Do you know your amphibian egg masses?
Despite the snow, the internal clocks of many amphibians are already set to spring. As a result, a number of them have already journeyed from the safety of their winter refuges to nearby pools and ponds to breed and deposit their eggs. This past Friday, prior to the weekend storm, I spent time exploring some local water bodies and found a plethora of these kinds of eggs. Any idea of what these little eggs will eventually turn into? I’ll give you a hint, the bottom picture shows both eggs and spermatophores. If you guessed Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), you would be correct!...
Read MorePartners – Amphibian Survival Alliance
Amphibian Survival Alliance and partners lead strategic efforts to prevent spread of deadly salamander disease in North America New publication outlines swift and coordinated action in the conservation community An emerging fungal pathogen that has caused recent die-offs of salamanders in Europe, faces a formidable foe in North America: the Amphibian Survival Alliance and its partners, who today published a paper outlining the conservation community’s proactive efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease in the United States, Canada and Mexico. “We are more encouraged by...
Read MoreWhat’s Under That Rock?
As a little girl growing up in rural Western New York, I always had an affinity for animals. My mom worked at a veterinary clinic and would often take me to work with her where, at a young age, I learned to respect animals and treat them with gentleness and compassion. I also spent a lot of time in the woods going on hikes with my dad and grandpa finding whatever was along the trail or fishing out whatever was in a nearby fishing hole. For the longest time I loved all things furry, with horses, dogs, and guinea pigs being amongst my favorites. But as I grew a little older and spent more time...
Read MoreWehrle’s Salamander (Plethodon wehrlei)
Have you ever seen such a cool looking salamander? The Wehrle’s Salamander (Plethodon wehrlei) is a rather secretive salamander that inhabits rocks, logs and the currently colorful leaf litter that lines steep hillsides within the southwestern portion of New York State. Characteristically a dark slatey-gray with some white flecking on the sides, Wehrle’s salamanders are slender with robust legs and slightly webbed back feet. They are often confused with Slimy Salamanders (Plethodon glutinosus), a common salamander that often utilizes similar habitats and is black in color with...
Read MoreLong-tailed Salamander (Eurycea longicauda)
Earlier this summer I caught my first glimpse of this handsome salamander, appropriately named the Long-tailed Salamander (Eurycea longicauda). A species of Special Concern in New York State, this uncommon salamander is at the northern fringes of its range and can be found along much of the southern Allegheny Plateau. Long-tails prefer cool woodland seeps and streams, but can occasionally be found along river banks under flat rocks or logs. As the temperatures continue to drop these salamanders will work their way deeper into rock cracks and crevices in order to protect themselves from...
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