Amphibians and reptiles of the McElmo Rare Lizard and Snake Area in southwest Colorado

The Bureau of Land Management has established a 443-acre tract as the McElmo Rare Lizard and Snake Area (MLSA). This present study was done in order to obtain a detailed inventory of the reptiles and amphibians of the MLSA. The objectives were to: 1) prepare a reptile and amphibian species list; 2) indicate the distribution, densities, and habitat types of the herpetofauna; 3) survey the distribution of species in adjacent areas for comparison; and 4) explain the methods used, analyze the data, discuss the herpetological values, and recommend management guidelines for adequate protection of the herpetofauna.