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Orange Salamanders


avroair

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Posted

I was hiking and caching in Harriman this past weekend and came across a whole bunch of Orange Salamanders. I counted about 15 along the path... they were out in full force!

216f380a-da6d-44b5-9101-1d0252458fcf.jpg

Posted

Hi,

 

these are called red-spotted newts or red efts, they are of particular note to geocachers because they can detect the earth's magnetic field, and uses this signal as a directional reference. :ph34r:

 

nfa (newt nerd)

Posted
I was hiking and caching in Harriman this past weekend and came across a whole bunch of Orange Salamanders. I counted about 15 along the path... they were out in full force!

I wondered what that squishing sound was. I thought it was the water in my boots. I guess I was mistaken :ph34r:

Posted
Hi,

 

these are called red-spotted newts or red efts, they are of particular note to geocachers because they can detect the earth's magnetic field, and uses this signal as a directional reference. :ph34r:

 

nfa (newt nerd)

I actually did refer to them as newts in the cache logs. The part about detecting the earth's magnetic field I did not know, fascinating stuff. Thanks for the added info.

Posted (edited)
I wish I could find some of those, all I can find is the standard black/blue lizard around the house, and this guy

Your "lizard" is actually a salamander (Lead-back I think based on picture) which is an amphibian and not actually a lizard (reptile). They are very abundant around my area! red-backs and lead-backs.

 

I also found a red eft at the Arrow Island cache (GCJ7GB), and i see eastern red spotted newts at the vernal pools along the trail going to my West Of Totts Gap Cache (GCHZCB) all the time.

 

Wildlife is fun!

 

Edit: I see your from NC, so it probally is NOT a lead-back. I don't know what species are native to your area... Check out Peterson Field Guide of Reptiles and Amphibians.

Edited by Berserkr
Posted
I wish I could find some of those, all I can find is the standard black/blue lizard around the house, and this guy

Your "lizard" is actually a salamander (Lead-back I think based on picture) which is an amphibian and not actually a lizard (reptile). They are very abundant around my area! red-backs and lead-backs.

 

I also found a red eft at the Arrow Island cache (GCJ7GB), and i see eastern red spotted newts at the vernal pools along the trail going to my West Of Totts Gap Cache (GCHZCB) all the time.

 

Wildlife is fun!

 

Edit: I see your from NC, so it probally is NOT a lead-back. I don't know what species are native to your area... Check out Peterson Field Guide of Reptiles and Amphibians.

Cool! Thanks for the info, my wife said it was a chameleon, but once I look him up, I'll be able to correct it on the gallery page :ph34r:

Posted
they can detect the earth's magnetic field, and uses this signal as a directional reference

 

I can do that too! But only when I've been drinking!

Posted

the funniest thing to see is when your fishing and you pull one in your line and theres one attached to your lure. To be more specific, when you jigging with a plastic lizard and ones 'all up on' the lizard when you pull it out of the water, lol.

 

aj

Posted

When I was a kid, there was an old lady that lived on the corner who wore a funny hat and had a big nose with a wart on it. I would collect newts and she would buy the eyes from me for 50 cents each.

Posted
When I was a kid, there was an old lady that lived on the corner who wore a funny hat and had a big nose with a wart on it. I would collect newts and she would buy the eyes from me for 50 cents each.

 

Hey... I know her too! She turned -me- into a newt ... well :blink: ....I got better.

 

:)

Posted

In my youth in the Catskills and after it rained, we'd go out in the woods and catch these by the dozen. Stick 'em in a jar with holes punched in the top and then later we'd tied them to fish hooks and cast them out on the lake waters where they'd swim around. Boy did they look tempting to eat but I guess not to fish because I never got a bite!

Posted

The reason you never caught any fish with them is because they are poisonous, isn't the orange color a big enough hint. Bright colors in nature usually mean hey I am poisonous or hey I am dangerous.

Posted
Bright colors in nature usually mean hey I am poisonous or hey I am dangerous.

 

That's why I wear bright orange t-shirts! So other cachers don't mess with me because "Hey I am dangerous, both to myself and them!" :blink:

Posted
Newts are really bad this year. I see log after log and post after post mentioning them. :blink:

Maybe after the 1st thousand times this was posted it was funny. Now it isn't!

Posted (edited)
Newts are really bad this year. I see log after log and post after post mentioning them.  <_<

Maybe after the 1st thousand times this was posted it was funny. Now it isn't!

Youch! And here I thought I was being original.

 

I guess you told me, (edit)!

Edited by PSUPAUL

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