Some Summer Endemics
Posted: September 22nd, 2017, 6:21 pm
So, what is an endemic? The term endemic I feel often has many meanings. For instance the dictionary definition is of one existing in a certain place. This means that when you describe an animal as endemic you must tack on a location to the end. However by this definition the Southern Two-lined Salamander, the most common species of salamander in Kentucky, is endemic to the US and that to me just doesn't seem right. Because of this I have my own pseudoscience criteria for a species to be called an endemic. First: A species must have a fairly small range when compared to other species. Second: A species must be unique to to a certain habitat. Third: A species must have an interesting life history or unique features that set it apart from others. So having clarified that let me show you some of the great "endemic" salamanders I found during Summer vacation. After all if you ask me salamanders have more "endemics" than anything else, which is probably why I love them so much.
Having finished my junior year of high school, which is by far the toughest, I wanted to put as much distance between me and standardized testing. This naturally meant a trip to Western North Carolina for a few days.
Southern Pygmy Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Blue Ridge Gray-cheeked Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
After a day back in Lexington I had just enough time to pack for a week long camping trip with my dad in Virginian Blue Ridge and Allegheny Highlands.
Peaks of Otter Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Big Levels Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Shenandoah Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Cow Knob Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer! This guy was my 100th salamander species!
Cheat Mountain Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Back in Lexington for ten days and then on the road ( well actually plane) again to waste some time finding for snakes in New Mexico. I guess the trip wasn't a total loss with this guy
Sacramento Mountains Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer!
Flew back to Lex for a whole two weeks this time and caught up with some friends before taking yet another father/son camping trip this time to the Southern Appalachians.
Southern Pygmy Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Jordan's Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Imitator Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Red-legged Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer! This guy does have a much more encompassing range and generalized habitat than most of the others but I'll let it slide considering this was my favorite find of the summer.
Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer!
Chattahoochee Slimy Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
LIfer! Another sketchy endemic but honestly they're only found in Georgia's Appalachians.
Tellico Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
After that I was back in KY for four days and then spent my remaining vacation in Colorado with a friend. However while summer vacation was over the season of summer continued until Labor Day Weekend which gave me the time to get one last endemic.
Pigeon Mountain Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
As you could probably tell I covered a lot of ground and am extremely thankful for being so fortunate. I also picked up more than what was just seen here so if you'd like to Czech out all my finds there on my Flickr page. That's all folks and thanks for reading. I hope to find even more "endemics" this fall considering the mid-summer curse is finally wearing off.
Having finished my junior year of high school, which is by far the toughest, I wanted to put as much distance between me and standardized testing. This naturally meant a trip to Western North Carolina for a few days.
Southern Pygmy Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Blue Ridge Gray-cheeked Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
After a day back in Lexington I had just enough time to pack for a week long camping trip with my dad in Virginian Blue Ridge and Allegheny Highlands.
Peaks of Otter Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Big Levels Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Shenandoah Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Cow Knob Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer! This guy was my 100th salamander species!
Cheat Mountain Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Back in Lexington for ten days and then on the road ( well actually plane) again to waste some time finding for snakes in New Mexico. I guess the trip wasn't a total loss with this guy
Sacramento Mountains Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer!
Flew back to Lex for a whole two weeks this time and caught up with some friends before taking yet another father/son camping trip this time to the Southern Appalachians.
Southern Pygmy Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Jordan's Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Imitator Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Red-legged Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer! This guy does have a much more encompassing range and generalized habitat than most of the others but I'll let it slide considering this was my favorite find of the summer.
Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
Lifer!
Chattahoochee Slimy Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
LIfer! Another sketchy endemic but honestly they're only found in Georgia's Appalachians.
Tellico Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
After that I was back in KY for four days and then spent my remaining vacation in Colorado with a friend. However while summer vacation was over the season of summer continued until Labor Day Weekend which gave me the time to get one last endemic.
Pigeon Mountain Salamander by Kevin Hutcheson, on Flickr
As you could probably tell I covered a lot of ground and am extremely thankful for being so fortunate. I also picked up more than what was just seen here so if you'd like to Czech out all my finds there on my Flickr page. That's all folks and thanks for reading. I hope to find even more "endemics" this fall considering the mid-summer curse is finally wearing off.