Salamander Season
Meet Ensatina eschscholtzii, the Ensatina Salamander . I found this one under a large piece of bark on the North Trail in the Kukutali Preserve. It was about 5 inches/13 cm long and didn't move a muscle when it was exposed. A map showing location is linked at the bottom of this post. I don't believe I have ever seen one of these before making this an important find for me. Ensatina means "like a sword." Eschscholtzii may refer to Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz , a nineteenth century physician and naturalist who explored Alaska and California. Initially, I misidentified this guy as a Northwestern Salamander ( Ambystoma gracile). But that species has large parotid glands behind the eyes. My salamander does not. What clinched the ID was the obvious constriction at the base of the tail, unique among Washington salamanders . It is clearly visible in the photo. This little amphibian has some other unusual characteristics: ...