virginia herps!
May. 10th, 2014 10:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
somuchforendings posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
common_natureI don't know why I never thought to post any of my pictures to this community until today, but… I figured I'd share
[disclaimer: I am a professional. Do not put your local salamanders in plastic bags for funsies and don't mess with snakes unless you really know what you're doing (for the animal's sake more than yours), etc.]
All of the salamanders in this post are red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), which are not actually always red-backed! The main identifier for them is actually their venter/belly, which is why I feel like someone should spear-head a movement to rename them as "salt-and-pepper salamanders".
There are two main morphs--the red and the lead-back--which have distinctive behaviors (the lead is much flightier). But they really can be any color under the sun. My area has a lot of yellow.
And the best camouflage award goes to… (I moved a leaf out from under her tail; she was almost invisible before!)
This is a rare iridescent lead-back. I was really excited to find her; the camera doesn't do justice to her sparkle.
Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).
I believe this is an eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula), but I could be mistaken.
Ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctuatus): slightly venomous, but docile, rear-fanged, and tiny mouthed. I'm sad I can't find a picture of the venter to share with you all: they're pretty strikingly red and yellow.
Eastern worm snake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus). They try to burrow into your hands when you pick them up.
Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon).
Wood frog (Lithobates or Rana sylvaticus; ymmv) tadpoles! They have a coppery belly, but I just happened to know that's what they were. They're being monitored for Ranavirus.
Cope's gray tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis), which is practically indistinguishable from the gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor). I'm just assuming this guy's species based on calls I've head in the area.
American toad (Anaxyrus or Bufo americanus, your mileage again my vary… being involved in amphibian taxonomy is apparently dramatic) amplexus. *sexy music plays*
A male eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) being shy.
Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) from a distance.
[disclaimer: I am a professional. Do not put your local salamanders in plastic bags for funsies and don't mess with snakes unless you really know what you're doing (for the animal's sake more than yours), etc.]
All of the salamanders in this post are red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), which are not actually always red-backed! The main identifier for them is actually their venter/belly, which is why I feel like someone should spear-head a movement to rename them as "salt-and-pepper salamanders".
There are two main morphs--the red and the lead-back--which have distinctive behaviors (the lead is much flightier). But they really can be any color under the sun. My area has a lot of yellow.
And the best camouflage award goes to… (I moved a leaf out from under her tail; she was almost invisible before!)
This is a rare iridescent lead-back. I was really excited to find her; the camera doesn't do justice to her sparkle.
Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).
I believe this is an eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula), but I could be mistaken.
Ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctuatus): slightly venomous, but docile, rear-fanged, and tiny mouthed. I'm sad I can't find a picture of the venter to share with you all: they're pretty strikingly red and yellow.
Eastern worm snake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus). They try to burrow into your hands when you pick them up.
Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon).
Wood frog (Lithobates or Rana sylvaticus; ymmv) tadpoles! They have a coppery belly, but I just happened to know that's what they were. They're being monitored for Ranavirus.
Cope's gray tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis), which is practically indistinguishable from the gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor). I'm just assuming this guy's species based on calls I've head in the area.
American toad (Anaxyrus or Bufo americanus, your mileage again my vary… being involved in amphibian taxonomy is apparently dramatic) amplexus. *sexy music plays*
A male eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) being shy.
Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) from a distance.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-13 10:06 pm (UTC)I've seen salamanders only a handful of times in my life, at least in the wild. Thanks for the photos; I would never have guessed that these were all the same species.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-14 12:39 am (UTC)Yeah, I've only seen a few when I haven't been actively looking for them (as in, checking under things and/or netting ponds and streams); they're very good at hiding. And no problem, I'm glad you liked them :)