NC and TN Salamanders, May 2013


Brian and Jason Folt and I spent a few days in mid May camping and exploring the mountains around the North Carolina - Tennessee border. This area, the Southern Appalachian region, has the highest diversity of salamanders of any place on earth. Need I say more? Here's a few of the things we saw, in chronological order.


White-spotted Slimy Salamander (Plethodon cylindraceus).


Northern Gray-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon montanus).


Worth another pose...


White-spotted Slimy Salamander (Plethodon cylindraceus).


Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus).


Blue Ridge Dusky Salamander ( Desmognathus orestes).


Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee).


A closer look.


Weller's Salamander (Plethodon welleri).


Up close.


Another pose.


A Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) found crawling across a road.


Blue Ridge Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi), as found by Brian while hiking around at night.


A closer look.


White-spotted Slimy Salamander (Plethodon cylindraceus), found while hiking at night.


I think this is a juvenile Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus).


Blue Ridge Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi).


A closer look.


The Folt boyz photographing the above Spring Salamander.


A brook and rhododendron.


Northern Gray-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon montanus).


A closer look.


Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee).


Up close.


Another pose.


Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens), as found on the forest floor.


Waterfall.


Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee).


Another look.


Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus).


Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea wilderae).


Blue Ridge Red Salamander larva (Pseudotriton ruber nitidus).


Blue Ridge Spring Salamander larva (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi).


Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola).


Imitator Salamander (Desmognathus imitator).


A closer look.


A Desmognathus, not sure of the species.


Shovel-nosed Salamander (Desmognathus marmoratus).


They really do have a shovel nose...


A ventral shot.


Another Desmognathus, where I am not sure of the species...


Imitator Salamander (Desmognathus imitator).


Another Imitator Salamander.


Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani).


Another pose.


A loser look.


Imitator Salamander (Desmognathus imitator).


Up close.


Pygmy Salamander (Desmognathus wrighti). We were very happy to see one of these. I lifted a large rock and immediately saw two large Red-cheeked Salamanders. Fortunately my companions noticed this guy...


Southern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon serratus).


Blue Ridge Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi).


A closer look.


A Desmognathus, not sure of the species.


Black-chinned Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber schencki).


A closer look.


Another Black-chinned Red Salamander.


A different pose.


They don't call it a Black-chinned Red Salamander for nothing.


Mountain scenery. The trees were just starting to leaf out at the higher elevations.


Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus).


A closer look.

That's it. a good time was had by all.