Amphibian Big Day: Part II

Busy, busy, busy lately, with travels, writing, prep for talks, etc. But finally, I am circling back to our Ohio Big Amphibian Day. I gave an overview of this year's effort RIGHT HERE. Kelly Capuzzi, Aaron Crank, John Howard and I set out on a 24-hour marathon of herpetology on April 12 & 13, and located 25 species of frogs, salamanders, and toads. That bested our inaugural attempt last year by seven species. We think we can possibly eclipse this year's total next year, but it might mean forgoing any rest periods.

Anyway, we did our best to photo-document the species that we found and following are a few of those critters.

As always, click the photo to enlarge

Male American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) in full song. We saw many and heard far more.

We saw many egg masses of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) but did not really expect to see an adult. After breeding, they mostly retreat to subterranean haunts. However, Aaron flipped a rock and there was this beauty.

Northern Dusky Salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus) are very common, and we saw a number of them. This was a particularly striking individual.

This Northern Ravine Salamander (Plethodon electromorphus) is missing a good chunk of its tail. Salamanders with missing tails are not uncommon, and they can partially regenerate them over time. Perhaps a predator grabbed this one, but by shedding the tail the animal escaped.

Southern Two-lined Salamanders (Eurycea cerrigera) are common along rocky streams, and we found a number of them. We were pleased to stumble into this female with eggs.

A Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris) peeks from its rocky shelter. This species is similar to the Northern Leopard Frog but favors a very different habitat: forested streams.

We visited a favorite woodland lake, and as usual it teemed with Red-spotted Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens). Their numbers are inestimable but certainly number into the thousands. I made an interesting newt observation. After gently lifting a sheet of loose moss on a bank several feet up a bank on the lake's edge, a newt fell out! There was an egg mass of a Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) underneath, and the newt was eating the eggs.

Over much of Ohio, Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) are abundant and often the most commonly found salamander. Not down in the region of southern Ohio that we were working in. Fortunately, Aaron knew a reliable locale and it didn't take long to find them there. This is the "lead-backed" morph that lacks the orangish-red dorsal stripe.

A larval Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) crawls over moss. It takes several years for this species to reach adulthood. Adults are bright reddish orange.

A gorgeous specimen of a Kentucky Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus). They are often much less colorful. Well-named, these large salamanders often frequent the vicinity of woodland seeps and springs.

We were pleased to find a few specimens of the lovely Mud Salamander (Pseudotriton montanus). A rarity in Ohio, but certainly overlooked to some degree. The well-named animal often inhabits mucky quagmires.

A Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) peeks from a fissure in a limestone cliff face. A bona fide Ohio rarity, they occur in one small region in southernmost Ohio.

Finally, we were pleased to add this bizarre aquatic salamander to our tally, and once again have Aaron to thank for his knowledge of a good locale. The Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) inhabits rocky streams, often hiding under large in-stream rocks. The reddish bushy plumes are its gills, which are retained throughout the salamander's life. A big Mudpuppy can reach a foot or so in length.

We look forward to attempting this next year. If luck is with us - and we work hard and forgo sleep - 27 species is possible.