Please forgive me if you see these post on another forum, I plan on posting it in a few different places (2-4) to try to maximize the response.
Help identifying salamander (9/25/04)
Hello, I'm from Massachusetts where today I found an enigmatic salamander. I'm no Caudata expert (far from it!), but I am quite familiar with all the amphibians that can be found in
Massachusetts. This salamander does not fit the description of any salamanders that are supposed to exist in this area, but I have seen one before. I found the previous animal in July of 2003, unfortunately it was lost before I could study it. I made sure this one was securely enclosed, I didn't want to lose the opportunity twice! Both salamanders were found at Freetown-Fall River State Forest in Freetown, Massachusetts. Today was a warm day (around 75F while we were out), the ground was moist, and all day long we found a myriad of Plethodon cinerus. We also found many other amphibians, including 3 Bufo americanus, 1 Bufo (woodhousii) fowleri, 2 Rana sylvatica, 4 Rana palustris, and innumerable Rana clamitans. As an amateur, I really would feel comfortable if an expert of some sort could identify this for me, or at least give their opinions based on the description below. If there is any information that would help that I have left out, please let me know so I can provide it. There are pictures to accompany the description.
Description-
Size: Small-medium sized salamander. Approximately 3 and 1/4 inches (8.2 cm) long, of which the tail accounts for nearly half. Slender.
Location: Found under rotting log in Pine-Oak woodland habitat, about 50-75 yards from a semi-permanent vernal pool (not sure if it's official). The vernal pool itself it located in a grassy clearing that serves as a (presumedly illegal) dumpsite. The vernal pool is at the very south end of the clearing. The salamander was found in a wooded area about 20 feet east a large pile of rubbish, this being located at the very north end of the clearing.
Coastal grooves: 18.
Coloration: Dark orange-red with dark mottling on tail. Isolated, few, tiny dark flecks on back and sides. Dark shading and fleckling on head. It appears to be slightly transparent. Stomach is mottled pink and white.
Toe number: Four toes on fore feet, five toes on hind feet.
Other notes: I arduously searched for a naso-labial groove with a poor magnifying glass, I could not find one. That's not to discredit the possibility, as my resources are rather limited, and in my inexperience I might not have seen them despite the effort. In the pictures, there are also some debris on the tail and back end, I wanted to point this out as it may not be obvious enough in the picture, and it could appear to be additional mottling. This is not meant to be a scientific report, merely an inquiry.
