Considered by some as a crown jewel of nighttime road searches, the Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) tops off around 3 inches and is thinner than a pencil.
In most of North America, warm winter rains are a sure sign that ambystomatid salamanders will be on the move from their subterranean retreats towards breeding ponds.
With each trip in and out of the snow encrusted river, layer upon layer of ice built up on my waders… Many passersby asked what we were doing, and none correctly guessed we were looking for giant aquatic salamanders.