Salamandering 2011

For the solemn purpose of leaving record and knowledge for the sake of posterity and furthering of knowledge, we undertake here to leave written accompt of the salamandering exploits of this spring, so that others may follow in our drenched boots. Due to unseasonable warmth and outlandish amounts of early rain, the salamanders of the genus Ambystoma, species maculatum, did undertook an exodus from their burrows on or immediately before the 20th of February, this two-thousand and eleventh year of our lord Jesus Christ. The temperature on that day had reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and had been in the 60s the entire week before hand, with the last frost being exactly one week prior. The rain that evening had been scarce, with only a couple of strong bursts, but this was apparently sufficient to drive the salamanders from their burrows, leading me to the conclusion that the temperature is the driving determiner of A. maculatum migration timing. The leaf litter was moist on top but by no means saturated with water. We that night at the Brakefield Rd. pond observed 140 salamanders in a brief span of time, mostly in clumps of 10-20 around egg masses or clumps of spermataphores. The following week we did return to the same pond, finding only four spotted salamanders and four mole salamanders (Ambystoma talpoideum). All signs of spermataphores where absent but many egg masses were to be observed. The next night we traveled to a small pond near Airport Rd., having sought the large pond but being unable to find it on account of fog. In this pond, roughly 5m x 5m, we did observe one clump of spotted salamander eggs but none of the organisms proper. Two mole salamanders were observed, of a color morph not previously observed by myself (Ornithorhynchus)- being of a dark grey color with lighter grey speckling rather than the dark brown with lighter brown mid-line usually observed at the Brakefield Road pond. Also observed that night were a plethora of minuscule arthropods, seemingly like springtails, on the surface of the water, especially partially submersed logs- accompanied by one very lost earth worm with no visible route to attain shore. These observations we solemnly confide to the society this 28th day of February, 2011, in eternal trust of this moste prestigious blog, for everlasting keepsake and source of knowledge.

Ornithorhynchus and Tardigradia