A Different Variety
We have a special species to feature in this week’s Salamander Saturday: the Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani)! This salamander is another southern Appalachian species, primarily occurring between southwestern Virginia and extreme northeastern Georgia. It is a fairly common resident in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, otherwise known as the “Salamander Capital of the World.” This salamander typically resides within deep mountain gorges near streams and seeps. It also tends to prefer spruce-fir forests, but is sometimes found in mixed hardwood forests as...
Read MoreI Spy
I spy with my little eye, something brown. Not a big enough clue? How about, I spy with my little eye something with big eyes and a big mouth? Can you see it yet? Any idea of what it is? I’ll give you a hint, its a species not found in western New York or Pennsylvania. Give up? It’s a Shovel-nosed Salamander (Desmognathus marmoratus) poking out of a small opening within a damp rock face! This species is a common resident in the streams and seeps of the Appalachian mountains, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I had the opportunity to visit the park and play a game...
Read MoreAmphibians Abound
The first wave of amphibian breeding has now passed, and early vernal pool breeders are making room for the next wave of frogs to show up at our local wetlands. American toads, pickerel frogs and leopard frogs have been calling for a week or so now, and green frogs and bullfrogs will join in soon, Of course, the spring peepers just won’t stop calling at all… Did you know that you can easily tell the difference between frog eggs and toad eggs? Frog eggs are always laid in a clump or a floating raft, while our toads produce long, corkscrewing strands with a single line of eggs in the center...
Read MoreGhost Glass Frogs!
Researchers from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) have been monitoring these Ghost Glass Frogs and other amphibian species for more than two decades – not only to keep these frogs from extinction, but also to learn how the recovering populations were able to survive such catastrophic declines. Hopefully this information will help us as we try to find ways to help other endangered species as well. Stay tuned for more footage from our adventures in the tropics!
Read MoreSpring Salamander
Hey look – a hot-dog with eyes! Wait, that’s a Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus)! This large, lung-less salamander is a common resident in the many springs and streams that run through our local forests. It’s stature and bright coloration make it stand out, but also serve as protection from predators. Spring salamanders can grow to over eight inches in length and produce noxious skin secretions while using their color to mimic even more toxic species. It isn’t a salamander any predator would want to mess with, and it probably wouldn’t taste anything...
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