Illinois Natural History Survey: Prairie Research Institute. The families include frogs, toads, salamanders and newts. Dr. Kevin Hamed: I joined Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation in August 2019. Of the estimated 600 salamander species in the world, one-third are found in the United States—half of which live in Appalachia. This honorable designation was made possible through a collaborate effort between a group of young dedicated salamander conservationists known as Salamander Savers, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn of Fairfax County. In the best tradition of natural history writing and art, The Snake and the Salamander explores the diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians that inhabit the northeastern quadrant of the United States. Lizards Virginia is home to 9 native lizard species and three introduced species, the Mediterranean Gecko, Italian Wall Lizard, and Green Anole. Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. From 2012-2016, DGIF partially funded a partnership between the agency’s biologists and Virginia Tech researchers to assess hellbender populations in selected rivers in southwest Virginia that traversed a variety of habitats, including forests and agricultural landscapes. In 2019, the Virginia DGIF completed the testing of artificial shelters (nest boxes) and demonstrated their potential utility for hellbender research, monitoring, and conservation. These cryptic – or highly secretive – creatures play an important role in the local ecology, and in some areas, salamanders are the most abundant vertebrates in the forest. Male Eastern Hellbender guarding his nestbox entrance. Their heads are large and flattened with small, widely separated eyes. Adult terrestrial amphibians can either breathe through their skin or with lungs. A female will then enter the nest and lay her eggs in a single long strand, which looks similar to a string of pearls (an average clutch size is about 300 eggs, but can vary from 200 – 1400 eggs). Management efforts for this species are often dedicated to increasing nesting sites. They secrete toxins through their skin and when these toxins get ingested it can be poisonous. In 2016–2017, we worked with a partner and private landowner in Scott County, Virginia to restore 650 feet of Copper Creek stream channel and its surrounding habitats by addressing a severe erosion issue. Because of hellbenders’ preference for clean streams and rivers, their presence serves as an excellent indicator of good water quality. West Virginia has 34 species of salamanders that range in length from 4 inches to 2 feet. These projects have included: In order to educate the public on the plight of hellbenders, the Virginia DGIF produced an educational poster, this species profile, and a hellbender mascot, “Wally the Waterdog,” who hands out educational literature about Eastern Hellbenders at events. Photo by J.D. Forests & Uplands Marshes & Wetlands Reptiles & Amphibians Amphibians Hellbenders are often confused with mudpuppies, which are also large aquatic salamanders. Consumption of trout is often grossly over exaggerated by anglers as their overall impacts to trout populations are negligible. Toxic chemicals, such as untreated sewage and chemical runoff from lawns, fields, and parking lots pollute rivers and streams, impacting water quality and the health of hellbenders. By refining this technique to be used effectively on a broad scale, nest boxes could help prevent population declines, promote population growth, and curtail listing of the species in Virginia. 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