Ohio herping (OR... getting lucky in 20 minutes)

[jennifer]

I was recently in Cincinnati, Ohio for a few days. Between family obligations, I got a chance to spend about 20 minutes in the creek behind the house where I grew up. Much to my surprise, I found a salamander I've never seen there before. Is this Eurycea cirrigera?

For those who have never been in Cincinnati, here is a photo of the rocks there. They are quite amazing, as they are limestone that is basically solid fossils. Happily, they held quite still while I photographed them, unlike the salamander.

 

[hayden]

hes a cute little guy whatever he is

 

[TJ]

Wow, what a beautiful salamander! Where was it found? Under a rock? Any more pics of it? Lucky you!

 

[pin-pin]

This title made me laugh so hard that I must make a comment even though there is not an iota of Taricha in it.

Only here and only by Jen can the words "getting lucky in 20 minutes" not raise any eyebrows.

(Message edited by apples on July 27, 2004)

 

[jennifer]

Glad you understood the humor, Pin-pin. Tim, yes, the sal was under a rock in the creekbed in the photo. The rock was sitting on mud, but not in the water.

While I was in Ohio, my husband took this photo in my back yard in New Mexico. I suppose this could be titled "getting UNLUCKY in New Mexico"! This is a prairie rattlesnake. I think I want to go back to Ohio!!!

(Message edited by jennewt on July 27, 2004)

 

[paris]

yeah that is a two lined sal jenni -id take it any day over the rattle snake!

 

[greg]

Jenn,
Assuming you were more or less where I think you were (based upon the fossil and the creek shot): Just a an hour or less from where you saw the Eurycea is a great site for Massassauga rattlesnakes. and if you drive in a different direction from where you saw the Eurycea, but about the same amount of time, you hit Timber Rattlesnake habitat. And, you stood a chance (slim perhaps, but still) of finding copperhead where you were when you found the salamander.

Personally, I think it's all luck. Your Prairie rattler rocks, by the way. Only snakes in my yard are Nerodia, Thamnophis and Diadophis.

Greg

 

[ira]

nice brachiopod fossils!! i wish i lived in a fossil rich area. my grandparents do i and i have collected quite a few articulate brachs from the rocks near their house.

and speaking of posionous snakes, i actually had a run in with a copperhead during my last herping excursion, it freaked me out because i basically stuck my hand under the rock it was hiding under so that i could flip it (the rock) over! I think we were both so startled we didnt know what to do!!!