[obol] (off-topic) salamanders

[Darrel Faxon]

Lee and Linda, et al.

    I found my first ever Northwestern Salamander this summer, and with help 
from Mike Patterson was able to identify it as that species.  According to 
him, the clinching point was that it exuded a sticky white substance when 
touched.  I later learned the stuff is toxic, so unless you want to run the 
risk of herp hives or worse, you might want to stick with visual 
characteristics for identification purposes.


Darrel
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net>
To: "OBOL" <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: [obol] (off-topic) salamanders


> Linda,
> Plain brown with no mottling, at that size, could be the northwestern
> salamander, Ambystoma gracile.
> Or it could be an unusually bland Pacific Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon
> tenebrosus.  Photos can be found at
> http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/herp/speciesmain.html and you can decide
> which one resembles it more.
>
> I find the NW sally unmistakable because of the deep costal grooves along
> the torso, making it look like the Michelin tire man in coca brown.
>
> Lee Cain
> Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science
> Astoria High School
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