Herping in the Catskills

Otterwoman

Otterwoman

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
6,618
Reaction score
102
Points
63
Location
Wappingers Falls, NY
Country
United States
John stopped on his way back from VA and we went herping in the Catskills. Here we are fresh and hopeful at the beginning of our search. (1)
Our first stop was a waterfall with a stream running away from it (2). We had great and unexpected luck here! We found all these (3). Here are close-ups (4) (5) (6). I believe they were E. bislineata (the adults), dusky and spring salamander larvae (I forgot which scientific names he used, but I'm sure he can edit this and add them).

From John: In this post there is one Eurycea bislineata (Northern Two-Lined Salamander) and the rest are Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Mountain Dusky Salamander, northern phase) larvae at various stages of development (though that really plain one looks a little like a Spring Salamander larva - do you have any photos from the side, Dawn? Probably a dusky.
 

Attachments

  • 01herperssm.JPG
    01herperssm.JPG
    226.5 KB · Views: 768
  • 02waterfallsm.JPG
    02waterfallsm.JPG
    171.4 KB · Views: 454
  • 03allsalssm.JPG
    03allsalssm.JPG
    147.1 KB · Views: 578
  • 04allsalscrop1sm.JPG
    04allsalscrop1sm.JPG
    92.5 KB · Views: 485
  • 05allsalscrop2.jpg
    05allsalscrop2.jpg
    47.2 KB · Views: 460
  • 06allsalscrop3.jpg
    06allsalscrop3.jpg
    44 KB · Views: 466
Last edited by a moderator:
We continued into some drier, more forested areas with small streams. We found redbacks (07) (08), a baby dusky (09) (10), and a mystery baby, probably a leadback, but we were hoping it might be a baby slimy (11) (12).

From John: Photos, in order-
1. Plethodon cinereus (Northern Redback Salamander)
2. Desmognathus fuscus fuscus (Northern Dusky Salamander)
3, 4. Plethodon cinereus leadback phase,
5. Northern Dusky again
6. Probably a young leadback phase P. cinereus.
 

Attachments

  • 07redback01.jpg
    07redback01.jpg
    39.6 KB · Views: 529
  • 08redback02.jpg
    08redback02.jpg
    39.3 KB · Views: 395
  • 09babydesmo01.jpg
    09babydesmo01.jpg
    38.4 KB · Views: 383
  • 10babydesmo02.jpg
    10babydesmo02.jpg
    43.7 KB · Views: 404
  • 11babyx01.jpg
    11babyx01.jpg
    38.5 KB · Views: 329
  • 12babyx02.jpg
    12babyx02.jpg
    27.1 KB · Views: 408
Last edited by a moderator:
Finally the loose ends. These disgusting grubs were everywhere in the water (13). Can anyone identify?
Scarlet Cup mushrooms (14), Dogtooth liles (15), Dutchman's breeches (16), and that thing from Ceti Alpha that Khan put in Chekov's ear (can anyone identify?) I brought it home and put it in a small tank and am feeding it whiteworms and we'll see what it grows into. If anyone has better food suggestions, let me know.
 

Attachments

  • 13grubsm.JPG
    13grubsm.JPG
    98.2 KB · Views: 393
  • 14scarletcupmushroommix.jpg
    14scarletcupmushroommix.jpg
    158.2 KB · Views: 421
  • 15dogtoothlilysm.JPG
    15dogtoothlilysm.JPG
    133 KB · Views: 350
  • 16dutchman'sbreechess,.JPG
    16dutchman'sbreechess,.JPG
    138.3 KB · Views: 461
  • 17ChekovsEarwigcrop.JPG
    17ChekovsEarwigcrop.JPG
    42.8 KB · Views: 450
Last edited:
The "caterpillar" looks like some kind of sawfly larva to me but I'm not an expert on new world insects. The last photo is a large beetle larva, probably from the family Hydrophilidae. Nate Nelson is the person to ask about the beetle larva.
 
The rear end of the mistery larva reminds me of crane fly larvae, but the head looks all wrong (then again, i´m an old world fella like John).

Lovely to see plants too! I always feel that field reports should include a short review on the local vegetation :)
 
The last photo (creepy chekhov) is a hellgrammite, and is the larval stage of a dobsonfly.
 
Nice finds guys! Seems like you guys really had fun. Hanging out with Dawn is such a pleasure isn't it John?
 
The beetle larva died. I don't know why. I was going to keep it and see what it became.
 
I know this post is quite old but Desmognathus ochrophaeus don't have a larval stage. All the larvae are Eurycea bislineata besides 1 Gyrinophilus porphyriticus ssp. porphyriticus.
 
Agreed about those larvae ID's being Eurycea aside from the one Gyrinophilus.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Shane douglas:
    with axolotls would I basically have to keep buying and buying new axolotls to prevent inbred breeding which costs a lot of money??
     +1
    Unlike
  • Thorninmyside:
    Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation
     +1
    Unlike
  • stanleyc:
    @Thorninmyside, I Lauren chen
     +1
    Unlike
  • Clareclare:
    Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?
     +1
    Unlike
    Clareclare: Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus... +1
    Back
    Top