“Texas Herp” is devoted to appreciating and learning about the herpetofauna, or “herps,” of Texas. Our state is home to many varieties of frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, turtles, and the American alligator. These animals are beautiful, fascinating, and mostly harmless. They play integral roles in the systems of plants and animals that are essential to life.
We publish Texas Field Notes, a journal of observations and essays regarding wildlife and wild places in Texas. It is offered free by electronic subscription. We write about our visits to various places in Texas, and about conservation and natural history. (See the Texas Field Notes page).
If you’d like to see photos and read about various species of herps, see the pages
that describe different groups of these animals. We start with some basic descriptions
-
Who Are We?
Michael Smith: From the age of 11 (in 1962), I grew up mostly in north Texas. I’ve been interested in herpetology for all those years, and so I have some experience with Texas herping. I have written on the topic, given talks, been president of and editor for the DFW Herpetological Society. Nonetheless I’m still an amateur and there’s still a lot that I don’t know … and learning more is a lot of fun.
Clint King: I have been interested in reptiles since I was two, and have been actively herping the fields and streams of North Texas since I was eight. For the past ten years I have been venturing across the state to photograph herps in their natural environments. I am currently serving as field trip director for the DFW Herpetological Society. I look forward to each new experience gained in the field, and am expanding my interests in other areas of natural history.
Green treefrog (Hyla cinerea)
Please visit our blog, “Notes From the Creek” -
Contents © 2011, 2012, Michael Smith & Clint King. Last update 3/19/12
We get out to visit natural places in Texas as often as we can, bringing back photos and stories that we’ll share with you (see the “Field Herping” page). We want to share ideas about places to go and how to have great field trips.
It’s the Year of the Lizard!
The year 2012 is a time to learn about species like this Texas horned lizard and
to conserve the 118 species of lizards found in the U.S. north of Mexico. This year
has been designated the “Year of the Lizard” by Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation
-
A major goal of TexasHerp.org is to share information about conservation of herps and the places where they live. Reptiles and amphibians are declining in many places, with amphibians in particular facing an extinction crisis. Much of what we can do to conserve herps will also be beneficial to humans, so there are plenty of reasons to protect wildlife and habitat. See the “Conservation” page for more.