Mt Pinos E.e.croceater

[russ]

I was out in SoCal a couple of weeks ago for a one day conference and decided to take the opportunity to bolt up to Mt Pinos to night cruise for Charina and zonata. It was extremely hot and dry, even on top, but I got there a few hour before dark and used the time to recon areas to look for E.e.croceater in the event I ever made it back in better weather. I found some awesome habitat but it was pretty much bone dry under everything. I flipped a piece of bark that was snug under a huge downed fir and found this hatchling to my surprise. I didn't realize it until I got him home that he had an open wound, which may explain his movement (avoiding predation) to the surface in unfavorable conditions. You can see in the pic the lighter area mid-dorsal where it has healed.

 

[simon]

That's a sweet animal. So the red spot is an open wound? I found an E. e. oregonenesis in the Cascades in WA that had a bigger wound like that, but there were blood vessels sort of showing. It seemed to be perfectly healthy although it also was the only one I found. I love Ensatinas, and that's one of the best subspecies you found there.

 

[dane]

cool salamander, I hope someday I can go west and find some

 

[russ]

No, the pale area is where it was and there was a small one on the tail. They are very neat, and much larger than oregonensis. I use to have some picta, and my klauberi nd croceater looked like monsters next to them.

 

[simon]

Ah. What's the red spot on that one (and mine) then? No kidding about oregonenesis and picta being way less stocky. I've caught lots of those, and they're mid sized sallies but klauberi and croeacter look huge!

 

[russ]

Organs.

 

[alexandra]

how cool is that! My second newt have blood on it's tail cause kids were throwing rocks at it!!!