Salamanders

 

What a weekend.

On Saturday we had the chance to get out exploring with the lead guide from Running Wild Adventure Tours, Sharon Nethercott, and observe some butterflies with the Olympia Marble as our target butterfly.

Although Spring Azure, Brown Elfin, Mourning Cloak and Compton Tortoiseshell were all cool to see it was the Olympia Marble that stole the show.

Found in various open areas, including prairies, shale barrens, meadows, and open woodlands, it was lakeshore dunes where we concentrated our search.

These small butterflies, with a wing span of only 1 3/8 – 2 inches, can be found searching for rock cress.

On Sunday, the Nethercotts took us on a Salamander search. My grandson Ben tagged along and was thrilled with seeing all the salamanders.

Ben had seen salamanders before while birding with me on Pelee Island. The island has three species of salamanders. Red-spotted Newt, Small-mouthed, and Blue-spotted. It also is home to a unique population of all-female salamanders that are dependent on both Blue-spotted and Small-mouthed to reproduce.

On Sunday, we observed the Red-backed Salamander, both the red striped and the leadback versions.

We also observed the Blue-spotted Salamander.

These salamanders are lungless and instead absorb oxygen directly through their skin. They must remain moist at all times so that oxygen and carbon dioxide can diffuse through their skin.