Unidentified Salamander

[urbpan]

I've been turning over rocks and logs in New England my whole life. I like all the various animals that hide there--isopods, millipedes, centipedes, etc.--but the best is when I find a salamander. 99% of the salamanders I've found have been red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), though at my job outside of the city I've found both yellow spotted (Ambystoma maculatum) and blue-spotted (A. laterale).

This past Sunday I turned over a log in a swampy part of a park in Boston and found a 10 or twelve individuals of a species of salamander I've never seen before. It was much wetter than places I've found other salamanders--saturated and muddy--and the salamanders writhed away in a rapid slithery way that was new to me.

Does anyone have any ideas what it could be?



(photo by cottonmanifesto)
(cross-posted to herpers)

Comments

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

is it possible that its a juvenile yellow spottted? I've got no science background to back that up with, but I figured I'd make my guess before all the smart people chimed in.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Probably not. The shape isn't exactly right--the tail's too long, for one thing--and I've found yellow spotted the same size and they have (drumroll...)
yellow spots.

Thanks, though!

Do you miss salamanders?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Over at herpers, the sole commentor has suggested that its a Northern Dusky Salamander--which is in my "New England" guide, and looks like a pretty good match.

[belen1974.livejournal.com]

oh man i misread "herpers" as "herpes"
so is "herpers" the official name of the salamander?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

A herpetologist is someone who studies reptiles and amphibians (the equivalent for birds, for example, is ornithologist), and "herper" is a shortening of that word. Sometimes you'll hear animal people refer to their "herps" meaning their reptile and amphibian collections.

[kore.livejournal.com]

i used to find salamanders that looked like that in ca. i love them. they are the best ever :)

[openheartsoftly.livejournal.com]

Did you find that guy anywhere near the foil pipe?

Cause if you did, it's likely your finger really freaked him out.

Have the best

salamander

[salamander1979.livejournal.com]

looks like a N. dusky salamander. Note the enlarged hind legs and I bet on closer inspection a white tick mark can be seen from the eye to nose