Winter/Early Spring Salamanders in Indiana (long)

[Zach42]

I've had a very productive start to 2013.
On January 12, the first warm rains sparked the first Jefferson's Salamanders to move into the vernals. I only managed a fleeting glimpse of one as it swam into deep murky water. Nevertheless, I did manage to flip this-my first herp of 2013.


Northern Zigzag Salamander (Plethodon dorsalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

The following weekend, I returned to the vernals. It was 50 degrees but had been cold, so there was a thin layer of ice over the pond. Around midday I saw lots of Jeffs and newts congregating at the melting edges, I guess because it was warmest.

Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


January Salamanders by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Jeffs had been busy apparently.

Beneath the Ice by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

I also found my first two lined of the year in a nearby seep. Last summer this seep had proven productive for Longtailed Salamanders, but no luck today.

Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

More Jeffs from other warm rains:

Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

In mid-February, Andrew Hoffman was kind enough to show me Streamsides in SE IN. First we checked this creek.

Creek by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
We found two streamsides on eggs as well as a few two lineds and larvae.

Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

We also visited a vernal pool and a seep, and turned up newts and duskies.

Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

I went back down the next week and we found even more.

Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) and Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Now it was almost time for winter to be over, and I just needed some decent temps and rain to get the wood frogs and spotted salamanders to move to the ponds in mass. They finally came on March 10, though they would later be interrupted by a snowstorm....

Northern Spring Peeper (Psuedacris crucifer crucifer) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) & Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Northern Spring Peeper (Psuedacris crucifer crucifer) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

I finally managed to find my first adult A. texanum as well.

Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Andrew invited me to come and see crawfish frog in SE IN, of course I accepted. Before that we checked some flatwoods that are excellent habitat for four toeds. After a while, we found 4 females with eggs under one clump of moss.

Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Then we headed to the prairie ponds with crawfish frogs. At the first few we only got leopards, peepers, and newts.

Spring Peeper (Psuedacris crucifer) & Eastern Newt (notopthalmus viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

We did eventually manage to find this big male and heard a few calling.

Northern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata circulosa) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

We also found this map turtle in a stream, the first reptile of the year for me.

Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

This past weekend, I came across my first snakes of the year.

Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

At a creek near my house, two lined salamanders are very very common. However, I had never seen a female with eggs. I was very glad to finally change that.

Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!

-Zach

 

[Jan]

Zach - thanks for sharing....very nice photography!!! In Indiana no less. I lived there for 40years and didn't see all these species there.

 

[Azhael]

Remarkable pictures! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Make sure to participate in the next calendar O_O

 

[Jefferson]

Thank you for posting! Lord have mercy, what a Streamside!