mikebenard
New member
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 13
- Points
- 0
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- Mike Benard
In the last few days Ike has brought a huge amount of rain and wind through NE Ohio. On Saturday night, I decided to head out to see if the warm rains had brought any amphibians out. From about 9pm to 11 pm, I walked around a forested area looking on the forest floor and tree trunks. I was only interested in seeing what was active on the surface, so I did not flip any logs or rocks.
The most abundant species by far was the green frog (Rana clamitans).
After about 20 minutes of looking, I found a tree with two redback salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) climbing on the trunk. Here is a photo of one:
This individual ate a bug while I watched it, and did not seem too concerned with my presence.
I walked a little further along, and saw another P. cinereus up a tree. This individual was about 6.5 feet (~ 2 meters) up the trunk of the tree, so my photo is not very good. One of the neat things about this individual was that the trunk of its body was actually extended almost perpendicular to the tree trunk, with its belly facing down. Once I got close with my light, it twisted back so that it clung to the tree with its whole body. I do not know what it was doing, but it did not appear to be in trouble.
The last P. cinereus that I photographed was hanging off of some twigs just over the forest floor.
I then took a trail that followed a small stream. I saw a bunch of dusky salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) and two-lined salamanders Eurycea bislineata. I took a few photos of one of the E. bislineata climbing on a tree:
Overall it was a good night out. While finding amphibians under rocks and logs is fun, I find it a lot more exciting to encounter the animals outside when they are active on the surface.
Hope you enjoyed.
Mike
The most abundant species by far was the green frog (Rana clamitans).
After about 20 minutes of looking, I found a tree with two redback salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) climbing on the trunk. Here is a photo of one:
This individual ate a bug while I watched it, and did not seem too concerned with my presence.
I walked a little further along, and saw another P. cinereus up a tree. This individual was about 6.5 feet (~ 2 meters) up the trunk of the tree, so my photo is not very good. One of the neat things about this individual was that the trunk of its body was actually extended almost perpendicular to the tree trunk, with its belly facing down. Once I got close with my light, it twisted back so that it clung to the tree with its whole body. I do not know what it was doing, but it did not appear to be in trouble.
The last P. cinereus that I photographed was hanging off of some twigs just over the forest floor.
I then took a trail that followed a small stream. I saw a bunch of dusky salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) and two-lined salamanders Eurycea bislineata. I took a few photos of one of the E. bislineata climbing on a tree:
Overall it was a good night out. While finding amphibians under rocks and logs is fun, I find it a lot more exciting to encounter the animals outside when they are active on the surface.
Hope you enjoyed.
Mike