Here is your vernal pool fact of the day. Nature is full of rule breakers. For example, you may state that all mammals give live birth and then you find out that the platypus lays eggs. Most salamanders that breed in vernal pools are doing that right now. The marbled salamander is our rule breaker. They laid eggs in the FALL and ON LAND!!! The females also break the rules by guarding their eggs on land. Most other salamanders lay 'em and leave 'em. When the vernal pool gets some rain in the fall, they leave the clutch of eggs. If you find salamander larvae this early in the year in a vernal pool, they will be marbled salamnders. This makes them easy to identify. ALSO they have spots that other salamander larvae lack. I wish THAT diagnostic characteristic could have gone to ANY other salamander larvae since the rest look very much alike. #vernalpools #natureclub #salamanders #marbledsalamanders

Posted by Mel Grosvenor at 2021-03-13 14:35:04 UTC