The conclusion of the Mike/Mark trilogy

[mark]

After finding all of the previously featured animals we decided to make an attempt at what I consider the most spectacular Plethodon, but I won't ruin the surprise yet. Not only did we find it, but also a few other really cool species along the way.

First...more duskies!

Desmognathus orestes (a beautiful animal at that)

Desmognathus carolinensis

We found this interesting Plethodon species, I believe it was separated from jordani as well, though I am not entirely sure.

Plethodon montanus

The next species was absolutely breathtaking, an incredibly spectacular species. We were not planning on finding this species but very happy we did.

Plethodon welleri

Here's another, oh wait, that's a D. carolinensis mimicking P. welleri.

But this, this species was the true gem of our expedition. Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on...

Plethodon yonahlossee

And on that note we concluded our trip. I hope everyone enjoys the pictures, thanks for looking!

 

[mark]

Well, I thought they were all stunning. I can't even pick a favourite because they are all wonderful. I'm glad to to see the "Mike n' Mark" field trips back on the forum - they make caudata.org the special place it is. Thanks for sharing.

 

[andy]

Really nice selection of sals Mark
Thanks alot!

 

[sean]

Hey Mark. That is awesome. I am actually very jelouse right now. Its strange,I was there on the same weekend although I had some unfortunate things happen. I went solo leaving wife,kid and friends behind and on the way, I got food poisoning. The next morning I went to the hospital and ended up in a car wreck smashing my truck and totaling out another womans truck. This was my first trip to the Smokies and I wish it would have went better. i was hoping to come back with pictures to contribute like you guys but the only pic I have is of a little Slimey that I found in the woods the night I had food poisoning. I wish things could have went better but I am glad you guys had such a sucsessful hunt. Just know that nearby another lover of Caudata was laying in the woods suffering.HaHa! It would have been good to meet you guys in the field though.Maybe next time! BTW I was in Maryville in that little campground by the dam. Where were you guys?

 

[mark]

Thanks everyone for the nice compliments, I'm very glad to see that our labors and my posting attempts are appreciated.

Mark - I agree, it is pretty difficult to discern what is the greatest find, they are all pretty magnificent in my opinion.

Sean - We stayed in Gatlinburg in a hotel right at the entrance to the park. Shame to hear about your endeavors, better luck next time!

 

[travis]

Really impressive pics. That last one is a screamer... It is great that you have such an array of salamanders within the same area.

 

[mark]

Thanks for the comment, Travis. The Smokies and the surrounding area have the largest diversity of caudates in the entire world in fact; a real treat for the hobbyist that likes getting into the field.

 

[mike]

Mark, maybe you have heard the story about who P. welleri was named after? Worth Hamilton Weller, who collected the type specimen. A promising young herpetologist, he unfortunately died while collecting specimes on Grandfather Mountain in 1931. He was just about to enter college. His colleagues named the salamander after him. It's a sad story, but always comes to mind when I am herping in that area.
Best,
Mike

 

[david]

Nice pics mark. I especially like the Plethodon yonahlossee.

 

[terry]

Ok, Those are truly photos which took me a long time before i told myself to stop looking at them. When i reached the Plethodon yonahlossee, i just gaped. The last picture made it look almost reptilian.

 

[mark]

I appreciate the compliments Mike, Dave, Terry. To be honest posting the pictures was harder than finding any of the salamanders.

Mike - I saw a similar story regarding welleri's name in the Peterson field guide, thanks for filling in the rest of the details.

 

[TJ]

Great job, Mark...and Mike! What an amazing field trip that must have been. Here in Japan, trips to the field are fulfilling, but one can really only find 1-2 species of salamander/newt per location. Three was the max for one day (two locations though). In the Smokies though, I'd be like a kid in a candy shop

I vote for Plethodon yonahlossee as the best of the bunch in this series. For the next few years, at least, I'll have to make do with a plastic replica of one that I have at home. pending an opportunity to see a real one in the wild.

Mark, posting photos here gets easier with practice. And the way to get more and more practice is, obviously, to go on more and more field trips and report on them here. Good for you, good for us

 

[mark]

"Kid in a candy shop" is a very accurate way to describe how Mike and I felt. Finding such a wide array of species in only a matter of days seems to have shorted out one of the synapses in my brain - starting classes this year seems harder than ever.

Anyway, thanks for the compliments, Tim. If you're in that area and want some yonahlossee-ing partners, I'm sure Mike and I would make the drive for such an impressive species.

 

[russ]

Excellent series. I guess any postings from my trip to Great Smoky Mts NP and Mt Mitchell next week will be redundant.

 

[john]

Russ

Not sure how any additional pictures could EVER be redundant.

Post away!

 

[DougWeller]

Mark, maybe you have heard the story about who P. welleri was named after? Worth Hamilton Weller, who collected the type specimen. A promising young herpetologist, he unfortunately died while collecting specimes on Grandfather Mountain in 1931. He was just about to enter college. His colleagues named the salamander after him. It's a sad story, but always comes to mind when I am herping in that area.
Best,
Mike

Coming in very late on this, I have just created a Wikipedia article on my uncle, who is obviously a legend in my family and I'm told also a legend at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. He already had an article on the French Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worth_Hamilton_Weller

 

[John]

Coming in very late on this, I have just created a Wikipedia article on my uncle, who is obviously a legend in my family and I'm told also a legend at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. He already had an article on the French Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worth_Hamilton_Weller

Doug, your uncle was quite an accomplished young man at 18. Thank you for sharing this article on Wikipedia.