Springtime Marbled Salamander

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 38179506 - Marbled Salamander; Clarke County, Georgia. April 1, 2017.

First day of April. It is a clear, blue, cloudless sky; occasional breeze and perfect upper-70’s temperature. It is definitely spring now. On Thursday afternoon I was startled to notice there were green leaves on trees that were bare just the day before. Earlier this week I noticed the Crepe Myrtles on the sides of my back patio had tiny buds. Today they have sprouts nearly an inch long.

I was poking around my backyard, looking at what was beginning to grow, noting what needs a little clean up. When I lifted the cover of the foot deep hole that contains my septic filter, down in the cool mounds of dirt a Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) sat curled in a ball. I closed the lid and went inside for my camera.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 38179506 - Marbled Salamander; Clarke County, Georgia. April 1, 2017.

Going back to get him, I was surprised at how quick the little amphibian was in retreating into a small hole. I was able to pull him out and soon found my fingers covered in a thick, sticky, white secretion. Woe to the predator that tries to munch on this little guy. I’m sure the secretion would not only be foul tasting and sticky on the tongue, but actually also poisonous. I washed the dirt off the salamander and put him on a patch of moss for some macro-photography with my 40mm micro lens.

​Athens, Georgia

הועלה ב-אפריל 1, 2022 02:53 אחה"צ על ידי williamwisephoto