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Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi
Blue Ridge Spring Salamander
Sevier Co., Tennessee
April 25th, 2006
"...under the very next rock was another brightly
colored salamander, but this one was orange - a Spring Salamander! This was
a Blue Ridge Spring Salamander, Gryinophilus porphyriticus danielsi.
One of the characteristics of Spring Salamanders is a raised ridge that
travels between each eye and the tip of the snout. G.p. danielsi
features a light line along this ridge, with a dark line immediately
beneath, and white spots along the jaw. This was a new subspecies for me, so
I was happy to examine this specimen and take pictures. It was not the most
cooperative subject, and I had to use cover plates to keep the animal
contained while setting up for shots. More than once I had to clean the
animal off with my water bottle, after it would wriggle away into the
substrate. It is certainly a lot more difficult to wrangle and shoot herps
all by your lonesome..."Day Five,
The
Great Salamander Swing
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