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Herping in the heat!

Greatwtehunter

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They finally opened up one of my favorite places to herp this past week so the wife and I decided to visit it, despite the fact that the temperature was going to be 30C (85F). We hit the woods expecting the day to be a snake day but boy were we in for a surprise.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

The very first species of the day was this Plethodon richmondi.
richmondi.jpg

IMGP2838.jpg

<O:p</O:p

Sonya flipped the rock beside where I found the previous salamander and turned up this Eurycea wilderea.<O:p</O:p
IMGP2558.jpg

<O:p</O:p

I found this Pseudotriton ruber ruber in a spring.<O:p</O:p
IMGP2775.jpg

<O:p</O:p

Found under the same rock as the ruber was a Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus.<O:p</O:p
IMGP2782.jpg

<O:p

This is the spring I found them in.<O:p</O:p
IMGP2537.jpg


<O:p
Also in that spring was this Desmognathus sp. I have no clue which one it is since it doesn't show much of a pattern. It didn't even have the eye stripe!<O:p</O:p
IMGP2823.jpg
<O:p</O:p


This Desmognathus monticola was found alongisde the previous dusky.
IMGP2789.jpg



Found a couple variations of Plethodon cinereus. <O:p</O:p
pcinereus2.jpg

IMGP2812.jpg
<O:p</O:p

pcinereus3.jpg

<O:p</O:p
I accidentally ran over the one and only snake we saw that day while driving to our next spot.<O:p</O:p
Nerodia sipedon sipedon.
IMGP2496.jpg


</O:p
Rana sylvatica tadpoles.
IMGP2525.jpg



Desmognathus orestes were everywhere and in many variations.
<O:p
IMGP2811.jpg
</O:p

IMGP2794.jpg
</O:p


Plethodon glutinosus
pglutinosus.jpg
</O:p


Found a few Desmognathus ochrophaeus as well. They are very similar in appearance to D. orestes. The herringbone pattern down the middle is one way to tell them apart.<O:p</O:p
IMGP2564.jpg


<O:pDesmognathus habitat.
IMGP2530.jpg


</O:pNotophthalmus viridescens viridescens eft.
IMGP2577.jpg

</O:p

Here is another unknown Desmognathus sp. This one was solid black except for the head.
<O:p
dusky.jpg
</O:p


Various Plethodon habitat.
IMGP2528.jpg
</O:p
IMGP2533.jpg
</O:p>

<O:p
IMGP2532.jpg
</O:p>

<O:p
These Plethodon montanus were a target species.<O:p</O:p
<O:p
montanus2.jpg
pmontanus1.jpg
</O:p

<O:p</O:p

The highlight of the trip and probably the whole year was this Plethodon yonahlossee.<O:p</O:p
pyonahlossee2.jpg
pyonahlossee3.jpg
</O:p


Who says you can't catch salamanders in the heat?:D
<O:p</O:p<O:p</O:p<O:p</O:p<O:p</O:p
 
Last edited:

deliriah

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Beautiful! I am so jealous. The best I'd find where I live in heat like this is eastern newts, redbacks, and if I were lucky, perhaps a northern dusky or two. Thanks for sharing, I always enjoy your posts/pictures.
 

freves

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Nice pics Justin. Congratulations on seeing that yonahlossee!
Chip
 

jaster

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Lucky dog!

Any desmos I find with a rounded tail go to D. orestes/ ochrophaeus.... We have a few creeks here with a good amount of melanistic individuals, they are a site for sure.

Pretty rare to find a tan P. cinereus too!
 

John

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Great post Justin. I'm very jealous, particularly of that yonahlossee. That first photo of it looks like a calendar winner to me.
 
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