

 range. 



In the following species accounts, the section on "Similar Species" covers species only which 

 are known or suspected to occur in Montana; outside Montana other confusing species may occur 

 which are not covered in this report. Photos of all Montana amphibians and reptiles may be 

 found in Reichel and Flath (1995). Keys to amphibian eggs (Livezey and Wright 1947) and 

 tadpoles (Altig 1970) are a\'ailable in the literature, but are difficult to use, and for many species 

 are not satisfactory for field identification. 



