South Dakota
We hope this page serves as a landing pad for learning about amphibians, reptiles, and their conservation. The resources featured were compiled by members of the MW PARC Advisory Board with input from other professionals working in amphibian and reptile conservation and management.
If links or information are out of date, please let us know!
State species
South Dakota doesn't have a state amphibian or reptile. However, 45 species call this state home, including the non-venomous North American Racer (Coluber constrictor).
This image of a North American Racer was taken by Drew Davis and can be seen on the Amphibians And Reptiles of South Dakota site.
Field guides and species accounts
Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota. This site contains species accounts and recent sightings of species in the state.
Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota. Written by Alyssa Kiesow and Drew Davis. (Available for purchase through South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks)
Field Guide to South Dakota Turtles. Written by Sarah Bandas and Kenneth Higgins. (PDF)
A Field Guide to South Dakota Amphibians. Written by Tate Fischer et al. (Available for purchase through multiple online sellers)
South Dakota Snakes: a Guide to Snake Identification. Written by Steve Thompson and Doug Backlund. (Available for purchase through multiple online sellers)
A checklist and distribution maps of the amphibians and reptiles of South Dakota. Written by Royce Ballinger, Justin Meeker, and Marcus Theis. (PDF)
Conservation and management
The resources below are maintained by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan. This plan highlights the health of the state's fish and wildlife populations and their habitats. It can be read through the Action Plan Explorer or via a free PDF.
Threatened and Endangered Species. This site provides a list of the endangered and threatened species in the state.
Rare Animals. Many species of amphibians and reptiles in South Dakota are considered to be rare. You can view a list of those species online and report sightings of those species through an online form.
Regulations
Any individuals involved in research, surveys, or planning to collect or handle wildlife in South Dakota, including herps, are required to have a Scientific Collector's Permit. This also includes the take of any already dead specimens.
Community science and local organizations
Sioux Falls Herpetological Society. This is the Facebook page for this nonprofit organization.
Technical literature
Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science. Many of the documents for this organization are available online.
Bibliography of the Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota site (available online).
Museum collections
Efforts by Davis et al. (2017. Herpetol. Rev. 48:394–406) consolidated specimens from many small natural history collections across South Dakota and deposited them at the Biodiversity Collections, The University of Texas at Austin. No major holdings of amphibians and reptiles in South Dakota currently exist. A small collection of research specimens (<40 specimens) exists at South Dakota State University, the SDSU Oak Lake Field Station, and the South Dakota School of Mines (skeletal material). The former University of South Dakota collection was transferred to the University of Nebraska State Museum in 1999 and represents the largest collection of research specimens from South Dakota, followed by the Biodiversity Collections, The University of Texas at Austin.