PhoenixWench wrote:
....
Maybe someone here can help me with a two year old puzzle related to
this in a way. My hubby had left a 2'x 5' wide piece of plywood on a bit
of open ground over a period of about two years. When I decided to clean
up the area and piked up the wood I fully expected to pi$$ off a bunch
of worms. However, along with some very big healthy worms I also found a
couple of weird beasties - the same approximate 6 inch length, ruddy
pink color and slick skin as the average healthy earthworm, but with a
planarian looking wedge shaped head.... and four legs.

I was afraid of possibly hurting the mystery guests, so when the one I
picked up struggled strenuously to get away I released it to avoid
damaging it. I figured it must be some sort of newt or similar
amphibian, but so far I have been unable to get a reasonable answer. I
am in about zone 5a/b in the central NY Catskills, and since that day
have not seen these exact critters. I may lay down a board just to see
if I can catch another one if I don't solve this mystery!

a picture would be very helpful if you
can find another one sometime.

my guess is some kind of newt or salamander.
they like piles of organic debris, but from
the description of the head i'd guess
salamander before newt.


I do what I can to create habitats for snakes, toads and other regional
critters - not squeamish about slime at all ;-) My entire property (a
bit over 1 acre) is organic and friendly habitat, as well as I can
manage. However I have not found an answer to the ID on these critters
in two years of asking :-P

eventually...


songbird