Desmognathus fuscus

[MathieuO]

We went to do some winter herping this morning and we found 2 Northern dusky salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus) and 1 larva as well as many Northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata) in a southern Québec stream.

Northern dusky salamander:



Habitat pic:

[Bartman]

Cool...i didnt know lizards could survive winter without hibernation or anything

[672]

It's not really a lizard, it's an amphibian.

[snakehunter]

I catch those guys ALL the time near my house

[Cake]

As long as temps remain above freezing in moving water or if the moving water keeps the surounding substrate above freezing many Plethodontidae can remain active over the winter.

Further some Ambystomatidae will actually migrate to their breeding grounds before winter breaks while there is still snow and ice cover.

[munchy]

in high school one day i was skipping class and it was cold out. i cant remember what month, but there was frost on the ground. i was walking up a hill and i noticed something on the sidewalk. it was a salamander just chillin. i figured it was way too cold to be alive so i went to pick it up and it was stuck to the ground. it looked crazy. seemed alive but it was basically frozen solid. so for some reason i was compelled to try and get it off the sidewalk. i got down and breathed on it till i was able to gently pick it up off the ground without ripping its feet off. once i had it off the ground i tried warming it with my hands and continued to breathe on it. much to my surprise, the little guy started moving (very slowly.) i couldnt belive it. so i got him to a buddy's place where it was nice and warm and just let him sit there for a bit and i swear, he started moving more and more. within an hour he was good to go so i brought him back close to where i found him and released him under an old rotten log and some leaves. hopefully hes still alive.
i still cant believe what i saw. does it sound odd to anyone else?