Various Plethodontids

[Zach42]

Thes are all the species of salamanders I have found in the wild. They are all members of the family Plethodontidae. They are, from left to right, Eastern Redback Salamander Plethodon cinereus, Longtailed Salamander Eurycea longicauda longicauda, Northern Slimy Salamander Plethodon glutinosus, Southern Redback Salamander Plethodon serratus, and last but not least is the Southern two Lined Salamander Eurycea cirrigera. I am hoping this will be a productive year for salamanders, so far it has been, with the longtail and the Southern Redback being added this year.

 

[froggy]

Lovely photos, thanks for sharing. Any pictures of habitat?

C

 

[Zach42]

Thanks, unfortuneatly I don't have any of salamander habitat. I didn't really start taking habitat shots til this year and I often forget. I do have this one, which is in an area full of Soutern Leopard frogs.

 

[eljorgo]

Thanks for sharing the pics. I love last picture, superb. Also last habitat shot looks so neat. Such a pond in the woods filled with plants like that what a heaven for amphibians. Was there any sal specie besides the sth leopard frogs?
cheers,

 

[Zach42]

Thank you, that pic is actually one small part of the habitat, It's a low lying marshy woodland with lots small ponds and swampy areas. I've never found a salamander there, but I Imagine they are some Ambystoma in the spring. I've only been there once this year due to all the rain we've gotten it has been unaccesable since late March. I have found green frogs, bullfrogs, wood frogs, western chorus frogs, Northern Cricket frogs, garter snakes and brown snakes there. I have also heard and seen the larvae of spring peepers and Cope's Gray treefrogs. So yea, pretty good spot.

 

[eljorgo]

So it seems! In witch part of the US do that and similar ponds exist? Is that a vernal pool or something connected to a stream/spring?

 

[Zach42]

This is in Southern Indiana. It's a nature preserve in a low lying area way out in the country. Along the trail there are lots of small puddles and areas that usually pretty much have water all year. Then there are bigger deeper ponds, there are creeks that sometimes flow into them but they are very slow moving so it seems like one big continuous pond. Basically a huge swamp. Then there is a prarie type area with tall grass and small ponds here and there.All this combined makes perfect habitat for many species of frogs, snakes, ect. I really hope we don't get any more rain so I can go there this weekend. If I do I should get some more habitat shots.