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Giant California Salamander (and friends)

Shiari

Shiari

Blutterer
I went hiking today at Big Basin with a coworker and we found the neatest thing! I've never seen one of these before and I was absolutely thrilled. It was sitting in the middle of the trail so after the photos I moved it out of harms way.

This thing was huge! Probably between 8 and 10 inches long.

giantsalamander4.jpg



And it was very stocky.

giantsalamander1.jpg



It was a rather cool and mostly overcast day, even drizzling sometime so I think it was out trying to catch a little sun.

giantsalamander2.jpg



Look at the jaws on this thing! Apparently they actually eat small rodents and reptiles, as well as invertebrates and other amphibians.

giantsalamander3.jpg


It looks all cute from the front, though.

giantsalamander5.jpg




We also saw about 20 banana slugs. I took photos of most of them.

I am not going to torment you with 20 slug photos.

Only 2, I promise.


Most of the slugs we saw were adults.

bananaslug5.jpg




We also saw 2 baby slugs, each only a couple inches long. This one was rather derpy looking.

bananaslug7.jpg





We were also being 'chased' by these Yellow Spotted Millipedes. Gorgeous critters, but they just would not stand still.

millipede1.jpg


millipede2.jpg
 
Nice pics! I found a bug like the millipede, that I had never seen before. I thought it was a centipede, because it was flat. Glad to have the correct ID. I love the slug pics. And of course the salamander.
 
I love everyone here! My boyfriend though I was crazy yesterday because I saw a baby snail and a mammy snail (probably weren't even related :p) and I was dying of cuteness! Those slugs are so cute I dont care what anyone says. Theres something about those little sticky outy eyes :D Very bad phone pic but I thought id share :) Gorgeous little (big!) salamander too! An well done for taking pics, did he stick around long?
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The salamander was perfectly still for all photos. Probably ooh-ed and aah-ed at him for close to 5 minutes before I moved him off the trail. Brown salamander on brown trail = not good.

Moar banana slugs, since you guys seem to like those.

bananaslug1.jpg


bananaslug2.jpg


bananaslug4.jpg


And the other baby one.

bananaslug6.jpg
 
oh my!!!

I'm glad to hear that im not the only girl out their that thinks slugs/snails are adorable!
Love the photos, and that salamander is Cuuuuute! lol

Diamondlil- I have ALWAYS wanted a Banana slug as a pet too!! Ahaha! I thought I was crazy! :p

Thanks for sharing!
 
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