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!

A Megolithic May

Jefferson

Active member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
190
Reaction score
28
Location
Southwest Missouri
Well, it's been quite a while since I've posted, but in that time, I have racked up nine lifers in the heavenly hills of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

It all started with a spontaneous trip to a locale in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, meant only to test my car, which shockingly yielded my first Wehrle's Salamanders.

Then, on the inaugural outing of the newly-formed Washington and Lee University Herping Club, the high mountains of Northwest Virginia, among the gangly paper and yellow birch, gave up a Cow Knob Salamander and a Shenandoah Mountain Salamander amid a gaggle of Red-backs. Telling Shenandoah Mountain and redback salamanders in leadback phase apart was a nightmare until I learned a simple little trick-the belly of the former has hardly any pigmentation, while the red-backs have a "salt-and-pepper" belly. It was euphoria on the mountaintop: this trip was meant to ring in the herping club with a few creeks and a taste of high-elevation woodland salamanders, but never did I think we'd find both possible lifers for me up there!

The next lifer from Central Virginia is largely debatable. If you read any old Roger Hunt Conant field guide, it will split the Seal Salamander complex up into two subspecies: Appalachian Seal and Virginia Seal (D. monticola monticola and D. monticola jeffersoni). My spot had D. monticola jeffersoni, which is slightly different looking than the regular Seal Salamander.

The next five lifers were all seen on an epic end of semester trip down to Salamander Mecca: Western NC+Eastern TN. The trip was possibly the most fun I've ever taken in pursuit of herps and featured such old friends as Imitators, Red-Cheeks, Gray-Cheeks, Blue Ridge Springs, and Weller's as well as new ones: Southern Ravine, Black-chinned Red, Yonahlossee, Carolina Spring, Carolina Mountain Dusky. I missed Blue Ridge and South Mountain Gray-Cheeks, but in the process of missing them, I saw Lake Lure and some beautiful areas of Western NC's Blue Ridge that I had never before visited. All in all, the misty mountains were kind to me as usual. Still no Timber Rattlesnakes.

The pictures will take more than one post for sure!

Happy herping you all!
Jefferson
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0589.jpg
    IMG_0589.jpg
    123.8 KB · Views: 338
  • IMG_0700.jpg
    IMG_0700.jpg
    105 KB · Views: 261
  • IMG_1000.jpg
    IMG_1000.jpg
    117.8 KB · Views: 254
  • IMG_0992.jpg
    IMG_0992.jpg
    119.2 KB · Views: 267
  • IMG_0906.jpg
    IMG_0906.jpg
    120.1 KB · Views: 251
  • IMG_0748.jpg
    IMG_0748.jpg
    107.2 KB · Views: 262
  • IMG_0796.jpg
    IMG_0796.jpg
    135.6 KB · Views: 278
  • IMG_0930.jpg
    IMG_0930.jpg
    124.8 KB · Views: 276

Jefferson

Active member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
190
Reaction score
28
Location
Southwest Missouri
More pictures!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0994.jpg
    IMG_0994.jpg
    126.3 KB · Views: 250
  • IMG_1021.jpg
    IMG_1021.jpg
    133.7 KB · Views: 260
  • IMG_1049.jpg
    IMG_1049.jpg
    144.2 KB · Views: 249
  • IMG_0973.jpg
    IMG_0973.jpg
    108.7 KB · Views: 242
  • IMG_0533.jpg
    IMG_0533.jpg
    131.8 KB · Views: 244
  • IMG_0567.jpg
    IMG_0567.jpg
    136.2 KB · Views: 253
  • IMG_0658.jpg
    IMG_0658.jpg
    106.9 KB · Views: 240
  • IMG_0689.jpg
    IMG_0689.jpg
    56.7 KB · Views: 254

Jefferson

Active member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
190
Reaction score
28
Location
Southwest Missouri
I can't forget some of my oldest Appalachian pals: Plethodon jordani, Desmognathus monticola, and the Black-bellied (Desmognathus quadramalactus)...........and another Imitator!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0705.jpg
    IMG_0705.jpg
    112.9 KB · Views: 250
  • IMG_0772.jpg
    IMG_0772.jpg
    121.2 KB · Views: 269
  • IMG_0731.jpg
    IMG_0731.jpg
    40.7 KB · Views: 230
  • IMG_0640.jpg
    IMG_0640.jpg
    66.6 KB · Views: 240

Jefferson

Active member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
190
Reaction score
28
Location
Southwest Missouri
I saw a Big Levels this week! More to come in a post that will be up within next week or two. Happy herpin'!
 

Jefferson

Active member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
190
Reaction score
28
Location
Southwest Missouri
Update from the past few weeks: In the Virginia Blue Ridge, I have seen a bundle of Peaks of Otter Salamanders and a Big Levels Salamander about two weeks ago. This area is such beautiful habitat! The Alleghenies, on the other hand, have only given me two Black Bears so far, both of which were luckily seen outside of my car. Pictures are below.
Happy herpin' y'all!
Jefferson
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1145.jpg
    IMG_1145.jpg
    152.8 KB · Views: 245
  • IMG_1141.jpg
    IMG_1141.jpg
    150.9 KB · Views: 234
  • IMG_1171.jpg
    IMG_1171.jpg
    110.3 KB · Views: 231
  • IMG_1172.jpg
    IMG_1172.jpg
    127.6 KB · Views: 242

Aneides Aeneus

New member
Joined
Nov 16, 2014
Messages
30
Reaction score
3
Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Looks like you've been seeing some great stuff as usual! The southern appalachians are always an incredible area to visit. I'm also very envious of your shenandoah mountain and cow knob salamanders.

-Ananth
 
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