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LUNGLESS SALAMANDERS
The lungless salamanders of the family Plethodontidae are slender, and have
neither gills nor
lungs. Oxygen is absorbed directly through the moist skin and the lining of
the mouth. Air is
drawn through the nostrils into the mouth by means of muscles in the
throat. Some lungless
salamanders will drown if submerged in water for long periods of time.
Members of this family
are also characterized by a shallow groove from the nostril to the lip,
although this feature is
not always conspicuous.
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| Dusky Salamander |
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| Mountain Salamander |
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| Redback Salamander |
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| Ravine Salamander |
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| Slimy Salamander |
DUSKY SALAMANDER
Desmognathus fuscus
Length 2hJ25h/2 in. (6.5-14 cm.)
Dusky salamanders can be easily recognized by the light-colored line which
extends from the
back corner of the eye diagonally downward to the back corner of the mouth,
and by the hind legs
which are conspicuously larger than the front ones. Otherwise, coloration
and body markings
are extremely variable. Duskies may be found under rocks and similar debris in shallow woodland brooks, springs, and seepage areas in all but the northwestern quarter of Ohio. The most abundant and easily found of all our native salamanders, they are also among the most difficult to catch. Duskies are alert and slippery; they run swiftly and are surprisingly good jumpers. Members of the genus Desmognathus differ from all other salamanders in having an immovable lower jaw. The dusky must lift its head to open its mouth.
MOUNTAIN DUSKY SALAMANDER
Desmognathus ochrophaeus
Length 2 3/4-4 1/4 in. (7-11 cm.)
Although easily confused with its close cousin the dusky salamander, the
mountain dusky
salamander has a rounded rather than a wedgedshaped tail, It also has a
light tan or brownish
stripe down the back, bordered on either side by a black or very dark brown
line. Often there is
a row of dark, V.shaped spots running down the center of the back. Older
specimens may be very
dark and lack any pattern whatsoever.
Mountain dusky salamanders are normally found in the same habitat as the dusky and the northern two-lined salamanders. In Ohio, they are restricted to the extreme northeastern corner of the state.
REDBACK SALAMANDER
Plethodon cinereus
Length 2 1/4 to 4 1/4 in. (6-11 cm.)
This is a small, slender salamander which, unlike most salamanders, has two
distinct color
phases. The red-hacked phase has a broad reddish brown stripe bordered by
dark pigment
running down the back. The lead-backed phase is a dark gray or gray-black.
Both phases may
occur together.
Found throughout the state, the redback salamander is most often seen in
early spring beneath
rocks and logs, especially on floodplains. This salamander is entirely
landdwelling and usually
will not go to water even to breed. The eggs are laid in summer. They hang
like a miniature
cluster of grapes from the underside of a moist log or rock. The larvae pass through most of their gillbreathing stage while in the egg. By the time the eggs hatch in late summer, the gills have decreased significantly; within 24 to 48 hours after hatching, they shrive! up and are barely noticeable.
RAVINE SALAMANDER
Plethodon richmondi
Length 3-5/2 In. (7514 cm.)
The ravine salamander occurs in much of southern and eastern Ohio. As the
name implies, it
prefers the moist slopes of wooded ravines where it can be found hiding
beneath rocks and logs.
Like other members of this genus it is completely land-dwelling. Its eggs
are even laid and
hatched on land. Although frequently encountered in spring and fall, the
ravine salamander is
seldom seen in midsummer. Then it is buried deep in the ground, seeking
moisture.
At first glance the ravine salamander looks like the lead-backed phase of
the redback
salamander. However, closer examination will reveal that its belly is a
plain dark color and not
mottled with the black and white specks of the redback salamander. NORTHERN SLIMY SALAMANDER
Pfethodon glutinosus
Length 43/471/4 in. (12-18.5 cm.)
The northern slimy salamander is black with many scattered small flecks of
white. It mainly
inhabits the unglaciated eastern and southern portion of the state, and
some areas near the
glacial border. Here it likes to hide under or in rotting logs and stumps.
Although entirely land-
dwelling, it prefers a damp habitat. Moisture is essential to all lungless
salamanders. The northern slimy salamander is appropriately named-its skin secretions are exceptionally slimy. They dry on a captor's hands as a dark film that is very difficult to wash off.
WEHRLE'S SALAMANDER
Plethodon wehr!ei
Length 4-5 1/4 (10-13.5 cm.)
This is a salamander of the upland forests. Ohio specimens are plain black
with a row of
irregular white or bluish white spots along their sides.
Although easily confused with the northern slimy salamander, the Wehrle's
has spots only along
the sides of its body, while the northern slimy shows these markings on its
back, sides, and tail.
Wehrle's salamander has been reported from only two locations in Ohio:
along Sunfish Creek in
Monroe County and along the Little Muskingum River in Washington County.
Only a single adult
was found at each location, in the 1930s. Because numerous attempts by
others since have failed
to produce any specimens, its occurrence as a normal part of Ohio's fauna
remains in question.
This salamander was named in honor of R.W. Wehrle. The species was first
described from one
of his many collections.
