Smoky Mountain NP Salamanders March/April

RileyWalsh · Mar 21, 2018

Hi there! I will be making a trip down to the Smoky Mountains national park for a day or two for the easter long weekend and was wondering if it is a good time to find a nice variety of salamanders. Is it still too cold for them at this time?

Not sure of there seasonal status down there. I know that there may still be some snow because of the higher elevations... Is it worth going at this time if my main goal is salamanders? (Particularly Jordan's Salamander)

Thanks!

Riley:happy:

Jefferson · Mar 23, 2018

Hello! The Smokies are always a treat scenery-wise no matter the time of year, especially if this is your first time heading down to GSMNP. As far as salamanders, everything at low elevations, especially aquatic stuff, should be out, and even streams and seeps higher up in the park will probably be productive next weekend, but I'd highly doubt that the Red-cheeks, Pigmies, and Gray-cheeks are out yet. Here in Virginia, the mountaintops still have snow, and I know from experience that even mid-April can be shaky for the larger Plethodon in southern Virginia and Western NC even when everything else (including smaller Plethodon like cinereus, dorsalis, richmondi, hubrichti) is already out. I wish you luck if and when you get down to our country's most beautiful countryside and hope you have a great time down South!
Jefferson

FrogEyes · Mar 23, 2018

FYI, Plethodon jordani is now found in some places outside the park. It appears that introgression of mtDNA from females of a lowland Plethodon has allowed some populations to develop a tolerance of lower altitude climates and thus move downhill. I have an idea of where these populations might be, but am not sure. Either way, you might find some in or out [barely] of the park because they're not fully restricted to higher elevations.

taherman · Mar 27, 2018

I agree with these observations. It is too early to find many larger Plethodon, particularly the higher elevation species like jordani and yonahlossee. You can have good luck with the more aquatic Desmognathus, Pseudotriton, Eurycea, Gyrinophilus, etc. though.

Jefferson said:
Hello! The Smokies are always a treat scenery-wise no matter the time of year, especially if this is your first time heading down to GSMNP. As far as salamanders, everything at low elevations, especially aquatic stuff, should be out, and even streams and seeps higher up in the park will probably be productive next weekend, but I'd highly doubt that the Red-cheeks, Pigmies, and Gray-cheeks are out yet. Here in Virginia, the mountaintops still have snow, and I know from experience that even mid-April can be shaky for the larger Plethodon in southern Virginia and Western NC even when everything else (including smaller Plethodon like cinereus, dorsalis, richmondi, hubrichti) is already out. I wish you luck if and when you get down to our country's most beautiful countryside and hope you have a great time down South!
Jefferson

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Smoky Mountain NP Salamanders March/April

RileyWalsh

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taherman

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