Dedicated exclusively to field herping.
Moderator: Scott Waters
-
Noah M
- Posts: 2292
- Joined: November 3rd, 2012, 6:00 pm
- Location: Gainesville, FL
-
Contact:
Post
by Noah M » January 6th, 2020, 2:44 pm
Hey yall,
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?
Cheers,
-NM
Marbled Salamander by
Noah Mueller, on Flickr
Marbled Salamander by
Noah Mueller, on Flickr
-
Kelly Mc
- Posts: 4324
- Joined: October 18th, 2011, 12:03 pm
Post
by Kelly Mc » January 6th, 2020, 4:47 pm
No way of knowing but I think a crayfish is a possibility.
-
Kelly Mc
- Posts: 4324
- Joined: October 18th, 2011, 12:03 pm
Post
by Kelly Mc » January 7th, 2020, 7:20 am
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!
-
Noah M
- Posts: 2292
- Joined: November 3rd, 2012, 6:00 pm
- Location: Gainesville, FL
-
Contact:
Post
by Noah M » January 12th, 2020, 8:43 am
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.
-
Kelly Mc
- Posts: 4324
- Joined: October 18th, 2011, 12:03 pm
Post
by Kelly Mc » January 13th, 2020, 8:58 pm
Yeah huh.
Poor little sally buck