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| Four-Toed Salamander |
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| Spring Salamander |
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| Mud Salamander |
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| Red Salamander |
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| Two-Lined Salamander |
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| Longtail Salamander |
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| Cave Salamander |
FOUR-TOED SALAMANDER
Hemidactylium scuta turn
Length 2-3 1/2 in. (5-9 cm)
Although this salamander ranges throughout Ohio, it is irregularly
distributed and rare over
much of this range.
All salamanders except the mudpuppy have four toes on their front feet. The
four-toed
salamander is the only one that has four toes on the hind feet as well;
other salamanders have
five. The four-toed salamander is also readily identified by its striking
snow-white belly,
boldly speckled with black.
The four-toed usually lives close to boggy woodland ponds and swamps where
it hides beneath
logs, rocks, slabs of bark, and even leaves. Here it lays its eggs in early
spring and remains
with them until they hatch.
Kentucky Spring Salamander
SPRING SALAMANDER
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Length 4 3/4-7 1/2 in. (12-19 cm.)
The status of spring salamanders in southeastern Ohio is unsettled. Two
races occur in our state,
both of which are uncommon. The Kentucky spring salamander (Gyrinophilus
porphyriticus
duryl) has been reported from Adams, Highland, Pike, and Scioto counties
and is a well defined
race. The northern spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
poiphyriticus) occurs in
the rest of the unglaciated counties.
All spring salamanders prefer to live in clear woodland brooks and springs
where they hide
under large, flat stones. Occasionally they may be found hiding under
objects in neighboring
woodlands, but always in wet places. Little else is known about their life
history. In both races of spring salamanders, a conspicuous light and dark line runs from the eye to the nostril. The similar red and mud salamanders have no such dark line.
MUD SALAMANDER
Pseudotriton mont anus
Length 3-6 1/4 in. (7.5-16 cm.)
Mud salamanders are most often encountered under large, flat stones along
shallow, sluggish
woodland streams, springs, and seeps. As implied by their name, they seem
to prefer muddy
areas.
In Ohio, this species is somewhat uncommon and is limited to a few counties
in the extreme
southern part of the state.
Although easily confused with the red salamander, the mud salamander
normally has a brown
iris rather than a yellow one, and a few black spots. RED SALAMANDER
Pseudotriton ruber
Length 4 1/4-6 1/4 in. (11-16 cm.)
The red salamander stands out from most of the other large, red salamanders
found in Ohio
because of its distinctive, bright yellow iris and its stout body. Although
adults are usually a
striking bright red with scattered black dots, old specimens are less
brightly colored, often
somewhat purplish. Reds can be located under logs, moss, and rocks in and about cold, clean springs and adjacent brooks. With the exception of a small colony reported in the vicinity of Cincinnati, these salamanders occur only in the eastern half of the state. Red Salamander Old adult Red Salamander
GREEN SALAMANDER
Aneides aeneus
Length 3-5 in. (8-13 cm.)
One of our more interesting salamanders, the green salamander is limited in
Ohio to areas of
rock outcrops in Adams, Lawrence, and Scioto counties. It prefers the deep
moist cracks in
otherwise mostly dry cliffs. Its flattened head and body are well suited
for moving about in such
tight places. Here the green salamander spends the day hiding. As night
approaches it ventures
out onto the face of the cliff in search of food.
The 10 to 20 tiny, round eggs are laid in late summer within crevices of
the cliff. The female
stays with the eggs until they hatch, but shows little or no parental care. This salamander is rare in Ohio, but it is a secretive species and new populations may be discovered.
NORTHERN TWO-LINED SALAMANDER
Eurycea bislineata bislineata
Length 2 1/2-4 3/4 in. (6.5-12 cm.)
This is a common brookside inhabitant found in all but the northwestern
quarter of Ohio. It
prefers small, rocky woodland streams as well as springs and seeps, where
it spends the day
hiding beneath flat rocks and logs. Like the dusky salamander, with which
it often associates,
northern two-lined salamanders are very abundant. They are easy to find,
but extremely
difficult to catch and hold. As its name implies, the northern twolined salamander has a dark line on either side of its bright yellow or golden brown back.
LONGTAIL SALAMANDER
Eurycea Longicauda
Length 4-7 1/2 in. (10-19.5 cm.)
This is a strikingly beautiful salamander with a distinctively long tail
which accounts for more
than half the total length of the mature adult. Young longtails, like the
one shown here, have
relatively short tails.
Longtail salamanders are mostly restricted to heavily wooded, hilly
regions. They prefer wet
shale banks and other seep areas. They are most often found hiding under
stones or logs. They
may also be encountered under such objects along clear, flowing woodland
streams.
Longtail salamanders seem to breed primarily in winter, with adults
migrating to below ground
for the breeding season. Hatching occurs during March, and adults reappear
above ground in
April. CAVE SALAMANDER
Eurycea lucifuga
Length 4-6 in. (10-15 cm.)
The cave salamander is known in Ohio only in Adams County and the
Cincinnati region. As the
name implies, this amphibian prefers the dimly lighted zone near the
entrance of wet limestone
caves. However, it may also be encountered in wooded areas or along streams
far removed from
any known caves.
Cave salamanders are similar in appearance to the longtail salamander, but are more reddish and have no vertical black markings on the sides of the tail.
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