Bellwethers of Spring & Environmental Health was originally published in the BFEC Newsletter, Vol. 15/No. 2, Spring 2011.
Of the many fascinating creatures at the BFEC, salamanders are among the most beautiful and elusive. Like all amphibians, salamanders tend to be shy; unlike their cousins the frogs and toads, salamanders are both shy and mute, preferring to spend most of their time in damp, contemplative silence. As many as eleven species of salamanders might be spotted on a good day (or night) in Knox County and with our diverse array of habitats, most of those could occur at the center. They range from the giant, aquatic and nocturnal hellbender to the tiny red-backs and colorful spotted (pictured) and northern red salamanders.
Most species found in our area hail from either the mole or lungless salamander families. The former have lungs to absorb oxygen, while the latter take oxygen in directly through their skin. Both agree that drinking is a bit of an effort and prefer to absorb liquid refreshment through the skin. As this trait makes them susceptible to water-born toxins, the presence of salamanders in an area is considered a good sign of a clean aquatic environment. Look for salamanders congregating at seasonal wooded wetlands to breed in the spring.