Four-toed salamander?

[rmb...@istar.ca]

I just had my wild puppy out for a bit of a romp, and before coming in
I turned over the old chunk of platter that I frequently check. There
was one skinny little salamander that I thought was a red-backed, so I
scooped it up and brought it inside to photograph. I got an acrylic
box recently at the dollar store, handy for putting critters in and
taking pics. When I lifted it to see the belly, it is white with
black spots. Hmmmm.... I found a couple of four-toed salamanders at
the same place a few years ago. I uploaded the pics to iNaturalist,
it's not pinning down a species. I'll keep the wee critter overnight,
can't get good lighting on it right now, and use the "good" DSLR
camera with the 100 mm macro lens to see if I can a good shot of those
hind feet. Been peering at it with my old eyes but it's curled up
right now and the tootsies are tucked in under it. Here's the shots I
got with the little Elph camera.

[Frederick W. Schueler]

On 7/27/2026 8:24 PM, rmb...@istar.ca wrote:
> I just had my wild puppy out for a bit of a romp, and before coming in I
> turned over the old chunk of platter that I frequently check.  There was
> one skinny little salamander that I thought was a red-backed, so I
> scooped it up and brought it inside to photograph.  I got an acrylic box
> recently at the dollar store, handy for putting critters in and taking
> pics.  When I lifted it to see the belly, it is white with black spots.
> Hmmmm....

* yes, that's it - the constriction at the base of the tail is also a
good field mark.

fred.
=============================================

I found a couple of four-toed salamanders at the same place a
> few years ago.  I uploaded the pics to iNaturalist, it's not pinning
> down a species.  I'll keep the wee critter overnight, can't get good
> lighting on it right now, and use the "good" DSLR camera with the 100 mm
> macro lens to see if I can a good shot of those hind feet. Been peering
> at it with my old eyes but it's curled up right now and the tootsies are
> tucked in under it.  Here's the shots I got with the little Elph camera.
>

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---------Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad ------------
Fragile Inheritance Natural History - https://fragileinheritance.ca/
6 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44.87156° N 75.70095° W
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