These salamanders are interesting for a number of reasons. First, we saw them on the famous Appalachian Trail (which we were on for a grand total of about fifteen minutes). Second, the red-cheeked variety live only in a very small area. Third, they have skin toxins that render them unpalatable, and there is another type of salamander that's called the Imitator Salamander (Desmognathus imitator) because it mimics the appearance of this species so the predators will incorrectly conclude that it is also unpalatable. Fourth, they are named for David Starr Jordan, once president of my alma mater Stanford University. And I'm sure there are many other reasons as well; for instance, they're so cute!