Larval identification

[kiley]

Hey all, I used to have an account here a couple years back but went inactive for a while. Anyway, I'm back, but that is not what I wanted te say.

Right now I'm working on building an online field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of vermont and wanted to include a section on larval identification. I'm pretty solid on the identification of tadpoles but I'm lost once I get into salamanders.

Do any of you know of a good source for salamander larval id or have enough of a knowledge base to post information on telling the differences between similar species?

The species to be included are

Jefferson Salamander Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Blue-spotted Salamander Ambystoma laterale

Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum

Northern Dusky Salamander Desmognathus fuscus

Northrn Two-lined Salamander Eurycea bislineata

Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus

Four-toed Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum

Mudpuppy Necturus maculosus

Eastern Newt Notophthalmus viridescens

Eastern Red-backed Salamander Plethodon cinereus



The guide will be online in a week or so and I'll put up a link as soon as it is complete.

Thanks for any help
Kiley

 

[paris]

did you read this thread?-the link has some of what you are looking for....
http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/8/31845.html?1109856155

 

[kiley]

alright, thanks a bunch. I picked up the Petranka book right after you suggested it from the library at middlebury college... lots of really great stuff in that thing. I also checked out the online guide and got some good stuff.

The guide is coming along. As soon as I finish up the reptiles and get the first round of revisions done I'll put a link up.

I'm going to be heading out with my camera to get all the pictures I can over the next couple months but if any of you have some larval pics of the species above and would be willing to let me use them I would certainly appreciate it. I should be able to get my own shots of all the adult stages and if not I have pictures I can use. I'm having trouble getting non-copy righted larval shots though

on a side note I totally forgot I even had P cinereus on that list, lol. Good ole copy and paste can come back and bite you if you're not careful

 

[jennifer]

Kiley - I think most copyright holders would be willing to let you use their photographs for this kind of project. If there are any on Caudata Culture that you would find useful, contact me and I'll put you in touch with the photographer. If they are in a book, it would be more difficult to get permission, but it's still possible.