Over the weekend I checked out a known breeding spot in N. Florida for A. opacum and found this young male with a severely injured face. Any guesses as to what caused this? Has anyone ever seen something similar?
I have seen that kind of a gnaw pattern in an escaped leopard gecko due to rats in the store.
If there is a waterway near, do you think it possible? How well known is the congregation spot? Is it possible kids might collect them and re release them in feature?
A salamander perhaps would not fare well in an aquatic encounter with a crayfish but I have less confidence in it having the vigor to escape a rodent.
So many things are possible, especially in Florida!
I showed it to a number of herpetologists and they all have different ideas. One said crayfish or small turtle, one suggested a garter or water snake. I hope the location is not well known. I have never encountered other herpers there, but it isn't exactly difficult to get to either.
Marbled Salamander by Noah Mueller, on Flickr
Marbled Salamander by Noah Mueller, on Flickr
