Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Plethodon yonahlossee
Yonahlossee Salamander

Unicoi Co., Tennessee
April 24, 2006

"..what to do? I wanted pictures but didn't want to risk getting my camera fried, something I didn't have to worry about as much with my old analog Pentax. I needed to set up a little studio out of the weather - I would bring any salamanders back to the vehicle for pictures. I put the little welleri in a small container, opened the back hatch on the XTerra and went looking for some flat rocks to use for photographs. I found one of nice size for a base, and needed one more to set on edge for background. I spotted a good one off to one side of the road and picked it up - salamander!  THE salamander, the one I was hoping for, Plethodon yonahlossee. I could only shake my head and grin. I had been staring at the Yonahlossee illustration in Conant and Collins' Field Guide for more years than I cared to count, and now here it was in front of me, a casual discovery on the side of the road.."

Day Four, The Great Salamander Swing