Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
There’s always that one subject that is particularly challenging to photograph, and for me it’s the Slimy Salamander. They live in dense forests where the light is quite low and they quickly retreat from bright light, so without a high shutter speed your chances of capturing these secretive salamanders is next to none. What’s more, their jet black body and eyes makes it difficult to get the focus just right. And if you try to move them into a better position, your fingers get coated in their gooey secretions and then you stick to anything else you touch! These elusive...
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 MoreNorthern 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...
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