zigzag

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The warm weather and spring rains have brought out the herps.

Ijams outreach educator Emily Boves and her husband Than recently found an Eastern zigzag salamander (Plethodon dorsalis) at the nature center. The amphibian gets its common name from the “zigzag” stripe on its back.

This salamander is considered common in hardwood forests with rocky substrates like Ijams, but it is reported that the zigzag’s populations are affected by deforestation and forest conversion. This is one species that does not survive well on agricultural or urban lands.

The Eastern zigzag is generally found in or near rocky habitats often with abundant limestone bedrock, caves or rock crevices (a perfect description of Ijams). They retreat underground in the heat of summer and in the cold of winter.

Even though the zigzag is considered common within its range, it's a new salamander to the nature center’s species list. Emily and Than, good find!

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