Notophthalmus in Indiana

[pondkid]

I'm just wondering if any of you have ever come across any populations of N. viridescens in Indiana. I've lived here all my life and come across all kinds of caudates (A. maculatum, A. laterale, A. tigrinum, Plethodon cinereus...to name a few), but I've never seen newts here. There are plenty of nice fishless ponds tucked away in patches of woods all over the place, but no Notos to be found (at least by me). If any of you have any suggestions, just point me in the right direction.

Oh, and I'm looking to photograph, not collect (in case you were wondering).

Thanks!

 

[ferret_corner]

Hi again!

Just to let you kinow this forum has strict rules against telling people where to find animals. I have no idea if notos are in your state but logic says "yeah".

Even if you are a perfect citizen, there are others who haunt forums like these just looking for that sort of info so they can steal/collect into oblivion without any work on their part.

 

[pondkid]

Sorry about that. I didn't realize.

 

[ferret_corner]

No worries! :happy:

 

[Greatwtehunter]

If I am not mistaken N. v. viridescens and N. v. louisianensis both inhabit your state. The only thing I can tell you to do is keep plugging away at ponds, try an area of the state where ponds aren't so common. An overabundance of ponds or swamps makes them harder to find since there are so many areas for them to occupy, at least here in VA thats the case. Once the water begins to warm or dry up the adults will go terrestrial so you might want to start checking the woodlands around as well, you could probably turn up some efts that way.

 

[Kaysie]

Just to add to GWH: The best time to find efts is during the day in a warm rain. They're very bold, and come out in broad daylight. If it's 70 and raining, they're thick as thieves in the right habitat.

 

[waterdawggin]

Hey I'm from the same area and know where to find them. 500 dollars per picture and I'll take you there. Kidding. I'll have some free time coming up if you would want to get together. Drop me a line.