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]

A female Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander full of eggs [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