An endangered Shenandoah Salamander in autumn leaf clutter in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

A researcher holding an endangered Shenandoah Salamander in hands

A portrait of an endangered Shenandoah Salamander

Researchers discuss the night survey methodology for Shenandoah salamanders with staff

An endangered Shenandoah Salamander in moss habitat on Hawksbill Mountain

An endangered Shenandoah Salamander on Talus Slope habitat.  Shenandoah Salamanders live only in and around the dry, cool talus slopes on the three highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.

A portrait of an endangered Shenandoah Salamander

A USGS researcher trains a new staff member in Shenandoah National Park on how to mark coordinates of the Shenandoah Salamanders found on a night survey using GPS technology

A comparison of the ventral sides of the endangered Shenandoah Salamander (right) and the more common Eastern Red Backed Salamander (left).  Shenandoah salamanders have a more solid black ventral side and Eastern Red Backed Salamanders have the more mottled "salt and pepper" ventral side.  Climate change is the biggest threat facing the Shenandoah Salamander and it is feared that as the temperature rises and Eastern Red Backs make their way higher up the mountains where the Shenandoah Salamander lives, the Eastern Red backs wills displace the Shenandoah's as they are more aggressive. 

A researcher surveys for Shenandoah salamanders underneath logs and rocks

An endangered Shenandoah Salamander crawling along moss bordering the talus slope on Hawksbill Mountain in Shenandoah National Park

An endangered Shenandoah Salamander emergeing from under a fallen leaf on moss bordering the talus slop on Hawksbill Mountain in Shenandoah National Park.

A researcher surveying for Shenandoah Salamanders at night.  Using a tape measure that goes down a mountain in Shenandoah National Park, the researchers search for the nocturnal salamander and take note of when they encounter one.  This is a noninvasive methodology.

A 30 second exposure, illuminated by a full moon, of the talus slopes on Hawksbill Mountain; the habitat of the Shenandoah Salamander. These endangered Salamanders are primarily nocturnal and this is how their habitat looks during their most active hours.