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Posts Tagged "Houghton College"

Our Own Alaska

Posted on Jun 3, 2014

Our Own Alaska

Around this time last year I found myself boarding a plane with 10 other Houghton College students bound for the state of Alaska for a 15 day trip. Previous to getting on the plane, we had spent an intensive four days in class learning about the unique ecosystems, like none of our own here in New York, we would soon see. We left New York from Rochester, and a layover and seven hours of flying later we arrived around midnight in Anchorage. It was dark when we landed, but while we were waiting to be shuttled to our hotel we were able to peer over the buildings and see the peaks of several snow...

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Four toes, white belly, must be a: Four Toed Salamander!

Posted on May 31, 2014

Four toes, white belly, must be a: Four Toed Salamander!

Hello! I am a female Hemidactylium scutatum, or for those that prefer common names, four toed salamander. My name is quite literal as it refers to the fact that I only have four toes on my hind limbs whereas other amphibians typically have five. I am a member of the Plethodontidae family, so like my relatives I do not have lungs and rely on oxygen exchange through my wet skin. I happily live within moist woodlands throughout New York State, but I’m very secretive and hide myself near swamps, bogs, small ponds or seeps. During the spring, I will move to mossy areas to find a suitable...

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