Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Smoky Mountain Salamander Course - Field notes

J

john

Guest
I took the Salamander Course form UTK's Field School. Spent Saturday at 4 different sites, from a southern hardwood forest at 900 feet to the spruce/fir forest at 6000 feet. At lower elevations, we found adults and juveniles, at the middle elevations adults and larvae, and gravid females at higher elevations.

Found the following species:
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti)
Santeetlah Dusky (D. santeetlah)
Seal Salamander (D. monticola)
Black-bellied (D.quadramaculatus)
Shovel-nosed (D. marmoratus)
Ocoee (D. ocoee)
Imitator (D. imitator)
Pigmy (D. wrighti)
Southern Red-backed (Plethedon serratus)
Northern Slimy (P. glutinosis)
Southern Appalachian (P. teyahalee)
Red-cheecked (Jordan's) (P. jordani)
Black-chinned Red (Pseudotriton ruber)
Blue Ridge Spring (Gyrinophilus prophyriticus)

What struck me, even more than the variety of species, was the abundance of these little guys. In suitable habitat, there were salamanders under all available cover. My personal best was five individuals of three different species under one rock.

Our instructor had a brilliant idea for having a group of 12 people look at an individual salamander - we put the little guys in Ziploc bags with a couple mLs of water. That way we could all handle them, and even look at their bellies, without overheating or dehydration.

Of course, that wasn't very photogenic. So we had our shutterbugs set up around an appropriate stage (usually a mossy rock) where we'd release the specimen. The little guy would have to make its way through these salamander paparazzi to safety.

It was a great day in the Smokies. Consider attending next spring.
 
L

leanne

Guest
Everybody needs to converge at my campground that I manage in east TN!
biggrin.gif
 
J

john

Guest
HEY! My wife and I have been talking about heading down that way this summer sometime. Where is the campground?
 
L

leanne

Guest
Sorry about the website---will try the powers that be to solve the problem there.....
 
J

john

Guest
I didn't get any popups. Guess my blocker is pretty good. We're giving some serious thought into coming down there in maybe late august. I know it'll be blazing hot but we do what we can.
 
J

john

Guest
I didn't get any pop-ups, either.

Mike - Still owe you that beer, and there's a British pub with an impressive selection in Gatlinburg......
 
L

leanne

Guest
The weather in the gorge is pretty cool compared to the rest of the area, especially in August---a lot has to do with being right next to the river and the shady National Forest, I think!
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Top