Ouachita Mountains salamander trip

[nate]

Hi all,

Here are some photos from a trip a friend and I made to the Ouachita Mtns. of Oklahoma and Arkansas in November.

A Ouachita dusky salamander, Desmognathus brimleyorum.

A larval brimleyorum.

The weather was superb for salamanders; high 50sF to mid 60s and incredibly foggy with scattered heavy thunderstorms. As a result, the southern redbacks, Plethodon serratus were out in the thousands in the forests and on the roads.

The habitat.

The Rich Mountain salamander, Plethodon ouachitae (Winding Stair variation).

Another Winding Stair ouachitae, 3.5 ft up a concrete wall.

A nice colored Dwarf American Toad, Bufo americanus charlesmithi.

Another Rich Mountain salamander, Plethodon ouachitae (Rich Mtn. variation).

A Caddo Mountain salamander, Plethodon caddoensis. Strangely enough, the first one we saw disappeared into a small pool.

(Message edited by nate on December 02, 2005)

 

[nate]

And here's a Many-ribbed salamander, Eurycea multiplicata, that failed to make it on my first post.

 

[joseph]

Great photos of great finds! The habitat sure is interesting looking. From the looks of it you two must have had a fun time.

 

[william]

great photos Nate! did you see any other species?

 

[TJ]

Amazing trip that must have been

So I guess that about explains -- and excuses! -- your absence around here these past few weeks.

Is that frost on those trees or lichen of some sort?

 

[russ]

One of my old haunts and some of my favorites, great post.

 

[mike]

Very nice! Those are all salamanders I've yet to see in the wild. And that foggy, scrubby habitat looks like an amazing place to walk through. Was it at night when you saw all the P. serratus out? Were they climbing a lot? Mike

 

[william]

Tim it looks like a Lichen to me.

 

[nate]

Tim: Well I also have another excuse, I'll send you pics

Yes, those are lichen.

Mike: Some of the serratus were out during the day (it was incredibly foggy though), but most were out at night. They weren't really climbing, though some were found horizontally on stacked rock walls.

 

[mark]

Nice pics, Nate. It is nice to see that camera of yours getting some field time. Seems like it was a pretty productive trip. I'm contemplating my own Ouachita adventure in the spring. Thanks for sharing!

 

[william]

what other species are found in the region? to far south for ambystoma annulatum right?

 

[nate]

I really only went looking for Plethodontids but A. annulatum is there, along with opacum, texanum, and maculatum.

In addition, there are 3 other species we didn't have time to look for: P. fourchensis, P. kiamichi, and P. sequoyah.

Oh, also Notophthalmus and Necturus.

 

[erik]

Nice post! I love the habitat at the higher elevations. I am anxious to get back there again...

 

[christian]

I love those wonderful animals

 

[josh]

Nice pictures Nate ,I hope I'll be able to find a lot this spring

 

[edward]

At some point I would like to get there and see the caudates in the wild but I think my next trip will be back to Yonohlossee country.

Ed

 

[mark]

Awesome pics, I wish i could find some native amphibians. Always appreciate the wild pics.

 

[TJ]

Jeez-a-wheez, so many Ambystoma in one place, that's just crazy! So I see you went out both during the day and again at night. That sure seems the way to do it, as I learned on my latest observation trip (Amami). During my previous Okinawa trip, I was limited to what I could see during daylight hours. I'll be correcting that when I go again later this month. Many if not most creepie-crawlies only come out at night, eh?

That's one eerie-looking place with all those lichen-covered branches...

Mark. Be sure and let me know when you do find some native sals, as I'm also from Colorado and go back there occasionally. Paris should know some nice tiger observation spots (tiger sals being Colorado's only sal). We once had one fall into the windowsill of our in Denver, and my little brother tells me they annually "infest" an elementary school's swimming pool somewhere near Boulder. It'd be great to get to see some shots of that

 

[brian]

Great photos Nate!

Ed, when you head to Yonahlossee territory, let me know...I might be up for a field trip...

Brian

 

[william]

of topic i know, but great aviator Brian!