Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

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Zach_Lim
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Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by Zach_Lim »

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to swing by and share some shots of Aneides that I have taken recently (besides the SC Black) that I rather like. This genus has become my favorite local salamander to find and photograph.

Please share your Aneides photos!

Thanks for looking!

Speckled Black Salamander - Sonoma County, CA

An 8 mile hike through oak grassland, redwood creek canyons, and rock out crops leading to the Russian River produced 3 flavi flavi. This was the largest and prettiest!

Image

Image

Arboreal Salamander - San Mateo County, CA

Just a large Arboreal from under one of my boards! Can't get enough of them!

Image

Santa Cruz Black Salamander - Santa Cruz County, CA

Older shot from exactly a year ago. My favorite herp shot of all time.

Image

I really want to see A. hardii and A. aeneus. I have a really poor shot of vagrans and still need to find ferreus!
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cbernz
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by cbernz »

The only Aneides species I've seen:

Image

A. aeneus from western VA.
MonarchzMan
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by MonarchzMan »

I've found a number of Aneides aeneus in Mississippi, and only just found my first A. vagrans (juvenile) a couple months ago in California. I'd love to find more of them. They're such neat animals.

ImageGreen Salamander by J.P. Lawrence, on Flickr

ImageWandering Salamander by J.P. Lawrence, on Flickr
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AndyKraemer
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by AndyKraemer »

Aneides are the best, and you can't beat the straight-up adorableness of the juvis!

ImageAneides aeneus by Andy Kraemer, on Flickr
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intermedius
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by intermedius »

In Situ Aneides aeneus I found this August from West Virginia:

ImageGreen Salamander by Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr

Was a sublime experience.

- Justin
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El Garia
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by El Garia »

Here's a couple of hatchling specimens from the Aneides that Zach featured above. Both species are covered with metallic-looking flecks while young. With both species, these flecks disappear over time.


Juv. Santa Cruz Black Salamander
ImageAneides flavipunctatis niger by Mo'o, on Flickr


Juv. Arboreal Salamander
ImageAneides lugubris by Mo'o, on Flickr

Adult Arboreal Salamander
ImageAneides lugubris by Mo'o, on Flickr

-Derek
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jonathan
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by jonathan »

I've found all the west coast species now (including iecanus), but I seem to take spectacularly bad photos of this genus. My post of life history observations of the West Coast Aneides is here.

Would love to find the New Mexico and Appalachian forms someday, but doubt that's ever going to happen.
Zach_Lim
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by Zach_Lim »

Here is a horrible cell phone photo of "iecanus" that I found earlier this year when my girlfriend and I visited her hometown up in Shasta County.

Image
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Rich in Reptiles
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by Rich in Reptiles »

Great post, Zach! The huge heads of aboreals are pretty unbeatable! I can't wait to come back to CA and finally find some Ensatinas and other Aneides! This year I was blessed to see a nesting female green salamander ;) When you ever come to TN/AL area I would be happy to show you a couple reliable spots for greens.

ImageNesting green salamander!!!!!!!!!!! by Bethany Avilla, on Flickr
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mfb
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Re: Aneides- the Climbing Salamanders

Post by mfb »

Image

I am a big fan of Aneides lugubris. I used to do research on pacific chorus frogs in the ca coast range and saw many arboreal salamanders. One lived in a crevice in a tree next to the research station, and would stick its head out on foggy, rainy nights. Too bad they don't live in Ohio!
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