1 Topic by OkieHerper

  • OkieHerper
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Topic: Great morning

Our natural history class went out this morning to sample our mole salamander ponds. We hit the jackpot. We found a total of 56 mole salamanders (Ambystoma talpoideum). 27 were paedomorphic and the others were all adults. We also found a single spotted salamander in the pond. There were quite a few spotted salamander egg masses.

I left my camera out in the truck, but will try to post some pics tomorrow.

Also, we went to a great site a few nights ago and found close to 100 Illinois chorus frogs. Here are a few shots that I managed to pull off. This was a very exciting lifer for me.

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Josh Engelbert
Copan, OK

2 Reply by Copperheadman309

  • Copperheadman309
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Re: Great morning

100 Illinois?!?!?!? That's awesome. Were you up in Clay Co. or at a super secret spot? big_smile

Braithre Thar Gach Ni

Copperheadman309's Website

3 Reply by Van

  • Van
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Re: Great morning

Nice frogs Josh!  Those Pseudacris are really cool.

Van

Van's Website

4 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Great morning

Wish I could get over there to find some mole sallies. Only Ambystomatid that I have not found in Arkansas (well besides the elusive tiger).

Went out last Saturday. Heard peepers and southern leps. Found a ton of wood frog and spotted egg masses, but no animals. I think I missed spring sex this year. Found a couple of oklahoma and ozark zigzag sallies.

Congrats on the finds Josh

Glennnn

5 Reply by OkieHerper

  • OkieHerper
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Re: Great morning

Copperheadman309 wrote:

100 Illinois?!?!?!? That's awesome. Were you up in Clay Co. or at a super secret spot? big_smile

Oh yeah we were in Clay county. The only reason I didn't say that is because that is the only place they are in AR. I know that on the maps, Kory has Greene county also colored, but they aren't going to be found there. For that matter, I doubt they will be in Clay county too much longer due to habitat loss.

ksuglennj wrote:

Wish I could get over there to find some mole sallies.

 

We might score some at our field trip to Felsenthal if we get really lucky. I mean they will be done breeding, but we could get lucky and find some paedomorphs in ponds.


Josh

Josh Engelbert
Copan, OK

6 Reply by amercnwmn

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Re: Great morning

Great pics Josh! big_smile
Cute little guys!

I'm about to have an abruptly.

7 Reply by OkieHerper

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Re: Great morning

Here are the pics of the moles

Ambystoma talpoideum (this is the entire catch just before releasing)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/okieherper/Moles%20and%20Chorus/DSC04399.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/okieherper/Moles%20and%20Chorus/DSC04400.jpg

A couple of metamorphs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/okieherper/Moles%20and%20Chorus/DSC04366.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/okieherper/Moles%20and%20Chorus/DSC04375.jpg

And a couple of pics of just the paedomorphs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/okieherper/Moles%20and%20Chorus/DSC04386.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/okieherper/Moles%20and%20Chorus/DSC04393.jpg

Josh

Josh Engelbert
Copan, OK

8 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Great morning

Josh-

I missed this on the first read, but I guess I just like to see the pictures. big_smile Close to 50% of your moles were paedomorphic, is this the normal year to year ratio? I must admit I forgot they did this like tigers in Colorado and near by areas.

Glennnnn