Salamanders in Norton

Author: Ty Smith
County: Norton
Survey Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 
Basic Weather: Clear, Temps in the 80’s
Party Members: Ty Smith & Lindsey Hottinger

We ended our day by herping a few parks in Norton, one of my favorite salamander locations in VA, before eating dinner at the “Woodbooger Cafe” (very good food). We had six species, and few individuals as it was fairly dry. These are those species: 

Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) {1}
Adult found in a crag of Flag Rock. This location is known as a Green Salamander Sanctuary.

Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welteri) {4}
One very large adult (possible new size record if it had a full tail) and a few larva in a stream at Legion Park. They seem to like clean, flowing streams, with lots of Mountain Laurel nearby. I associate them with Swainson’s Warblers.

Allegheny Mountain Dusky (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) {2}
Adults under rocks along a wet patch near the pavilion at Legion Park.

Cumberland Plateau Salamander (Plethodon kentucki) {1}
Adult freely crawling on Flag Rock. It was a good off the cuff interpretive moment for a group of boys playing nearby. 

Northern Slimy (Plethodon glutinosus) {1}
Large adult under the same rock with the Long-tailed Salamander. 

Long-tailed Salamander (Eurycea longicauda) {1}
One spectacular adult under a rock next to the road, that was a good way from the creek, with a Northern Slimy.