ALBINO red-backed salamander

[paulnj]

Found this EXTREME RARITY yesterday...... enjoy.

[paulnj]

No photo editing software on my computer, so only cropped and resized

[Singletracklovr]

Cool little creature. Very interesting colors. Is this an adult?

Nice to see you posting picture again Paul it's been awhile.

[CaraRose]

What a cool looking critter!

Great find

[Dylan8i]

wow thats really cool. i was wondering how you knew it was a red back until i opened the photo and saw it retained its red stripe (does that make it a true albino?)....

[paulnj]

Dylan , it is indeed a true albino red-backed salamander. I would love if you could try to see if you can locate info as to whether another has be recorded . I can't find mention of others and plan to look for more in that area this summer.

I have been into and breeding reptiles since 1984 and am quite excited to have found it.

I am not sure it's a full adult animal, but they are fully terrestrial and it's about 1.75 - 2 inches long.

[Dylan8i]

this link mentions an all orangish/red phase

http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm...er/index.htm&2




and here is a link to (the first page) of a paper you may want to read (i don't have access to the full article unless im on campus at school) but you might be able to find it somewhere (for free).



leucistic redbacked salamanders from maryland- mitchell and mazur 1998
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3858568

[paulnj]

That's awesome that a lucy has been discovered! I am positive this one has albino eyes

[almo]

Cool little guy. I hope he doesn't get spotted by anything hungry for very obvious salamanders...

[Eric D]

Neat find...never seen one of those before!!

[paulnj]

Talked to a FEW amphibiam people today and it seems roughly 30 or so leucistic ones have been documented throughout it's range. This animal now resides in my care and eats pinhead crickets, springtails, flightless fruit flies and isopods/ tiny earthworms found in leaf litter..

[almo]

Talked to a FEW amphibiam people today and it seems roughly 30 or so leucistic ones have been documented throughout it's range. This animal now resides in my care and eats pinhead crickets, springtails, flightless fruit flies and isopods/ tiny earthworms found in leaf litter..

Good, I am sure he is better off in captivity. :thumbsup:

[Dylan8i]

im alittle unsure on the terminology.... is the one you found an albino or a leucistic or can it be both? you going to try to breed it?

[almo]

im alittle unsure on the terminology.... is the one you found an albino or a leucistic or can it be both? you going to try to breed it?

Same thing, kinda; Albinism is a reduction, or absence of the pigment melanin in the skin, where as leucism is a reduction or lack of all pigments in the tissues.

What Paul has there is an albino, if it was a leucistic it would be stark white.

Hope that helps.

[mjs1973]

Cool find Paul!

[SARtech]

Awesome! Now you just have to find a mate.

[SamTHorn]

Great shot!

[paulnj]

Alittle background on me..... been breeding reptiles and a master of genetics for over 20 years. It is a true T negative albino with pink eyes. I am indeed breeding it, though I am not sure I can sell any native species. I just want to make more albinos and don't want to profit from them.

This shot is actually captive in it's new home, my cell images were not great in the woods

[SamTHorn]

That little guy has a cool paint job. Thanks for the share.

~ Sam

Found this EXTREME RARITY yesterday...... enjoy.

[DGK*CRONE]

Not trying to take anything away from your picture or this cool find but that thing is gross looking! I don't know why but Salamanders and Frogs make me want to throw up. Especially big Frogs. I'm not scared of them but they just gross me out.

I bet you were really excited to snap this picture. With no editing and just a crop the picture looks good.

Cool find/picture!

[paulnj]

it's roughly .1 grams and 2 inches long........ You would have a heart attack if you seen my image of me holding a 6 foot sulpher water monitor I bet

[Singletracklovr]

Hi Paul,
I would love to see some new shots of this little guy in it's new home if you have the time.

[scott-devon]

What a strange looking little fellow, and a great find. I'm sure it will live longer in your care than in the wild with that lack of camouflage.

[paulnj]

I will get more images of her eventually. That is if she keeps thriving properly and I don't release her.

[JordanRHughes]

That must be rare... Thanks for the share.