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Salamanders

    Kingdom: Animalia
    Division: Chordata
    Subdivision: Vertebrata
    Class: Amphibia
    Order: Caudata

Species Spotlight

Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)
[Copyright: John Jensen/Dr. Camp, USDA Forest Service]

Four-toed Salamander
Hemidactylium scutatum

Description: Small lungless slender salamander with rusty to grayish brown above with grayish sides and may have small black and bluish speckles on sides. Length is 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm). Unique characteristics: four-toed hind feet and tail is constricted (narrows) at its base.

Life History: Breeds in fall and lays 30-50 eggs under moss, and spawns in early March and the larvae hatch in May. The eggs are laid so that larvae fall or wriggle into shallow ponds, pools, or small, quiet streams.

Habitat: Wooded areas with pools, bogs, or slow bog streams. In leaf litter and under rocks and logs.

Distribution: Widely but discontinuously distributed throughout much of the eastern U.S.

Status: Designated as a species of "Great Conservation Need" in states of Ky., Miss., N.C., S.C., & Tenn.

Resources:

Bullet pointNatureServe Explorer Species Profile

Bullet pointeNature.com Species Profile

Bullet pointSavannah River Ecology Lab Species Profile

Bullet pointFour-toed Salamander Range Map from the USGS National Amphibian Atlas

Salamanders (order Caudata)

Tailed amphibians are collectively refered to as salamanders or caudates and are members of the taxonomic order Caudata. Order Caudata is further subdivided into smaller taxonomic groups called families. In Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, seven families are represented: Mole salamanders (family Ambystomatidae), Amphiumas (family Amphiumidae), Giant Salamanders and Hellbenders (family Cryptobranchidae), Lungless Salamanders (family Plethodontidae), Mudpuppies, Olms and Waterdogs (family Proteidae), Newts (family Salamandridae), and Sirens (family Sirenidae). Within these families, there are 159 species, subspecies, or distinct caudate populations in the region according to NatureServe Explorer database records retrieved in 2008.

Tailed amphibian families of the southeastern United States are shown on this page by taxonomic family.

One-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter) - [Copyright: Dan Hipes/Florida Natural Areas Inventory, used with permission]

Amphiumas (Family Amphiumidae)
Amphiumas are fully aquatic tailed amphibians frequently found burrowing in the thick sediment of wetlands.

Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) - [Copyright: Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, used with permission]

Giant Salamanders, Hellbenders (Family Cryptobranchidae)
Giant Salamanders and Hellbenders inhabit fast moving rivers with rocky bottoms and are very large, ranging in length from 12-24 inches.

Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee) - [Copyright: John D. Willson, Savannah River Ecology Lab / USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, used with permission]

Lungless Salamanders (Family Plethodontidae)
Lungless salamanders are largely terrestrial but are abundant around streams. Lacking lungs and gills, they are unique for "breathing" through their skin.

Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) - [Photo: USGS/Florida Integrated Science Center]

Mole Salamanders (Family Ambystomatidae)
Mole Salamanders are often subterranean, burrowing under the earth and seldom seen above-ground.

Mudpuppy (Ambystoma cingulatum) - [Copyright: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, used with permission]

Mudpuppies, Olms, Waterdogs (Family Proteidae)
Similar in appearance to but not as large as Hellbenders, aquatic mudpuppies are found widely from Canada, the Midwest, and southeast to Georgia.

Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) - [Copyright: John D. Willson, Savannah River Ecology Lab / USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, used with permission]

Newts, Salamanders (Family Salamandridae)
"True Salamanders" fall within this family. They are distinct from other tailed amphibians because their skin's texture is rough and lacks a moist surface.

Greater siren (Siren lacertina) - [Copyright: Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org, used with permission]

Sirens (Family Sirenidae)
These amphibians are aquatic, lack hind limbs, and have very small front limbs.


For additional Web resources about caudates, please refer to the NBII resource catalog viewer below. Metadata from the NBII Metadata Clearinghouse is also available below.


Web Resources for Salamanders of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi
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Core Science Metadata Clearinghouse Feed Results
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