Characteristics:
     This long, around 6in, slender salamander is bright orange or yellow and marked with small back spots. The spots are more concentrated along the sides and tend to form bars. The tail of the adults is very long and slender. The belly is white or pale yellow. Between 13 and 14 costal grooves.

*Note: There are 2 subspecies in this area, the longtail salamander (E. l. longicauda) and the dark-sided salamander (E. l. melanopleura).
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Habitat:
   Most commonly found along the borders or at the sources of spring fed woodland streams. They are also found in the twilight region of limestone caves and sometimes even deep with in the caves.


Behavior:
      This noctournal salamander is most often seen after a rain storm when they come out and actively forage for small invertebrates. Mating occurs in the falls and the eggs are laid in damp rock crevices in caves or bluffs. The eggs hatch in late winter or early spring. This salamander is very similar to the cave salamander and they are easily confused.


Personal Remarks:
    This cool little salamander is quite common in this area if you know where to look. We often find them sharing the same habitat, and sometimes even under the same rock, with cave salamanders. Identification can get a bit tricky sometimes but the longtails are usually easy to spot because of the patter of dark marks on their sides. Although we usually found them under rocks and logs we occasionally see them on roads after it rains.