News:

20 February 2023

  • 51 new occurrence records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database (HerpMapper: n = 46; UCSB: n = 5).

8 January 2023

20 December 2021

  • 313 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database (DRD Field Series: n = 64; HerpMapper: n = 20; iNaturalist: n = 229). Included are 3 new county records: Prairie Skink (Hand), Gophersnake (Campbell), and Common Gartersnake (Lyman).

1 August 2021

  • The Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota (revised second edition) is now available! This newly-revised guide describes and illustrates all reptile and amphibian species in South Dakota in one reference. Color photos, updated distribution maps, and descriptions of life history and habitats help the reader identify 45 known and two possible species and understand the role these interesting animals play in nature. The second edition includes new illustrations and additional identification keys and reflects updated taxonomy and recent knowledge gained from university and community scientists. This field guide provides a glimpse into the lives of these intriguing members of South Dakota’s diverse natural heritage. Click here to purchase it ($20, shipped).

29 July 2021

27 May 2021

  • 173 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database (HerpMapper: n = 23; iNaturalist: n = 150). Included is one new county record: Prairie Rattlesnake (Charles Mix).

22 January 2021

  • 16 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database (HerpMapper: n = 6; iNaturalist: n = 10). Included are 2 new county records: Cope's Gray Treefrog (Lake) and Snapping Turtle (Miner).

13 November 2020

  • 65 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database (HerpMapper: n = 11; iNaturalist: n = 54). Included are 4 new county records: Snapping Turtle (Lawrence), Milksnake (Brule, Meade), and Common Gartersnake (Tripp).

20 September 2020

18 September 2020

18 July 2020

28 June 2020

15 June 2020

9 May 2020

5 December 2019

27 August 2019

15 July 2019

  • 180 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database (HerpMapper: n = 82; iNaturalist: n = 98). Included are new county records for Ornate Box Turtle (Fall River) and Spiny Softshell (Douglas).

17 March 2019

  • 66 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database from four collections: Arkansas State University (ASU; n = 13), Drake University Vertebrate Collections (DURC; n = 2), University of Missouri (UMC; n = 9), and Utah Museum of Natural History (UMNH; n = 42).

12 December 2018

  • 30 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database. Included are new county records for Ornate Box Turtle (Tripp) and Sagebrush Lizard (Custer).

18 October 2018

  • 110 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been added to the database (HerpMapper and DRD Field Series), most from recent fieldwork along the James River in southeastern South Dakota. Included are new county records for Snapping Turtle (Hutchinson), Smooth Softshell (Corson), and Gophersnake (Hutchinson).

16 October 2018

  • 52 new records of amphibians and reptiles have been imported from iNaturalist. Included are new county records for Snapping Turtle (Meade) and Spiny Softshell (Grant).

29 August 2018

25 July 2018

  • A new article on efforts to update distribution maps of amphibians and reptiles in South Dakota was published in the Summer 2018 issue of South Dakota Conservation Digest. Check it out here.

18 June 2018

8 May 2018

2 April 2018

  • funding awarded from a Wildlife Diversity Small Grant through South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to survey for state-endangered Lined Snakes along the James River in 2018. See Current Research for more information.

1 February 2018

  • 103 new specimen records have been added to the database, most from Fall 2017 and a handful from the mid-2000s. Included in the batch are numerous records of False Map Turtles from the Missouri River and Wood Frogs from Roberts County.

8 November 2017

10 October 2017

20 September 2017

11 July 2017

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1 July 2017

  • over 250 specimen records have been added to the database, primarily from Lake Oahe and the southeastern region of South Dakota.

20 March 2017

  • funding awarded from a Wildlife Diversity Small Grant awarded through South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to help build and promote this website.

23 February 2017

  • added specimen records from UWSP and UWZM.