Characteristics:
Measuring in at around 7in, this is a nice medium sized salamander. Black or blueish-black with white or gray flecks. the belly is usually solid gray or black with few or no flecks. 15-17 costal grooves. Juveniles sometimes have small white gills present.
Habitat:
They are often found under rocks or logs near forest streams or on wooded hillsides.
Behavior:
This totally terrestrial salamander does a lot of burrowing. They appear in the spring and fall and can be found under rocks or logs, but they burrow deeper during the summer and winter months and are not as eaily found. This salamander skips the larval stage and the juveniles are born as adults. They do not become sexually active for 2-3 years after hatching. They eat mostly ants and other small invertebrates. This salamander got its name from the sticky substance it secretes when threatened.
Personal Remarks:
I think the word "slimy" is a bit of an understatement when it comes to this salamander. Just try handling one of these and you will see what I mean. The stuff they put off is more sticky than slimy. It is very similar feeling to slug slime. This is one salamander I can almost always count on seeing. There is one location where a forest stream runs through a ravine making perfect habitat for these guys. We usually don't have much trouble finding at least a few of these guys.
Measuring in at around 7in, this is a nice medium sized salamander. Black or blueish-black with white or gray flecks. the belly is usually solid gray or black with few or no flecks. 15-17 costal grooves. Juveniles sometimes have small white gills present.
Habitat:
They are often found under rocks or logs near forest streams or on wooded hillsides.
Behavior:
This totally terrestrial salamander does a lot of burrowing. They appear in the spring and fall and can be found under rocks or logs, but they burrow deeper during the summer and winter months and are not as eaily found. This salamander skips the larval stage and the juveniles are born as adults. They do not become sexually active for 2-3 years after hatching. They eat mostly ants and other small invertebrates. This salamander got its name from the sticky substance it secretes when threatened.
Personal Remarks:
I think the word "slimy" is a bit of an understatement when it comes to this salamander. Just try handling one of these and you will see what I mean. The stuff they put off is more sticky than slimy. It is very similar feeling to slug slime. This is one salamander I can almost always count on seeing. There is one location where a forest stream runs through a ravine making perfect habitat for these guys. We usually don't have much trouble finding at least a few of these guys.
