Four-toed Salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum]

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]

The beautiful Four-Toed Salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum].

8 week old Four-Toed salamander larvae [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.7-12-13.

8 week old Four-Toed salamander larvae [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.7-12-13.Please notice the larvae that has lost the end of his tail.

5 week old Four-toed salamander larvae [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.6-26-18

5 week old Four-toed salamander larvae and habitat [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.6-26-18

Approximately 5 week old Four-toed Salamander larvae [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.6-26-18.Still very tiny,but you can now see their hind limbs

Newly hatched Four-Toed Salamander larvae.[Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.6-5-18

Tiny newly hatched Four-Toed Salamander larvae.[Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.6-5-18

Northern Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus fuscus] Larvae,the small larvae below is a newly hatched Four-toed Salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.6-4-18

Northern Dusky Salamander [Desmognathus fuscus] Larvae showing its heart beating,the small larvae below is a newly hatched Four-toed Salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.6-4-18

Eggs & embryos of Four-toed salamanders [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-25-18.You can clearly see their eyes gills and limbs.

Eggs & embryos of Four-toed salamanders [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-25-18

Eggs & embryos of Four-toed salamanders [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-25-18.You can clearly see their eyes gills and limbs.

Nest and eggs & embryos of Four-toed salamanders [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-25-18

Eggs and embryos of a Four-toed salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-18

Egg and embryo of a Four-toed salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-18

This mound of sphagnum moss in a wet area,and to my surprise [I did not know that this was how Four-Toed salamanders nested] was a nest that contained several female Four-Toed salamanders [Hemidactylium scutatum] guarding their eggs.The embryos were very active and seemed quite large [you could make out tiny details on the larvae,eyes and gills].And when they hatch after 5 weeks the larvae make their way to the pooled water around the moss where they develop for the next six weeks.I left the nest and eggs very much as I found it.Dauphin County.Pa,5-11-18

A Beautiful Four-Toed Salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum] that has lost its tail.Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-18

A Four-Toed Salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum].Showing defensive posturing,without having a tail.Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-18.Hemidactylium scutatum can drop off its tail [autotomize] when threatened.The tail continues to wiggle after dropping off to distract predators."Four-toed salamanders can voluntarily autotomize their tails.In contrast,the tails of almost all other salamanders must be grasped by an attacker before they will break off."From the book Salamanders Of The United States And Canada by James W. Petranka.This salamander had already lost its tail when it was found.

A Beautiful Four-Toed Salamander [Hemidactylium scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-18

A beautiful Four-toed Salamander [Hemidactyliam scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-3-18

Four-toed Salamander [Hemidactyliam scutatum].Dauphin County,Pa.5-3-18