Salamanders keeping their cool

TRR photos by Scott Rando

The northern red salamander, a member of the Pseudotiton ruber, is a striking red color with small black spots covering a large part of the body. This species can be found in cool streams and shaded areas surrounding these habitats. This species is present in the region, but not seen as often as the other salamanders mentioned in this column.

The red-backed salamander, also known as a woodland salamander, is a member of the Plethodon cinereus, the most common salamander species in this region. They are named for the red stripe down the middle of the back. However, some “lead-back” variants have little or no red at all.

The Allegheny Mountain salamander is a member of the Desmognathus ochrophaeus, also known as the dusky salamander. This species is normally found under rocks in or near small streams and spring seeps. They have chevron shaped markings behind the head and down the back.

The two-lined salamander, also known as a brook salamander, is a member of the Eurycea bislineata. They are brown with two dark lines that run down either side of the vertebrae. Between the black stripes is a medial strip of light brown that can appear iridescent. This species is also found near brooks, though usually not in the stream bed.

Posted Wednesday, July 31, 2019 1:38 pm

By SCOTT RANDO

The middle of July saw a warm spell, with temperatures getting into the 90s accompanied by high humidity that made it feel even hotter. The wildlife felt it too and hunkered down; deer spent a lot of time lying under trees or in other shady areas. My friend had his birdbath broken by a bear that leaned a little to hard on the structure while trying to drink out of it.

Cold-blooded animals, such as reptiles and amphibians, thermoregulate by moving into shade or water before they get too warm. Fish drop down into deeper water. However, there is one group of amphibians that stays in one spot and seems to remain fairly happy, as long as their habitat isn’t disturbed.

Salamanders are mostly invisible during the day, with the exception of the red-spotted newt that spends its adult life in ponds. The immature “red eft” stage of this species is very obvious in shady forests, especially in the cooler morning hours. Other species of salamanders seem to be absent, but they are nearby. During the day, many species of salamanders stay out-of-sight under rocks and logs. Such hiding places are their daytime refuge, and some species lay their eggs in these spots. At night, many of these salamanders come out to forage for small insects. In certain areas during the spring, you may spot them in numbers when they emerge and migrate to their breeding grounds.