Within’ the wet rock shelters and the mossy tree hollows of temperate rainforests in the Appalachian mountain range, dwells one of the United State’s most camouflaged salamander species.
The Green salamander, Aneides aeneus
This species is rare to find outside of of the legitimate core of the Appalachian mountain belt, where the majority of connected limestone, dolomite(preference), and dolostone rock surface is located. This species is also the only remnant of it’s taxa, flat bodied climbing salamanders( Aneides genera), left on the North American continent. For those of you who live in this area keep your eyes peeled when entering splash cliff habitats because they are easily missed. Their body shape and modelling is specifically evolved to blend in with the hydrophilic lichens that grow on exposed dolomite and sandstone.
Unfortunately, due to road construction, tourism, and the use of salt, this species is becoming more threatened as time progresses and definitely could use more awareness.
Range: map (also found In Clifty Falls, Indiana)
Photographed at a very nice splash cliff within’ Red River Gorge, Kentucky.
