Welcome to the Herpetological Observation database at MSB!
The observation database is a project in development at the MSB Division of Amphibians and Reptiles that aims to provide a simple way for you to keep track of herps you see in New Mexico. You will be able to retrieve information on your observations, from your backyard to your local favorite "hotspots", at any time for your personal use. You will also be able to find out what other people are seeing across the state. In addition, we aim to make available the entire database to scientists and conservationists who would like to know more about the distribution patterns of amphibians and reptiles across New Mexico.
The database that you are helping to create can be used by
- you, to track your personal observations and maintain lists of all
animals you've ever seen, those recorded at specific locations,
or recorded over specific periods of time; or to create lists
recorded from various locations and dates based on the records of other
people.
- other herpers and amateur naturalists, allowing them to
learn about the amphibians and reptiles in your region.
- scientists, to uncover patterns in
distribution and abundance across New Mexico, including
range expansions and
contractions, and a host of other important environmental relationships.
- conservationists, to identify important areas for our state's herpetofauna
based on current range distributions, and to track population trends that
can be used to create management plans for endangered, threatened, and
at-risk species.
- educators, who may use the cumulative database to teach
students about amphibians and reptiles and the scientific process, including collecting,
analyzing, and interpreting results.
- anyone, to discover where species can be found throughout
the year; which herps are regularly found at specific locations across
the state;
and many other possibilities.
A lot of the features are being added as we improve this website. Please, email suggestions for improvement to msbherp@unm.edu.