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I came across David Lanham illustration's and found the salamander illustration above interesting, excellent and thought I'd share. ]]>
My younger brother is well aware of my inordinate fascination with salamanders. A few years ago I received a small illustration from him as a Christmas present. Affixed to the back was a small sticker explaining that the illustration was of a ceremonal flute, a lizard effigy, made by Ye'Kuana Indians in Southern Venezuela/Northern Brazil. At the time, I did wonder why he'd given me an illustration of a lizard. He was more aware that others that a lizard was not a salamander but the image was beautifully detailed and I was happy to have it.
In 2009, Conservation International reported the discovery of a new species of Tropical climbing salamander in the Nangaritza region of southeastern Ecuador. First reports included a few photos but later that year CI provided a video of the salamander. I immediately thought of this illustration and that maybe whoever drew this image could have been wrong. Maybe this was a salamander, and not a lizard, effigy. This newly discovered salamander closely resembles the lizard effigy's erect tail and large head and geographically the location of the Ye'Kuana Indians and salamander are reasonably close.
I didn't know where the gift was originally purchased but it was signed by an artist named Julie Kulak and after some research I was able find an email address for Julie and contact her about the image. She was very helpful in letting me know that she acquired the image from Aurora University's Schingoethe Museum in Aurora, Illinois. She put me in touch with Meg Bero, Executive Director of the Schingoethe Museum and after a few emails back and forth, the trail ended in some notes that the flute was purchased at auction in Mexico in 1998. While I was never able to connect the species that the flute was modeled after or determine what role the lizard/salamander has in their myths and folklore, hopefully I'll have some time for that investigation later. I wonder now whether my younger brother was just a little more observant than I originally thought.
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Part field guide and part reference, I highly recommend "Salamanders of the Southeast". Written by Joe Mitchell and Whit Gibbons, the book is reminiscent of Amphibians and Reptiles of Minnesota and Salamanders of the United States and Canada, both favorites of mine, in regards to the well written species accounts, but it stands apart in its unique photographs. The detailed photographs show overall coloration, defensive postures and breeding tactics from salamander species found in the Southeastern United States. The book also contains a very handy sidebar of concise reference information on each species and is produced with a flexible cover something the others lack.
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I remember at least 5 years ago finding a large adult Tiger Salamander that had been struck by a car, apparently having a broken jaw. I took the salamander to large pond near where I found him where I am sure he died. I didn't know what else to do. Today, with resources available at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville, MN, I wouldn't be surprised if the injured salamander I found years ago would have survived. Don't believe me. Look at the effort put forth to save this American Toad.
My daughter (shown in the picture above) began an internship at the Center earlier this year and thanks to her, I had the unique opportunity to tour the Center in Roseville, MN. Before my visit, I had heard about the extreme level of care and ingenious methods that had been developed to rehab these animals. During the visit, I found everything she said to be true. I found a staff that was very welcoming and knowledgeable. I got a chance to see various wildlife, mostly opossum, raccoon and Mallard ducks in different stages of rehabilitation and obviously, got to see the wildlife I was most interested in, amphibians, which turned out to be a few Gray Tree Frogs which looked close to being wild and free again.
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Toads by Eileen Ziesler and Janelle Thompson |
Illustrations by Julie Kulak |