Ion Swamp

On 3-24-11 our class traveled to Francis Marion National Forest to visit the Ion Swamp. This swamp is a series of overgrown rice fields separated by a network of dikes. Here a student found an adult marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum). This salamander is very easily identified by its black and silvery/white marbled coloration. It is thick bodied and has costal grooves. No nasolabial groove is present like those in the family Plethodontidae. This particular salamander was about five or six inches long and was found in the woods bordering the swamp. Marbled salamander larvae are born in the water and metamorphose into terrestrial adults.

We also found a bunch of green anoles (Anolis carolinensis) all those that were found were adults and appeared to be females due to the lack of a dewlap. The anoles were about four inches long and all changed colors from brown to bright green over a few minutes after being caught. Some were caught in the forest bordering the swamp, but I caught a large one in the swamp. They are highly territorial so we made sure to release them very close to where they were found. (Logan Bryan, SC)