Salamander Video Series: Silvery Salamanders

Film Date:

August, September and October 2021 and March 2022

Speaker:

Andrew Kuhns, Aquatic Ecologist, Herpetologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois

Produced by:

Sarah and Uros Marjanovic

Edited by:

Sarah Marjanovic

Conservation research is the focus of the third and final video in the Salamanders of Illinois series. Illinois Natural History Survey Aquatic Ecologist/Herpetologist Andrew Kuhns provides an overview of a State Wildlife Grant funded project to study the population demographics of the Illinois-endangered silvery salamander. Watch as the team sets up a drift fence to intercept salamanders migrating to their breeding pond. After collecting information, which will aid researchers assess population sizes, growth of individuals and reproduction, the salamanders are released to the breeding pond. The silvery salamander is extremely unusual as it is unisexual and triploid. There are no male silvery salamanders. Watch this video to learn more about the fascinating strategy this salamander uses to produce young.

If you are interested in viewing the text alternative for the video click the CC option at the lower margin of the video.

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Kathy Andrews Wright is retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where she was editor of Outdoor Illinois magazine. She is currently the editor of Outdoor Illinois Wildlife Journal and Illinois Audubon magazine.