Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
On our recent trip to Rim Rock Overlook on the Allegheny National Forest, we surveyed around the rocks and under the rocks (the small ones of course) to see what life we might come across. While walking through the rocky forest, our rock flipping efforts revealed a young Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus), a salamander that truly lives up to its name and can get you into a rather sticky situation! When handled or harassed, Slimy Salamanders will secrete a glue-like mucus from their skin that is difficult for humans to remove and often deters predators from attempting to eat...
Read MoreFour 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...
Read MoreAmphibians emerging
Yesterday it was over 50 degrees and raining in Western New York and more warm and wet weather will be on the way – ideal conditions for frogs, toads and salamanders to emerge from hibernation and start migrating to a nearby wetland at night! Please slow down for salamanders and frogs when you’re driving back roads near wetlands – even when they don’t get crushed by your tires, the slipstream generated underneath a vehicle when you’re moving more than 20-25 MPH will pick these animals up from the road surface and slam them into the underside of your car…...
Read MoreHappy first day of spring
Happy first day of Spring everyone! I took a walk on the trails here at RTPI in search of some signs of spring and found a bunch of vernal pools that could be used in only a matter of a couple short weeks! This particular ephemeral pool has thawed around its edges, so Jefferson Salamanders and Wood Frogs may soon be on the move to breed and lay their eggs there. Stay tuned as we will keep watch for the mass migration to begin and share pictures of our charismatic spring breeders.
Read MoreSalamanders are smarter than you think
Although it may not feel like spring yet, especially with this recent blast of cold and snow, it will soon be here before we know it. While we remain inside to stay warm and dry from the outside elements, many organisms will start to move out of their winter shelters. As we mentioned in a previous post, many amphibians will be on the move to their breeding pools; however, we didn’t mention all the stream salamanders that will be moving about this spring as well. Though stream salamanders don’t make spectacular mass migrations over a series of warm rainy nights, they move about the seeps and...
Read More
