Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]

Please remember while out herping in Pennsylvania you need to have a current fishing license and please please remember to follow decontamination procedures as not to spread germs,diseases and unwanted fungus to these important areas!If you not willing do follow these procedures,you should not be out!I personally always wear protective gloves[Nitrile],even if I don't handle salamanders and I do try to never touch them.I also spray myself [boots,waders,gloves,net,photographic tank...] with a chlorhexidine solution.
[Chlorhexidine, is a disinfectant and antiseptic that is used for skin disinfection]

More good salamander habitat from Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22. It is interesting the way the rocks have tumbled into the waterfall like little steps, areas like these are in state of constant change, and it would not surprise me if these rocks are already in a different position from last week! It is fascinating for me to think of salamanders like the Allegheny Mountain Dusky [Desmogathus ochrophaeus] or Northern Spring [Gyrinophilus porphyriticus] living out there entire lives in tiny rivulets of water just like these. Both of these salamanders can take up to 5 years to complete metamorphosis to adulthood, and as larvae they are favorite food for adult salamanders. When Northern Spring salamanders reach adulthood they can be 9 inches in length and will prey on adult Allegheny Mountain Dusky, which are a fairly large themselves. They can also be long lived, up to 20 years or more. In a long hot dry summer, I think of these places, which you can find in some instances way up on the sides of steep mountains, being almost devoid on moisture. But if you look close under the damp rocks in these places on a hot August day, there they will be living out their lives just like they have done for 10's of thousands of years, amazing!

Wonderful spring habitat for Northern Spring and Allegheny Mountain Dusky salamanders. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22. Turn up the sound!

Two beautiful juvenile Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus sp]. Could be a cross between fuscus and ochrophaeus, Alleghney Mountain and Northern Dusky. These two beautiful color variations were found in this remote valley [seen below] in North Central, Pa. 4-24-22.

I have always wanted to explore this very steep remote hollow in North Central, Pa. 4-24-22. With a friends help my dream came true, we found many salamanders living in this remote area. Red Backed, Northern Spring and Allegheny Mountain Dusky, Northern Two lined. And this giant of a female Allegheny Mountain Dusky [Desmognathus ochrophaeus] was found in one of many springs that entered the hollow from the steep mountain terrain. At times we crawled and clung to the sides to get around waterfalls that were impassable as we looked almost straight down into the gorge below [I told myself whatever you do, do not look down!]. My friend carried my cumbersome photographic tank as at times he gave his hand to pull and push me along. We did not complete the exploration to the source, but there are others days for that. It was very exciting to be in this wild place I had only dreamed of, never knowing what might be found next. And to think of creatures like this ancient Allegheny Mountain Dusky living out there lives in such a remote places, with all the hazards they must face from predators and finding prey themselves to environmental issues and weather. In the heat of a long hot summer I am sure this spring where this salamander was found runs completely dry, but they find a way to survive. These thoughts run through my mind and makes me in awe of creatures and areas like this. Life playing out in some unseen remote area, ravine and hollow, in places we never see or think about. The life and the struggles that happen in areas just like this have been playing out for 10's of thousands of years, and that makes me feel very humble. We will be back someday for sure. And who knows what else might be waiting to be discovered. Thank you to my friend Greg for all your help and patience and making this man's dream come true, without you this trip could've never happened.

A gravid [carrying eggs] female Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]. North Central , Pa. 4-24-22. Notice the curious white lines running across the underside of both hind palms, at exactly the same place.

Two different and beautiful color variations of the same salamander under the same rock. Allegheny Mountain Dusky [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]. North Central, Pa. 4-24-22

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [ Desmognathus ochrophaeus] and habitat [In situ]. North Central, Pa. 4-25-22

Perfect Spring Salamander habitat [Gyrinophilus porphyriticus] and Northern and Allegheny Dusky Salamander [ Degmognathus fuscus & ochrophaeus] and their complex. A spring on the side of a mountain in Tioga County, Pa.-Turn up the sound!

Two different female Northern Dusky Salamanders [Desmognathus fuscus], each full of eggs. This in an area where I normally find Allegheny Mountain Dusky [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]]. In fact at this spot at the same time there were four different juvenile Allegheny Dusky [please see juvenile picture]. I can't help but feel that there must be breeding between the two species that results in characteristics of both [a complex]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-17-21. It has now been shown that Northern Dusky salamander [Desmognathus fuscus] and Allegheny Mountain Dusky [Desmognathus ochrophaeus] in fact do interbreed, 1-4-22

Juvenile Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [ Desmognathus ochrophaeus]. Underside showing the heart and digestive tract. Tioga County, Pa. 12-16-21

Last December I thought I had a once in a lifetime encounter, a female Allegheny Mountain Dusky full of developing eggs, this year I found two! [Desmognathus ochrophaeus], found in a mountain spring in Tioga County, Pa. 12-16-21. I couldn't get over their thickness and how active they were on a cold 30 degree December day, salamanders never cease to amaze me!

Juvenile Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamanders [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-16-21

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-17-21

Habitat of the Allegheny Mountain Dusky salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]

A female Spotted Salamander [Ambystoma maculatum] with Juvenile Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus].Pa.4-26-21

I thought this picture I took in Tioga County,Pa.on 12-12-20 was a once in a lifetime encounter.A gravid female Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander.The yellow orange areas on both sides of her abdomen are developing eggs she is carrying [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]

A beautiful gravid female Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus].Tioga County,Pa.12-11-20

The underside of a female Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [same as pictured below].Notice she is gravid [carrying eggs],the yellow areas on either side of her abdomen.Tioga County,Pa.12-11-20 [Desmognathus ochrophaeus]

A beautiful gravid female Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus].Tioga County,Pa.12-11-20

A beautiful gravid [carrying eggs] female Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus].Found on a cold December day in Tioga County,Pa.12-11-20.Found in the same area as the Spring Salamander [in a spring,wet area].One of the heaviest salamanders I have ever encountered,I do believe it is ready for whatever winter throws at her!

My very first Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus].Tioga County,Pa.9-16-20.It didn't hang around too long for pictures!Also shown the habitat where found [A damp stream bed in a hemlock forest].or helping me with the ID!

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus ochrophaeus].Tioga County,Pa.9-16-20