Salamanderin' in WV...late September

[matamander]

It's a few weeks old, but this was my last herping trip of the year from late September. The weather was getting a bit cool at night and was in the low 70's during the day...about 2500' in elevation.
1. First was the Cheat Mountain Salamander (Plethodon nettingi). Found about four more of these guys, higher elevation than 2500' in a spuce habitat and all were under rocks. My boss begs to differ on the ID this one, but venter was black and costal groove count was 16/17...any opinion on this one?
2. A juvie. Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) from under a log
3. Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) from under a dry log...a few months early as they don't come out around these parts until late Feb/early March
4. Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) from under a lichen covered log. Was found belly up with it's bright white and black speckled belly
5. Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon punctatus) one of two found. My dad found this one under a rock and thought it was a Slimy, but I thought there was a good chance of being a Cow Knob due to it's location.
6. Cow Know Salamander (Plethodon punctatus) vs a Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) found a few rocks away. Notice the minute differences.
7. A very bright red red-eft, Eastern Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) found under a log

A pretty good short trip!

 

[evut]

Wonderful animals, thank you for posting. I especially love the colour on the second salamander.

 

[matamander]

Thanks Eva. It was a nice trip.

 

[Bette]

Thank you so much for sharing! I really enjoy looking at pictures like these. Ive done a bit of herping myself over the years. You got some nice shots of those beautiful animals! Amazing creation, that Big Guy has...

 

[Autumncrossing]

Beautiful red eft

 

[matamander]

Thanks everyone!! It really means a lot. I was curious if anyone else had an ID on the P. nettingi?

 

[Jefferson]

Wow, that's two phenomenal posts in a row! I didn't manage to get far enough north in VA this summer to get a Cow Knob, but I got to see a Cheat Mountain this summer in WV and really enjoyed it. You might get a chuckle out of taking a gander over some of my old posts. Looks as if we have our herping preferences in common.

 

[matamander]

Thanks Jefferson, I'll definitely take a look!

 

[OLAF123]

I went herping earlier in the year in the Williams river area of the Monongahela National Forest and didn't find nearly what you found. Next time I'm going to need to make it further east.

 

[matamander]

I went herping earlier in the year in the Williams river area of the Monongahela National Forest and didn't find nearly what you found. Next time I'm going to need to make it further east.

I think some of these were pure luck. A jeffersonianum in early fall?! I also wasn't expecting to find a Hemidactylium that high up in elevation either.

 

[Jefferson]

I once found an adult Jefferson when it was about ninety-five degrees in the middle of July in Ohio. Not to be shown up, a few Red Salamanders made their appearance in a little stream a few hours later, even though they're supposed to be in the forests in summer. Sometimes, it's just better to be lucky than good.

 

[Aneides Aeneus]

Great post - you saw some pretty neat species! Interestingly enough, I have found salamanders such as spotteds, marbleds, jefferson's, four-toeds, and streamsides and various random times of year when thy aren't supposed to be active. It seems like if the conditions are moist enough, they may stay active during summer and fall.

-Ananth.