Amphibian and reptile survey of the Thompson Chain of Lakes
By: submitted by Paul Hendricks; a report to Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Contributors: Montana Natural Heritage Program.; Montana. Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
Publisher: Montana Natural Heritage Program
Published: 2000
Place of publication: Helena, Mont
Language: eng
Number of pages: 12
Subjects: Amphibians -- Montana -- Sanders County -- Geographical distribution -- Surveys; Reptiles -- Montana -- Sanders County -- Geographical distribution -- Surveys; Larvae -- Montana -- Sanders County -- Geographical distribution; Tadpoles -- Montana -- Sanders County -- Geographical distribution; Dipnet; Egg masses; Western terrestrial garter snake -- Montana -- Sanders County; Columbia spotted frog -- Montana -- Sanders County; Ambystoma macrodactylum -- Montana -- Sanders County; Painted turtle -- Montana -- Sanders County; Western toad -- Montana -- Sanders County; Pacific treefrog -- Montana -- Sanders County; Northern leopard frog -- Montana -- Sanders County; Common garter snake -- Montana -- Sanders County; Thompson Chain of Lakes (Mont.)
Genres: Surveys.
Description: A brief inventory of the Thompson Chain of Lakes was conducted in May-June 2000 for amphibians and reptiles in the complex of wetlands present there.  Twenty-six site surveys at 16 sites revealed the presence of four amphibian species and three reptile species at 13 sites; one species was detected at 5 sites, two species at 4 sites, three species at 3 sites, and four species at 1 site.  Amphibians detected included long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) at 8 sites, western toad (Bufo boreas) at 2 sites, Pacific tree frog (Hyla regilla) at 2 sites (also heard calling from a cattail area in one of the main lakes), and Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) at 5 sites.  Reptiles detected included painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) at 6 sites, common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) at 2 sites, and western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) at 1 site.  Total individuals and eggs masses seemed low for the amount of available, apparently suitable, habitat.  However, amphibian/reptile species richness at the Thompson Chain of Lakes is at or near expectation, and the inventory revealed all of the anticipated amphibian and wetland-associated reptile species, with the possible exception of the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens).