This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Vernon County, Missouri

Maps

Landmark Map

Landmark locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Landmark locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Interstate HighwayRailroadUS Army Corps of Engineers
US HighwayDepartment of ConservationUS Fish and Wildlife Service
State HighwayDepartment of Natural ResourcesNational Park Service
County HighwayUS Forest ServiceUS Department of Defense

Locator Map

Locator map for Vernon County, Missouri
Locator map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Natural Divisions Locality Map

Natural divisions and sections locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Natural Divisions locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Ecological Drainage Unit Locality Map

Ecological drainage unit locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Ecological Drainage Units locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Major Watersheds Locality Map

Major watersheds locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Major Watersheds locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Major Rivers Locality Map

Major rivers locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Major Rivers locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Level I Ecoregion Locality Map

Level I Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Level I Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Level II Ecoregion Locality Map

Level II Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Level II Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Level III Ecoregion Locality Map

Level III Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Level III Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Level IV Ecoregion Locality Map

Level IV Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Level IV Ecoregion locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Presettlement Prairie Locality Map

Presettlement prairie locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Presettlement Prairie locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

Historical Vegetation Map

Historical vegetation map for Vernon County, Missouri
Historical Vegetation map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

WaterPrairieBarrens / Scrub
ForestWoodlandOpen Woodland

Geology Locality Map

Geology locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Geology locality map for Vernon County, Missouri
Map created 15 April 2026.

AlluviumSandstoneDolomiteLimestone
ClaySandstone / LimestoneDolomite / LimestoneLimestone / Sandstone
IgneousSandstone / DolomiteDolomite / ShaleLimestone / Shale
Limestone / Sandstone / Shale

Species List

Salamanders (Caudata)

Frogs (Anura)

Lizards (Squamata, "Lizards")

Snakes (Squamata, "Snakes")

Turtles (Testudines)

Collection Summary

Vernon County has a total of 302 valid, non-duplicated collections representing 46 species and 82 localities. There are a total of 39 collectors and 68 collection dates for the county. This results in a total of 74 expeditions for the county, a measure of unique date / collector(s) combinations. The county's earliest collection year is 1904 and its most recent collection year is 2024. The earliest and latest collection dates (independent of earliest and most recent collection years) are February 6 and October 17, respectively. If you have a new record to report for Vernon County, read the New Records section of the FAQ.

Collection Summary by Species

Collection summary for Vernon County by species. Some values are unavailable since some records are represented solely by historical literature reports, which sometimes lack complete collecting data. Click on a species or common name to view more information about that species. Click on column headings to sort by that column.
Species Common Name Localities Collections Collectors Dates Expeditions Earliest Year Latest Year
Acris blanchardi Blanchard's Cricket Frog 4 4 3 4 4 1904 1982
Agkistrodon contortrix Eastern Copperhead 1 2 2 2 2 1937 1937
Ambystoma texanum Small-mouthed Salamander 1 1 1 1 1 2012 2012
Anaxyrus americanus American Toad 3 3 4 3 3 1938 2015
Anaxyrus fowleri Fowler's Toad 1 1 1 1 1 1934 1934
Apalone spinifera Northern Spiny Softshell 1 2 1 1 1
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus Prairie Racerunner 2 14 1 6 6 1936 1937
Chelydra serpentina North American Snapping Turtle 4 4 3 3 3 1937 2006
Chrysemys picta Western Painted Turtle 2 3 2 2 2 1937 2006
Coluber constrictor North American Racer 2 3 2 3 3 1936 1937
Crotaphytus collaris Eastern Collared Lizard 1 1 1 1 1 1957 1957
Diadophis punctatus Ring-necked Snake 3 3 3 3 3 1982 2020
Dryophytes chrysoscelis Cope's Gray Treefrog 1 1 1 1 1 1988 1988
Heterodon platirhinos Eastern Hog-nosed Snake 1 1 1 1 1 1936 1936
Lampropeltis calligaster Prairie Kingsnake 5 5 8 5 5 1937 2024
Lampropeltis holbrooki Speckled Kingsnake 1 1 1 1 1 1988 1988
Lithobates areolatus Northern Crawfish Frog 2 2 1 2 2 1989 1989
Lithobates blairi Plains Leopard Frog 1 1 1 1 1 2001 2001
Lithobates catesbeianus North American Bullfrog 4 4 10 4 4 1982 2002
Lithobates sphenocephalus Coastal Plains Leopard Frog 1 1 1 1 1 1904 1904
Masticophis flagellum Eastern Coachwhip 1 1 1 1 1
Nerodia erythrogaster Yellow-bellied Watersnake 14 98 6 15 15 1934 2024
Nerodia rhombifer Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake 6 38 4 8 8 1937 2016
Nerodia sipedon Common Watersnake 5 36 2 5 5 1934 1937
Notophthalmus viridescens Central Newt 1 1 1 1 1 2009 2009
Opheodrys aestivus Northern Rough Greensnake 5 5 4 5 5 1969 2020
Ophisaurus attenuatus Western Slender Glass Lizard 1 2 1 2 2 1987 1988
Pantherophis obsoletus Western Ratsnake 5 5 4 5 5 1937 2018
Phrynosoma cornutum Texas Horned Lizard 1 1 1 1 1
Pituophis catenifer Bullsnake 5 5 3 5 5 1937 1964
Plestiodon anthracinus Southern Coal Skink 1 1 1 1 1 1982 1982
Plestiodon fasciatus Common Five-lined Skink 2 3 2 2 2 1937 1937
Plestiodon obsoletus Great Plains Skink 2 2 2 2 2 1957 1957
Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper 1 1 1 1 1 1989 1989
Pseudacris maculata Boreal Chorus Frog 1 1 1 1 1 1989 1989
Sceloporus consobrinus Prairie Lizard 2 2 2 2 2 1937 1937
Scincella lateralis Little Brown Skink 2 2 4 2 2 1987 2017
Sternotherus odoratus Eastern Musk Turtle 5 7 4 5 5 1904 2006
Storeria dekayi DeKay's Brownsnake 1 1 1 1 1 1904 1904
Tantilla gracilis Flat-headed Snake 1 1 1 1 1
Terrapene ornata Ornate Box Turtle 8 9 9 6 7 1934 2014
Terrapene triunguis Three-toed Box Turtle 7 9 7 7 7 1934 2018
Thamnophis proximus Orange-striped Ribbonsnake 1 1 1 1 1
Thamnophis sirtalis Common Gartersnake 2 2 1 2 2 1976 1987
Trachemys scripta Red-eared Slider 9 9 8 9 9 1936 2020
Tropidoclonion lineatum Lined Snake 1 1 1 1 1 1989 1989

Potential Species Records

Potential species for Vernon County. Species are listed in descending order of their likelihood of occurrence within the county. Click on a species or common name to view more information about that species. Click on column headings to sort by that column.
Likelihood Species Common Name Rationale Ecoregion / Watershed
2 Ambystoma maculatum Spotted Salamander Same Level IV ecoregion, within 5 miles Cherokee Plains
2 Graptemys ouachitensis Ouachita Map Turtle Same watershed, within 5 miles Harry S. Truman Reservoir
2 Graptemys pseudogeographica False Map Turtle Same watershed, within 5 miles Harry S. Truman Reservoir
2 Lampropeltis triangulum Eastern Milksnake Same Level IV ecoregion, within 5 miles Cherokee Plains
2 Lithobates palustris Pickerel Frog Same Level IV ecoregion, within 5 miles Cherokee Plains
2 Pantherophis emoryi Great Plains Ratsnake Same Level IV ecoregion, within 5 miles Cherokee Plains
2 Virginia striatula Rough Earthsnake Same Level IV ecoregion, within 5 miles Cherokee Plains
4 Plestiodon laticeps Broad-headed Skink Same Level IV ecoregion, within 10 miles Cherokee Plains
4 Plestiodon septentrionalis Prairie Skink Same Level IV ecoregion, within 10 miles Cherokee Plains
4 Regina grahamii Graham's Crawfish Snake Same watershed, within 10 miles Marmaton
6 Agkistrodon piscivorus Northern Cottonmouth Same watershed, within 20 miles Sac
6 Agkistrodon piscivorus Northern Cottonmouth Same watershed, within 20 miles Harry S. Truman Reservoir
6 Apalone mutica Midland Smooth Softshell Same watershed, within 20 miles Harry S. Truman Reservoir
6 Carphophis vermis Western Wormsnake Same Level IV ecoregion, within 20 miles Wooded Osage Plains
6 Carphophis vermis Western Wormsnake Same Level IV ecoregion, within 20 miles Cherokee Plains
6 Gastrophryne carolinensis Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad Same Level IV ecoregion, within 20 miles Cherokee Plains
6 Gastrophryne olivacea Western Narrow-mouthed Toad Same Level IV ecoregion, within 20 miles Wooded Osage Plains
6 Pseudemys concinna Eastern River Cooter Same watershed, within 20 miles Marmaton
6 Pseudemys concinna Eastern River Cooter Same watershed, within 20 miles Sac
8 Ambystoma opacum Marbled Salamander Same Level IV ecoregion, within 30 miles Cherokee Plains
8 Crotalus horridus Timber Rattlesnake Same Level IV ecoregion, within 30 miles Wooded Osage Plains
8 Crotalus horridus Timber Rattlesnake Same Level IV ecoregion, within 30 miles Cherokee Plains
8 Dryophytes versicolor Gray Treefrog Same Level IV ecoregion, within 30 miles Cherokee Plains
8 Dryophytes versicolor Gray Treefrog Same Level IV ecoregion, within 30 miles Wooded Osage Plains
8 Graptemys geographica Northern Map Turtle Same watershed, within 30 miles Sac
8 Kinosternon flavescens Yellow Mud Turtle Same Level IV ecoregion, within 30 miles Cherokee Plains
8 Necturus maculosus Mudpuppy Same watershed, within 30 miles Harry S. Truman Reservoir
8 Plethodon serratus Southern Red-backed Salamander Same Level IV ecoregion, within 30 miles Cherokee Plains
10 Ambystoma tigrinum Eastern Tiger Salamander Same Level IV ecoregion, adjacent county Wooded Osage Plains
10 Eurycea longicauda Long-tailed Salamander Same Level IV ecoregion, adjacent county Wooded Osage Plains
10 Storeria occipitomaculata Red-bellied Snake Same Level IV ecoregion, adjacent county Wooded Osage Plains
10 Virginia valeriae Western Smooth Earthsnake Same Level IV ecoregion, adjacent county Wooded Osage Plains

Checklist

All MOHAP publications are released in portable document format (PDF), an ISO standard. You must download and install a reader (click icon below) to view these documents. A state checklist, including all counties, is available on the publications page.