Need an expert to identify a Reptile or Amphibian for you?
It seems many people post herp identification (ID) questions on Facebook...and boy do they get responses. A single Dekay's Brownsnake can get called a Copperhead, a Cottonmouth, a Ratsnake, a Cornsnake, a Gartersnake, and even a Ratsnake x Copperhead hybrid on the same post! When you post on Facebook almost everyone thinks they have it right, even if their answer defies all logic. Herpetologists are rare, so the chances you get someone who actually knows what you have is also rare. Even a lot of park rangers are focused on a narrow field and may not know every snake species in the park, let alone how to ID skinks. Use the form link below to have an expert ID your unknown amphibian or reptile.
Check out our Herp ID Form!
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Fill out the form to get an ID response. We try to respond in 24 hours, but please have patience with us if it takes longer. Most information on this form is for ID purposes, but some data we collect is for scientific records. For example, the species in your photo could be the first county record. This would only be counted if it gets documented in a scientific paper. We take the information provided and add it to the write-up, giving the observer credit for the find. The exact location does not become public knowledge. The photos can be helpful to prove the animal's ID in the paper, and it could be used for efforts on this site (with permission), such as species profiles.
If you are writing a scientific paper, and just want us to confirm your ID on the specimen, specify that in the "Comments" section. That way we know you are doing write-up, and we do not have to. Other comments can be things like "In my house", "under a board", or anything else you think may help. Also, you can ask us any questions you have in the comment section. |
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