Michael Reichmuth, a fisheries biologist for the National Park Service, often dives in the cold waters of San Francisco Bay Area parks and beaches.
Most of the time, he is busy at work, monitoring the endangered coho salmon. He’s been here for over 20 years, according to the NPS article, so he’s seen a lot of interesting things.
But last September, while snorkeling in Olema Creek, a stream that flows through Point Reyes National Seashore, Reichmuth photographed a group of newly hatched California giant salamanders in the wild for the first time in history.
According to the NPS, he captured the first object photographed by scientists in the wild.
United States Geological Survey biologist and amphibian expert Patrick Kleeman confirmed this unusual sight.
“The area in the creek that is known to have a population of California giant salamanders makes it a very likely species,” Kleeman said.
Another long-lived animal that lives there is the newt. But as Kleeman explains, “[Their back] the modeling process would look different from the image in this lifetime. ”
Although the age of the groups was not confirmed, the only clue that the scientists turned to was that they were many in the same place, tightly together. They were also seen to have large, white yolk sacs, which store insects for months while they learn to find their own food.
A group of large salamander larvae – scientifically known as Dicamptodon ensatus – represents a rarity for an unconscious creature. It will also give horticulturists new insight into how to protect species.
Although the California giant salamander is not currently listed as endangered or threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, it is considered a “Species of Special Concern” in California due to its limited diversity and consideration of environmental change.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature also describes these species as near-endangered. Despite being a sensitive species, this group also shows how little is known about California’s giant salamanders.
“Their population may be declining, but scientists do not have enough data to confirm,” explained the NPS article. “Questions remain about details such as their distribution, habitat requirements, movements and early life stages.”
For something called a “giant” salamander, the average person may be surprised that this species is difficult to see. They can grow up to a foot in length and are classified as the largest species of salamander in the world in North America.
Although they are tricky to study, they rarely fall for the traps that scientists set to catch and study aquatic animals. Most of what has been inferred in the species has been collected from other similar giant salamanders.
According to Kleeman, there are only a few reports of any large salamander species ever affecting eggs or nests. The scientific literature also lacks prospects for wild California salalvae.
“The fact that [Reichmuth] finding them is interesting because there is very little information about this life stage in this species,” he said.
Capturing them on camera means scientists now have more information about the species.
“This single photo, along with Reichmuth’s account of where and when it was taken, helps us understand the salamander’s extensive nesting area,” the NPS explained.
“It also adds to what we know about things like the real-world timing of their growth.
The NPS encourages everyday park visitors to be curious as well. Visitors can’t snorkel in public parks like Reichmuth, but they may still be lucky enough to encounter giant California salamanders when they visit the area.
If they do, and take photos, visitors can add their comments to the ongoing California salamander inventory.
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NPS header image / Jailyn Hoskins (Environment America)
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