Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
managed areas. Cryptic species and hard to detect species like Slender Glass Lizard highlight the importance of conducting surveys across not only an elevational and geographic gradient but across jurisdictional boundaries to assess current distributions. • The Southeastern Five-lined Skink occurs at the northern limits of its distribution in western North Carolina and may face range retraction due to habitat fragmentation and warming temperatures. • There are reptiles found just outside of the southern Appalachian region that may have rare populations in the mountains and also warrant special consideration. The Mole Kingsnake is not federally listed but is found exclusively in the southeastern United States and relies on well-connected forest and edge habitats. Its restricted range and vulnerability to road mortality and urban encroachment elevate its conservation importance. 3.8.4 Knowledge Gaps Species for which the Reptile Taxa Team determined there are research priorities because of knowledge gaps are included in Table 3-7 Reptile SGCN and Other Priority Species (see Appendix 3). The status of many reptile species is poorly known in North Carolina. Inventories using appropriate survey techniques are important for understanding the distribution of species, status of populations, effects of stressors on populations, and the effects of harvest. For instance, biologists lack information about locations and statuses of populations of Rainbow Snake and Mimic Glass Lizard. Some species are more difficult to survey than others, and novel techniques should be developed to make surveys more effective. There are significant knowledge gaps about Bog Turtles, including how they use the landscape outside of bogs (i.e., rivers, forests) as they move across the landscape between wetlands. In general, most of the species noted as knowledge-gap priorities are listed because we lack information regarding statewide distribution and abundance, we have few programs in place to monitor the species, or there are questions regarding what factors affect the population size and distribution of these species. There have been scientific advances in direct DNA sequencing methods that enabled tests of previous hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships that may result in recommendations for taxonomic revisions. However, newly published taxonomy should not be interpreted as a formal, mandatory change; it is simply an alternative that should be evaluated alongside other such proposals.
• The Bog Turtle is federally listed as threatened and represents one of the rarest and most imperiled reptiles in the United States. While not yet confirmed within EBCI lands,
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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