Salamanders!

Greetings!   Today is a big day for us (Aug. 4, 2012), as a friend brought us some Tiger Salamander larvae from an established population in northern Geary County.   They wriggled out of their pail into our seep pond, apparently quite happily.   We'll keep our fingers crossed that they like it there and find everthing they need to thrive.    The adult form of Ambystoma tigrinum is pictured on the left.   The adults run around on land and hang out in burrows--but they need quiet, still water for breeding and egg-laying.   The larvae have gills and grow in water like tadpoles.   According to Amphibians & Reptiles in Kansas, the larvae can reproduce and tend to do so "when terrestrial conditions are harsh and habitat for salamanders is minimal." 

                                                                                   Does that describe this drought year, or what?

Here is a photo of a Tiger Salamander larva:   The ones we put in our pond today had gill covers that were not so brightly colored.