Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis
(Wolterstorff, 1914)
Union Co., Illinois. October 1994
The life cycle of Notophthalmus is curious. After hatching and developing in water, the larvae depart for dry land, becoming dry-skinned ‘efts’ and living under rocks and logs and in the leaf litter. After a year or two or more, the efts return to the water, transform into breeding adults, or newts. In some areas the eft stage is omitted, and the creatures remain in water.
My Flickr album for this species is here.
HerpMapper records for this species are here.
