Herping in Western VA

Otterwoman · Mar 19, 2009

Well, I'll begin this thread, though I'm sure Kaysie and Justin and hopefully also Gregarious will be adding to it.
Also I'll post more pics in an album after I finish this thread.

As anyone who reads the blogs knows, I went to VA to herp with Kaysie & Co. around Roanoke.
I saw sals in the wild I'd never seen before, and learned herping techniques that I hope I can try out soon, here in NY!
So here goes:

1- Ambystoma maculatum
2- male "
3- My first ambystoma find!! I'm so proud. And cold.
4- Spring sal (not sure which one)
5- Dusky, spotted dusky, and two-lined
6- Dusky
7- Dusky larva
8- Ambystoma opacum larva. My theory is that they have the name because the larva are sort of see-through. Opaque. Anyone?

In the album which I will link to when I'm finished, I have some sals I don't remember the names of. Kaysie, maybe you can go there and put in the names?
Thanks.

Otterwoman · Mar 19, 2009

Here are more pics that didn't fit:

9- another A. maculatum
10- smallest otter ever: may I present the Peaks of Otter Salamander.
11- Another, really beautiful one, that Justin found.
12- another one
13- The tiny eft from Kaysie's album, in more perspecitve with that hand.
14- This is where little efts come from. Notos in flagrante.
15- A box turtle shell. Nobody home.
16- Four Toed salamander

Otterwoman · Mar 19, 2009

And the rest. For more, see the album:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/album.php?albumid=426

1- the bottom of the four-toed. For some reason everyone thought the belly was significant for id-ing.
2- the Pseudotriton ruber larva that I FOUND!
3- Another view of my awesome find

MonarchzMan · Mar 19, 2009

Hello everyone. I'm JP and I also went on this trip. I'm not an extreme caudate-o-phile like some of the people that went (*coughKaysieDawnJustincough*), but I can appreciate a good amphibian when I see them. My interests are in frogs (specifically studying poison dart frogs), but caudates are pretty cool too

Anyway, after a bit of urging, I joined and here are some of the pictures I took. My expertise is in photographing anurans, so I was eager to try out my skills on the less hoppy critters:

Nathan050793 · Mar 19, 2009

Oh man do I wish I could have been on this trip. It certainly looked productive! That first maculatum photo is great! I could look at photos of this trip for days.

Greatwtehunter · Mar 19, 2009

otterwoman said:
Well, I'll begin this thread, though I'm sure Kaysie and hopefully also Gregarious will be adding to it.

Well I must be chopped liver then. Man the host didn't even get a mention.

I had a really great time showing you around and am glad you enjoyed yourself, despite the car troubles. On a side note, I can't believe you didn't even mention the Ambystoma jeffersonium egg mass you found.

Bellabelloo · Mar 19, 2009

Wow!! Fabulous pictures Dawn and JP.

MonarchzMan · Mar 19, 2009

Here are more of the pictures I took:

1 - Looks like natural habitat! Only the most extreme caudate-o-philes will know that Marbled Salamander larvae live in vernal pools, not rock pools, but rock makes for better photography

2 - Experimenting with waterfall photography. I like how it turned out, but it needs more green

3 - Natural Bridge (One of the seven natural wonders of the world)

4 - Ring-Necked Snake! I haven't seen one of these in probably 15 years!

5 - Eastern Newt Red Eft (about an inch long, and soooo cute)

6 - Spotted Salamander Egg Mass

7 - Mudpuppy that refused to sit still (rather liking the photo method for underwater)

8 - Wehrle's Salamander

MonarchzMan · Mar 19, 2009

Final set of pictures:

1 - Peaks of Otter Salamander (these are only found on a couple ridges in Peaks of Otter in the whole world)

2 - Long-Tailed Salamander (another one that refused to sit still)

3 - Colorful Male Spotted Salamander

4 - The beginning of the migration - The gravid female is the one that dwarfs all of the other males!

5 - Northern Dusky Salamander

6 - Spotted Salamander

7 - Baby Snapping Turtle

8 - Brown Snake

Big Thanks to Justin for bringing in a bunch of his salamanders for photography and helping wrangle them!

Otterwoman · Mar 19, 2009

Justin, I am so ashamed!! :blush: He was our host and scoped out all the sites, and was amazingly kind and accomodating. He's the whole reason we were there, he lives in the area. I deserve to be bitten by a ferret!

JP is being modest. As you can see from his work, he is an extremely exacting photographer and perfectionist. In my album are a couple pics of him, so I hope you look at that too, JP!

You know, Justin, I didn't even take a pic of that Jefferson egg mass. So you are not alone in being the best thing, that I forgot to mention. Although I went on about both in the blog of my adventure.

I'm driving back this Fri/Sat to pick up my car...hopefully... Here's the blow-by-blow blog...
http://www.caudata.org/forum/blog.php?b=205

Greatwtehunter · Mar 19, 2009

Just for the record I was being sarcastic.

I could always go back and get a picture of the mass if you want me too, I know exactly where it's at. Also lets hope your drive back down here and home again is a little less eventful.

Otterwoman · Mar 19, 2009

I'm sure Kaysie got it, but really, seen one egg mass, seen 'em all. It just looks like a blob of sneeze.

Neotenic_Jaymes · Mar 19, 2009

Great pics guys! JP you and Dawn are really good with the cameras. The photo evidence of our trip is really fantastic. It was nice spending time with all of you guys, and you to Justin! Where are we going next year?

Kaysie · Mar 19, 2009

There's totally a picture of Justin with the jefferson's egg masses in my album.

John · Mar 19, 2009

Very interesting stuff, folks. Thanks for sharing. JP certainly knows how to get good underwater larvae photos! I'd have paid serious money to see Dawn reacting to all the finds.

Mark · Mar 19, 2009

Looks like you had fun and found some great species. I really live in the wrong part of the world for herping...

Loving those pink wellies, Dawn.

I see a few potential calendar entries in this thread and people's personal albums so don't lose them!

taherman · Mar 19, 2009

Nice finds! What county were those four-toeds in?
-Tim

oregon newt · Mar 19, 2009

Awesome trip!

Greatwtehunter · Mar 20, 2009

taherman said:
Nice finds! What county were those four-toeds in?
-Tim

Not sure if I can post the county here but if you want to PM me I can tell you then.

Later,
Justin

SludgeMunkey · Mar 20, 2009

<drools>

What an outstanding set of pictures of what sounded to be a very entertaining trip! Nice job all of you!

Herping in Western VA

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