Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Desmognathus quadramaculatus, Blackbelly Salamander

This is one of the lighter ones I've caught, usually they are a little darker in North Carolina with a chestnut pattern over a dark dorsum, but this guy has a lighter coloration that blends in nicely with the lichens on the stone. It was about 14cm. 

Juvenile coloration and patterning, at 6cm.

Monday, October 19, 2009

The variation of Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Mountain Dusky Salamander)

All sympatric forms of Desmognathus ochrophaeus in western North Carolina. 

Defining characters:
-naso-labial groove
-hind legs larger than front
-band running from posterior of eye to posterior of jaw
-round tail
 
Dark-bellied form

Dark bellied with orange tail (juvenile)
dark bellied with orange tail (adult)

Red-backed form
Mottled form

Pale form


Larval pattern


Desmognathus quadramaculatus (Black-bellied Salamander)



Monday, October 12, 2009

More Salamanders

Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus)

Northern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata)

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Eurycea wilderae and Eurycea cirrigera

Blue Ridge Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea wilderae


Southern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera)


Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Herping: Snakes, Frogs, Salamanders, Turtles

Canebreak Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)


Don't step on this guy! 
Southern Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus gryllus)
Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris
Nice poison glands



Bronze Frog (Rana clamitans
Spade-foot Frog (Scaphiopus holbrookii)
 Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander (Eurcycea wilderae) 
Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus
Dusky Salamander (Plethodon orestes)
Plethodon dunni
Plethodon elongatus
Notophthalmus viridescens - adult aquatic stage

Notophthalmus viridescens - terrestrial eft stage
Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola)
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

Three-lined Salamander (Eucycea longicauda guttolineata)

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon baurii)