Toad

Caudata

I just returned from a two-week salamander class in the Southern Appalachians. North Carolina is a sparkly, breathtaking state with waterfalls and mountains and fireflies. There was a salamander under nearly every rock. As a class, we caught over 600! I learned a lot. Here are some pictures.

Desmognathus ocoee

Eurycea wilderae

A cool plant growing out of the rock!

Plethodon shermani x Plethodon teyahallee

Reminds me of Tangaloor Firefoot! If you don't know who that is, PLEASE go pick up a copy of Tailchaser's Song (aka the best work of fiction ever written!!!)!

Spot the salamander!

You could see for miles.

Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens red eft stage

An awesome cave, begging to be explored!

Aneides aeneus

Mama Dinosaur Snapping Turtle

!!!!!!!!!

Moth

Snakes Playing Poker

My people and I went out to Shelby Forest for a BioBlitz this weekend. A BioBlitz is an event where you spend the day running around in the woods with a bunch of nature-lovers, identifying and documenting every living organism you possibly can. My friend, Austyn, and I went out really early for the birds and then ran across half of the herpetology class after it got a little warmer (it was so cold that morning!). It was a good day for plants. A great day for plants! Not so much for herps... We did end up seeing a slimy salamander and a few frogs, though. The snakes were too busy playing poker to come out and greet us.

Anole March Madness!!!!!

I'm very excited about this: http://www.anoleannals.org/2016/03/16/anole-march-madness-2016/


Here are my (and Iggy's) predictions:

Mr. Sherwood and his Cat

Spotted