Herp Regs

Florida thinks about cracking down on turtle harvesting. (News source.)

California has to consider whether the California tiger salamander should be considered endangered. (News source.)

Flatwoods Salamander Protection

As a genetic study in 2007 split the flatwoods salamander back into two species (Ambystoma cinculatum and Ambystoma bishopi), the USFWS is now wanting to consider both species separately, keeping the frosted flatwoods salamander (A. cingulatum) as threatened, but moving the reticulated flatwoods salamander to endangered status. (Details)

Salamander Study

An article here on researchers looking at the endangered Red Hills salamander in Alabama.

Silvery Salamanders

Some info here on the strange genetic history of the silvery salamander in Illinois.

Newt Fiasco

The great crested newt is protected in the UK, and the Leicestershire Council spent 1 million pounds protecting them in ponds near a major road construction. Turns out, though, that the newts in the ponds are common newts, not the protected species. (News source.)

Salamander Poaching

Rangers at Cleveland (OH) Metroparks are investigating a salamander trap found in one of their ponds. They're immediately blaming the pet trade, of course, with no mention at all on the more obvious culprit. Salamanders are commonly used as fishing bait... (News source.)

New Anoles

A 2006 expedition to Serrania de Tabasara, in the Panamanian highlands, found four new anole species. The expedition found a new salamander and two more new anoles closer to to Costa Rica in the western highlands of Cordillera Central. (News source.)

More Salamanders

Three more salamanders (two Bolitoglossa and one Nototriton) have been discovered in La Amistad National Park, Costa Rica. They will be described later. (News source.)

Jollyville Salamander

The USFWS agrees that the Jollyville Plateau salamander deserves protection, but it has to wait in line. (News source.)

Newt Pond Protection

There's a bit of controversy over a decision to set aside 5,000 acres of land containing striped newt ponds in the Apalachicola National Forest south of Tallahassee, Florida, protecting it from off-road recreational vehicle traffic. (News source.)

Salamander Study

Here's a study on plethodontids showing that the single known Asian species is descended from North American ancestors.

Newt Regeneration

Research into the regeneration of amputated newt limbs points to a specific protein that supports the cellular growth. (News source.)

Slimy Salamanders Breed

Toledo (OH) Zoo has a new captive-bred clutch of slimy salamanders, though it apparently wasn't intentional. (News source.)

Snot Otter Conservation

Ohio researchers are studying the decline of the hellbender, as a conservation facility prepares a captive-breeding program. (News source.)

Vernal Pond Moves

A vernal pool, home to the scarce mole salamander, was moved when a manufacturer expanded in Virginia. (News source.)

Salamander Hybridization

A California study of the hybridization between native California tiger salamanders and introduced barred tiger salamanders shows that the hybrids have "remarkable vigor." The researchers predict that eventually all California tiger salamanders will have some barred ancestry, which raises issues for conservationists. (News source.)

Hellbender Study

Dr. Peter Petokas has tagged more than 400 eastern hellbenders for his research over the last several years. (News source.)

New Salamanders

Two new species of salamander have been discovered and described, from Panama. (News source.)

Salamander Tunnels

Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park plans to install tunnels under a stretch of road to help protect migrating long-toed salamanders. (News source.)

Hungry Salamanders

Research shows that some spotted salamander larvae bulk up as quickly as possible in order to outgrow predatory marbled salamanders. (News source.)

Ohio: Salamander Protest

A Cincinnati-area plot of forested wetlands next to a nature preserve has been bought to be developed into a drag strip. Members of the local herp society note that as many as 18 species of amphibians and reptiles, including the marbled salamander, have been found in the wetlands. They argue that development could lead to hydrological changes detrimental to the wetlands. (News source.)

Shenandoah Salamanders

The federally protected Shenandoah salamander is found only in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, and is now being surveyed by a Smithsonian biologist. (News source)

NC Hellbenders

North Carolina biologists are surveying for hellbenders in the state's rivers. (News source.)

Salamander Crossing

A Vermont town is seeking a grant to create culverts along the road near Huizenga Swamp, to keep blue-spotted salamanders and other amphibians from being hit on the road. (News source.)

Ozark Hellbender Study

Researchers conclude that a "synergy" of scientific and "illegal pet trade" collecting (emphasis on the illegal pet trade, of course) has created a severe decline in the Ozark hellbender population within the North Fork of Missouri's White River. The subspecies is endangered. (News source.)

Salamander Blocks Road

A road planned in south Kitchener, Ontario, has been held up when surveys found a threatened salamander that officials refused to identify. They will assess the impact of the road before moving forward. The newspaper dug up reports that noted Jefferson salamanders being found in the area, which are threatened in Ontario. (News source.)

Texas Blind Salamander Rejected

The Texas Blind Salamander was nominated as Texas' state amphibian, but effectively vetoed by the Governor, who claimed it had too limited a range to represent an entire state. A director for the San Marcos River Foundation jumped on this decision, claiming it was consistent with the Governor's actions (wanting to raise pumping caps due to drought conditions), stating that those would affect the salamander's habitat. (News source.)

Barton Springs Salamander

The Daily Texan has a long article on current protection efforts for the endangered Barton Springs salamander, believed to number 400 or so in the wild.