Something for Fil

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Joshua Wallace
Posts: 235
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:57 pm
Location: Orting, WA

Something for Fil

Post by Joshua Wallace »

I found this guy earlier today :mrgreen:



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Richard F. Hoyer
Posts: 639
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 1:14 pm

Re: Something for Fil

Post by Richard F. Hoyer »

Is that a norhwestern Salamander and did you 'filter' it from a pond or creek?

Richard F. Hoyer
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PNWHerper
Posts: 667
Joined: July 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
Location: King County, WA

Re: Something for Fil

Post by PNWHerper »

WOW! Nice catch! Looks like a pretty beefy one, at that. I am guessing male, by the swollen vent?

Beautiful animal. Well, if you are catching them already then I better keep my eyes peeled for them in the ponds.

I will PM you some questions.
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PNWHerper
Posts: 667
Joined: July 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
Location: King County, WA

Re: Something for Fil

Post by PNWHerper »

Joshua,

You really inspired me to redouble my efforts. During a class hike, while I was teaching I told my students about carefully flipping logs to find amphibians. And, sure enough, as we walked along and flipped small logs...

BAM! I shouted, threw up my arms and proceeded to bonk my head on a tree branch in my excitement. :lol:

The students got a good laugh out of it.

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A big, adult NW Salamander (Ambystoma gracile) at last!

Here are some close ups of the feet.

Front:

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And Hind:

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And here is a beautiful, clear set of tracks I got from this lovely adult female:

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Thanks again for the advice and inspiration. They are lovely salamanders, with wonderfully long toes.
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salamanderhunter
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Location: chillicothe, ohio
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Re: Something for Fil

Post by salamanderhunter »

Wow! Wow on the tracks. Best sallie track i've seen. :beer:
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PNWHerper
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Joined: July 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
Location: King County, WA

Re: Something for Fil

Post by PNWHerper »

Thanks, Joe! I think it was a combination of perfect substrate and right side-lighting on a rare sunny winter day. All things came together to make a great set of tracks.

I am impressed with how long the toes on the front feet are on this species. Arguably, the longest toes of any western salamander in proportion to its size.
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PNWHerper
Posts: 667
Joined: July 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
Location: King County, WA

Re: Something for Fil

Post by PNWHerper »

Here is a youtube video of the salamander making tracks for me:

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salamanderhunter
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Re: Something for Fil

Post by salamanderhunter »

Great video! Notice how it went for the "hole" in the substrate? I've found that I can often get a salamander to walk straight across a tracking tray by putting a piece of black construction paper or something similar on the other side. Otherwise they just kind of wander around, not laying down a straight, consistent trail.
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TravisK
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Joined: July 8th, 2010, 11:14 am
Location: Eastern Washington

Re: Something for Fil

Post by TravisK »

Nice finds guys.

My side of the state is still pretty much frozen. BrrRrRrRrrr, I hate the cold! :x
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PNWHerper
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Joined: July 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
Location: King County, WA

Re: Something for Fil

Post by PNWHerper »

Joe,

That's a great observation! I will have to make use of that in future track set ups.

I try to get tracks on several different substrates, and end up with the best ones in the mud that you see in that photo. The other 2 are in 2 different kinds of fine dust.

Travis,

Sorry to hear you guys are still frozen out there. Glad to see you pop back onto the FHF. Hope you can be a NW chapter member!
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