Amphibians Spotted in North Carolina Excursion

Over the 4th of July weekend, my husband Tim (North Chagrin Nature  Center Naturalist) and I went down to North Carolina for a relaxing trip of hiking, movie watching, and of course "herping." We researched the amphibians of the area and found that it would be possible to find a total of 95 species of amphibians in NC (see North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for a complete list)!
Well, we only had two afternoons for the "hunt" but we did pretty well. We particularly liked the group of salamanders called "Plethodontids." The plethodontids breathe right through their skin like all amphibians, but these guys take it a step further; these species do not even have lungs! We found a nice variety of the lungless wonders including: Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus), Imitator Salamander (Desmognathus imitator), Shovel-nosed salamander (Desmognathus marmoratus), Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus), Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera), Blue Ridge Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi), Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus), Southern Ravine Salamander (Plethodon richmondi), Black-chinned Red Salamander (Plethodon ruber schencki), and my favorite, the Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee). It was a great trip. Check out the photos!

Jordan's Salamander (Plethodon Jordani)



Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee)



Comments

 
By: Becky
On: 09/20/2008 17:13:07
What beautiful lungless wonders! Great photos. You did rather well finding 11 species (if I counted right).

 
By: Carrie
On: 02/04/2009 20:55:31
I love amphibians I catch them all the time this site rocks help me help you how to give my research I am 12 and want to study amphibians forever!!!

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