Eastern Hellbender

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Eastern Hellbender

• State Amphibian of PA
• 11-20 (largest PA salamander)
• completely aquatic nocturnal
• hides under rocks during day
• fast-moving, mid-sized streams
• male guards nest until larvae hatch
• eats crayfish, snails, insects, worms
• IDENTIFICATION
• brownish-gray
• flattened head body
• loose flaps of skin along sides
• tiny eyes

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Mudpuppy

• 8-13
• retain external gills as adults (permanent
  larva)
• aka waterdog
• entirely aquatic nocturnal
• lakes, rivers, streams
• eat crayfish, worms, small fish, insects, fish
  eggs
• IDENTIFICATION
• feathery reddish gills
• vertically-flattened tail (similar to a rudder)

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FAMILY Abystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)

• Spend most of their lives underground
• No groove between their nose and lip
• Examples
• Jefferson
• Spotted
• Marbled
• Eastern Tiger

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Jefferson Salamander(Abystoma jeffersonianum)

• 4-7
• damp forest land near ponds or swamps
• eat insects, grubs, worms
• IDENTIFICATION
• long toes
• 12 costal grooves (lines on side)
• back is dark, grayish-brown
• belly is lighter

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Spotted Salamander(Abystoma maculatum)

• 6-8
• prefers to live underground (forest near ponds)
• eat worms, slugs, spiders, insects
• IDENTIFICATION
• black body
• orange spots on head
• 2 rows of yellow spots on back
• 12 costal grooves

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Marbled Salamander(Abystoma opacum)

• 3.5-4
• woodlands swamps sandy terrain
• eats slugs, worms, insects
• IDENTIFICATION
• dark-gray to black body
• white or silver bands on back

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FAMILY Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)

• Largest salamander family (300 species)
• No lungs (must breathe through skin)
• Possess groove between nose and lip
• Used to search the ground for odors
• Costal grooves are easily detected
• Examples
• Northern Dusky, Mountain Dusky
• Northern Two-Lined, Longtail

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Northern Dusky Salamander(Desmognathus fuscus)

• 2.5-4.5
• found near running water
• abundant in Pennsylvania
• eats aquatic invertebrates
• IDENTIFICATION
• dark brown back
• light brown sides

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Mountain Dusky Salamander(Desmognathus monticola)

• 3-4
• eats insects, mites
• IDENTIFICATION
• forests near water
• difficult to define colors due to variety
• belly sides are dark colors (usually
  grey/brown)
• back has a light stripe (orange, yellow, tan)
  bordered by two black lines

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Northern Two-lined Salamander(Eurycea bislineata)

• 2.5-4
• prefers small streams brooks
• eats insects, other invertebrates
• IDENTIFICATION
• belly sides are yellow
• back has a light stripe bordered by black lines
  that extend from the eyes to the tail

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Longtail Salamander(Eurycea bislineata)

• 4-6
• small, streams, seeps, springs
• eats insects, grubs
• IDENTIFICATION
• tail is much longer than body
• yellow body
• black spots on sides

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Four-toed Salamander

• 2-3.5
• tail easily breaks off (defense mechanism)
• forests near water
• eats insects, mites
• IDENTIFICATION
• only 4 toes on hind foot (most salamanders have
  5)
• large black spots on light belly
• reddish-brown back
• ring at base of thick tail

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Redback Salamander

• 2-3.5
• very common
• cool, moist forests
• eats insects, insect larvae
• IDENTIFICATION
• broad, red stripe on back
• black sides
• (lead-backed color phase is almost entirely
  dark-gray or black)

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Slimy Salamander

• 5-7
• moist, shaded ravines
• eats insects, worms
• IDENTIFICATION
• black body
• white or silver spots all over sides, head ,
  back, tail

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Northern Red Salamander

• 4.5-6
• small streams with clear, cool water
• eats earthworms, invertebrates
• IDENTIFICATION
• reddish body
• back and upper-sides covered with black spots

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