A Hancock County, Illinois resident, Kane Sherman, sighted a small-mouthed salamander near Carthage Lake in early May. After looking at the Illinois Natural History Survey's Amphibian & Reptile page Sherman believed he found the silvery salamander, a State endangered species. Mr. Sherman then used the contact information on the website to send a photo to Chris Phillips, Herpetologist, at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS). Phillips verified that the specimen was a small-mouthed salamander, and after consulting the INHS Herpetology database, told Mr. Sherman that this was the first verifiable sighting in Hancock County since 1830. Dr. Phillips will enter Mr. Sherman's sighting into the INHS database and this data will be reflected on maps created for county distribution.
To read more about this sighting, see the May 14, 2008 On-line version of the Hancock County Journal-Pilot at the following URL: http://www.journalpilot.com/articles/2008/05/14/news/news1.txt.
