Florida Field Office

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

Herpetological Associates, Inc. (HA) has expanded its service area to the southeastern United States with a new Florida Field Office. The Florida Office and Herpetological Preserve is located on five acres of sandhills, about 17 miles southwest of Ocala, near the town of Dunnellon, in Marion County. HA offers specialized services that deals with most Florida’s "Rare," "Threatened," and "Endangered" wildlife species, with particular emphasis on amphibians and reptiles.

     Our services have expanded to include consulting on a variety of Florida’s “Special Concern” species of amphibians, reptiles, and birds. State and federal agencies, universities, non-profit groups, engineering firms, developers, and private citizen groups can rely on HA to provide a dependable source of expertise for all their environmental consulting needs.

     We can provide presence or absence survey for the Rare Pine Barrens treefrog (Hyla andersonii), carpenter frog (Rana virgatipes), Florida bog frog (Rana okaloosae), flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum), eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum), striped newt (Notopthalmus perstriatus), and the four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum).

     HA has developed drift fence presence or absence survey methods and radio-tracking study protocols to conduct research on Florida’s Threatened snake species such as the short-tailed snake (Stilosoma extenuatum). We also have expertise with many of Florida’s Rare and/or Species of Special Concern snake species. These include, but are not limited to: Florida pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus), eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon corais couperi), eastern king snakes (Lampropeltis getula), Apalachicola king snakes (Lampropeltis getula goini), mole king snakes (Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata) to name a few. We can also conduct lizard surveys and research projects on the “Threatened” Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) and the Florida sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi).

     In addition, we have 25 years of experience with the State Threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and all aquatic turtle species throughout their range in eastern United States. Robert Zappalorti is a “Life Member” of the Gopher Tortoise Council. If you would like more information about HA’s Florida Field Office contact Robert Zappalorti, Executive Director, at the e-mail address below.

HA’s Conservation and Managment Plan for the Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais) HA is currently developing a Conservation and Management Plan for the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais) throughout its historic range in the southeastern United States. Baseline data for this plan was obtained from similar snake conservation and management plans conducted in the New Jersey Pine Barrens for the State Endangered corn snake (Elaphe guttata), timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), the State Threatened northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), and the eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula). This conservation plan incorporates 45 years of personal knowledge and experience with rare snakes. Pictured left is HA Executive Directory Robert Zappalorti; right is HA Field Technician and Herpetologist Bill Callighan who works on both indigo snake and gopher tortoise projects in Florida. Download Proposed Indigo Snake Conservation and Management Plan. (PDF file; you will need Adobe Acrobat (free) to open PDF files.)

Contact Information

Herpetological Associates, Inc.
Florida Field Office
17961 Southwest 39th Street
Dunnellon, Florida 34432
Office Phone: 352-489-7402
Fax Number: 352-489-7376
Cell Phone: 609-618-0314

E-mail:
Robert Zappalorti: RZappalorti@herpetologicalassociates.com