Logs Harboring Siberian Salamanders (Hasumi)

Logs Harboring Siberian Salamanders

Decaying, downed logs, harboring individuals of the salamander Salamandrella keyserlingii, above ground or among grassland within the forest floor in the first research area of Darhadyn Wetland, Mongolia (photographed on 20 July 2004). We examined 40 decaying logs per day. No broad-leaved tree was found in the forest floor.

(A) A log (length = 3.3 m, diameter = 32 cm), harboring a total of 5 individuals (composed of 4 unsexed individuals and 1 juvenile, including 1 recapture) for a total of 4 days (19, 21, 22, and 23 July 2004).

(B) A log (length = 5.7 m, diameter = 28 cm), harboring a total of 4 newly metamorphosed juveniles (metamorphs), which was located near a crescent lake.

(C) A log (length = 3.3 m, diameter = 30.5 cm), harboring a total of 13 individuals (composed of 6 females, 3 unsexed individuals, and 4 juveniles, including 7 recaptures), in which the maximum number of captured individuals was recorded.

(D) A log (length = 9.1 m, diameter = 32 cm), harboring a total of 6 individuals (composed of 3 males and 3 unsexed individuals, including 3 recaptures).

All individuals were marked with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, but metamorphs, and juveniles with less than 40 mm snout-posterior vent length, using toe-clipping.