A lamprey! This was the 4th one found over 2 days, and the second one caught. I caught a larger one (5-6 inches?) on 4/20, and James caught this one (it's on a meter tape, so maybe 2 1/2 - 3 inches?) on 4/21. He didn't grab it like I did because he was afraid it would latch on.
Rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa)!!! I stressed her out trying to get good pictures, but not enough to make her exude toxin (and a good thing too, because they're one of, if not the, most toxic amphibians in the world and this was before lunch).
There she is at an interesting camera angle.
The one on top is the female (pictured before), who is quite possibly gravid here, and the one on the bottom is the male in breeding condition (adult newts go through a second metamorphosis during breeding season, whereby they become more aquatic; the tail is laterally compressed and the skin becomes smoother). As with Ambystomid salamanders, you can sex males during breeding season by noting the swollen cloaca.
Looking upstream the Skykomish River, from the inlet of Tychman Slough. The trees lining the right bank (which is the bank that's on the left in this picture) are Black Cottonwood. Yay, they're leafing out so it's officially spring!
A lamprey! This was the 4th one found over 2 days, and the second one caught. I caught a larger one (5-6 inches?) on 4/20, and James caught this one (it's on a meter tape, so maybe 2 1/2 - 3 inches?) on 4/21. He didn't grab it like I did because he was afraid it would latch on.
Rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa)!!! I stressed her out trying to get good pictures, but not enough to make her exude toxin (and a good thing too, because they're one of, if not the, most toxic amphibians in the world and this was before lunch).
There she is at an interesting camera angle.
The one on top is the female (pictured before), who is quite possibly gravid here, and the one on the bottom is the male in breeding condition (adult newts go through a second metamorphosis during breeding season, whereby they become more aquatic; the tail is laterally compressed and the skin becomes smoother). As with Ambystomid salamanders, you can sex males during breeding season by noting the swollen cloaca.
Looking upstream the Skykomish River, from the inlet of Tychman Slough. The trees lining the right bank (which is the bank that's on the left in this picture) are Black Cottonwood. Yay, they're leafing out so it's officially spring!
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2 comments:
you are smrt. I am SO excited for summer. Im getting mink to buy me a kelty tent as a grad present (may I mention with univ honors and suma cum laude!)
Congrats! You'll get to wear a spiffy gold cord when you walk :D
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