Characteristics:
A short, 4.5in, salamander. Black coloration with gray or white crossbands that run from the back all the way down the tail. The color of the bands varies with sex. Males, especially during breeding season, have bright white bands. The females generally have a more silvery or gray color. They have 11-13 costal grooves. This is a very distinct looking salamander and is very easy to identify.
Habitat:
They are most often found in damp woodland environments. They are never very far from a
water source. Locations with seasonally dry ponds are favored.
Behavior:
This is a salamander with a very interesting breeding strategy. Instead of laying eggs in water, like most other species, they lay eggs in a dry depression, usually under leaves, and wait for the depression to fill with water. They breed in the fall and the larvae transform in the spring. They feed on a wide variety of invertebrates.
Personal Remarks:
This is a salamander that eluded me for a long time. We were always in areas that seemed like perfect habitat but never saw any. I think we have it down now though. It was an easy find once we had a good location. This is one of those species that you just never get tired of seeing. I look forward to many more encounters with these guys in the future.
A short, 4.5in, salamander. Black coloration with gray or white crossbands that run from the back all the way down the tail. The color of the bands varies with sex. Males, especially during breeding season, have bright white bands. The females generally have a more silvery or gray color. They have 11-13 costal grooves. This is a very distinct looking salamander and is very easy to identify.
Habitat:
They are most often found in damp woodland environments. They are never very far from a
water source. Locations with seasonally dry ponds are favored.
Behavior:
This is a salamander with a very interesting breeding strategy. Instead of laying eggs in water, like most other species, they lay eggs in a dry depression, usually under leaves, and wait for the depression to fill with water. They breed in the fall and the larvae transform in the spring. They feed on a wide variety of invertebrates.
Personal Remarks:
This is a salamander that eluded me for a long time. We were always in areas that seemed like perfect habitat but never saw any. I think we have it down now though. It was an easy find once we had a good location. This is one of those species that you just never get tired of seeing. I look forward to many more encounters with these guys in the future.
