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Go to Ensatina Salamander.
Cait Hutnik, Photographer |
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Eyeless California Newt
Creekside, 29Jan06 |
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| Walking trails after winter storms, always watch where you put your feet. | ||
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| When motionless, California Newts can go unnoticed. | ||
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| Stationary at the base of a creekside oak, these newts appeared disoriented. | ||
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| While taking these photos, the smallest newt caught my attention. | ||
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| Its right eye appeared to be missing. | ||
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| California Newts are sensitive, fragile creatures. Avoid handling them. | ||
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| I waited patiently for the larger newt to move out of away. | ||
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| Confirmed. This tiny newt's right eye is missing. | ||
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| Was it born that way? Or was the eye loss due to injury? | ||
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| Newt experts commented that newts frequently gather at a particular tree or rock. | ||
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| Without close examination, it's impossible to tell what happened to its right eye. | ||
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| Reviewing the photos, I noticed what appeared to be another injured right eye | ||
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| Perhaps newts lack eyelids to protect their eyes from injury. | ||
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| But its injury didn't prevent this newt from crawling away. | ||
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Go
to Dragons Underfoot. |
Go to Ensatina Salamander. |
Go to Pacific Giant Salamander. |