Eggs!

Today we went to a couple secluded ponds and had our most successful herp-hunt yet. The above eggs were found in the shallow edge of the pond. The first picture is a wriggling mass of newly hatched tadpoles, eggs, and algae (you can see some of the black tadpoles around the edge). We also found several strings of eggs which may have come from an American toad (Bufo Americanus). One toad was captured and there were toads trilling when we arrived as well. I'm sure you'll see more posts from this excursion including lots of cricket frogs and spring peepers.

-posted by Andrew Henterly

Ambystoma maculatum!

On March 27, our class had the biggest find of the season--a spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)! It was found by our classmates, Beau and Bahram, hiding under a log in damp soil at a site called Boesel Pond in Oxford, Ohio. The day had been slightly overcast and cool--previously, we had found some smaller species of salamander and frog. But at 8 inches, this was definitely our largest catch. This particular salamander was a male--this was determined by the presence of swollen cloacal folds. Very secretive, they generally live underground, but will come out to breed. These salamanders begin mating in March or April--as soon as the snow begins to melt. The females lay 100-200 eggs in the water, usually attached to a plant. This spotted salamander was probably born in this pond as they rarely move away from their original hatching spot. Preferring cool damp places to inhabit, this docile amphibian eats mainly small invertebrates like earthworms and insects found on the woodland floor. Since they can secrete a milky toxin from their back, we made sure to wash our hands after this catch! (Posted by Morgan Smith)

Woodland Trails

I found an American toad, Bufo americanus, sitting amongst a patch of cattails in the water near the bank of the pond at Woodland trails. The water where it was sitting was only a few inches deep. These toads can be identified by their olive green color and black spots which have warts filled with a poisonous fluid used as defense against predators. It is common to find these toads in freshwater ponds such as this and they require dense patches of vegetation where they can find food and hide from predators (they are most active at night). This particular toad was hiding amongst a thick patch of cattails. The adult toads eat insects and other invertebrates such as earthworms, beetles and snails that they capture using their sticky tongues. Their main predators tend to be snakes. We could hear several American toads calling around us at the pond. They have a very distinct call, a long trill, that they use to attract females for breeding. Their mating season is usually in March or April but it can last as late July. The American toad eats a variety of insects and invertebrates and so are beneficial to farmers and gardeners. Their toxins are also being studied to see if they can have any medical benefits (posted by Jeff Naples).

Francis Marion = herps galore

Every plant taxonomy fieldtrip seems to turn into a herp scouting adventure. Today we ventured into a recently burned longleaf pine ecosystem and stumbled along this guy, Bufo quercicus. Thanks to Matt Horry for conveniently carrying a camera phone. We also came across some small tree frogs around the more swampy areas. (Posted by Gabi Oken)

Coal + Clearcutting = Herps?

Sorry about two posts in a row... but this one is an out-of-state-er.
Over spring break I did an alternative spring break in Tennessee (salamander country) building a piece of the Cumberland Gap Trail.
The landscape was much harsher than expected (especially when you have to move boulders around, I suppose), but that didn't keep me from finding a few prime specimens.A slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosis). I thought it was a blue spotted salamander (deceptive...) until it slimed all over my work gloves. Sorry about the fuzzyness. There were many escape attempts.
I also saw a plethora of two-lined salamanders and mountain chorus frogs.
There was one pair I caught in amplexus, but I felt it would be rude to take a photo.

-Melanie

A Lonely Outing

March 15th was a rainy Saturday. After a few days of relatively warm weather I figured I would pack my knapsack with a healthy (subway) meal and take a six mile trek into the wilderness of Harkers run in search of herp excitement...

A chunky redback (Plethodon cinereus)
Twins!
A very sexy (as Michelle would say) southern two lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera)

My chocolate chip cookie got soggy in the rain, unfortunately.
-Melanie

Cricket frogs from Ohio to Florida!

This little guy is a cricket frog I found in Naples, Florida. He is a Florida cricket frog, Acris gryllus, which is a subspecies of the southern cricket frog. The only difference between the two is that the Florida cricket frog has TWO dark lines on the rear thighs and no anal warts instead of one dark line on the rear thighs and anal warts seen on the southern cricket frog. Good thing I found him because we had a species quiz the next week on the Blanchard's cricket frog, Acris crepitans. The Blanchard's cricket frog has a lot more webbing on its feet compared to its southern cousins and is more plump. Although it too has a dark stripe on its thighs, they are not so clean cut on the northern variety. All the cricket frogs have a dark triangle between their eyes and a very small size!