New Salamander Species? Smithtown High School East Senior Thinks So.

SAINT JAMES, NY — Gabe Finger, a senior at Smithtown High School East, believes he may have discovered a new salamander species, the school district announced.

Finger presented his potential discovery at the LI Natural History conference at Stony Brook University on Friday.

Following the collapse of the centuries-old Mill Pond dam after an August 2024 storm, Finger and some friends found a type of salamander species that may have gone previously unidentified.

Finger said that only four salamanders were found. Plans to do a genetic analysis with Cold Spring Harbor laboratory to confirm the identity are in the works.

The Long Island Natural History Conference is the largest regional forum for the exchange of information about Long Island’s natural history. The annual event brings together Long Island’s leading naturalists to exchange current information, identifies research and management needs, and encourages collaborations and a greater region-wide interest in Long Island’s natural history.