Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found this last year at my usual spot. I always thought it to be an odd color morph of D. ochrophaeus, but I just don't know.

The keeled tail rules out D. ochrophaeus and the other species formerly included within it. It looks like D. monticola to me; the 'vermiform' markings on the back are very distinctive. You're in western NC, right? If so, I'm almost positive it's D. monticola.

Yeah, I am way up there, about twenty minutes away from Tennessee. I never knew they could look like that, but after using my good friend google, there were tons of different pictures. Good stuff!

Lucky dog!

You may already know that D. ochrophaeus has been divided into several species, with four occurring in western NC; D. orestes in the northwest corner south to Roane Mountain, D. carolinensis from Roane south to just morth of the Smokies, and D. ocoee in the Smokies and southward; D. imitator in the Smokies, Balsams, and Plott Balsams is also part of this group. There may be several other species lurking within this complex, and they can only be reliably distinguished electrophoretically.

Systematics is fun!

Salamanders, and snowboarding, are the only reasons I came up here for my education. So far, I went to the Smokies once, but it was in late winter, not much to see. I plan on going many more times, and I can't wait.

I actually added some stats to my zoology teacher's lecture when he covered amphibians for about twenty minutes. I actually felt smart!