Salamanders of Pennsylvania: 22 species, 2-20 inches, blue, red, green, yellow, marbled - pennlive.com - PennLive
Salamanders exist across Pennsylvania, 22 species of them. They range from the giant hellbender, which can grow to 20 inches in length, to the 2.5-inch northern dusky salamander, from the brightly colored blue-spotted salamander to the grayish-brown northern dusky salamander.
They are an incredibly diverse family of animals, including the strange life stages of the eastern red-spotted newt to the sticky abilities of the northern slimy salamanader.
As many of the species emerge from their winter hibernation for their annual mating trek to ponds and vernal pools, here's a look at all 22 of them.
(Compiled by Marcus Schneck, mschneck@pennlive.com)
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Blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale)
The blue-spotted salamander - a member of the mole salamander family (Ambystomatidae) – was not known to exist as far south as Pennsylvania until 2000, when a statewide survey discovered some in McKean County. The species subsequently was found in Northampton and Warren counties.
The namesake sky-blue spots and flecks run along the head, back and sides of the 4- to 5.5-inch salamander. It closely resembles the cookware known as graniteware.
The blue-spotted salamander lives most of its life underground, as deep as 3 feet below the surface, but emerges in March and April to trek to large, lowland pools and wetlands for breeding. The female lays 2-15 egg masses, holding as many as 200 eggs total. The eggs hatch in 3-4 weeks, and the larvae transform into terrestrial animals 2-3 months later.
In Pennsylvania, the blue-spotted salamander is listed as an endangered species.
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Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis)
Living up to its family name of giant salamanders (Crptobranchidae), the eastern hellbender is Pennsylvania's largest salamander. Adults can measure as much as 20 inches in length.
Occupying clear, fast-moving streams and rivers in the Susquehanna and Ohio river watersheds, it is a completely aquatic, mostly nocturnal animal that few people will ever encounter. It emerges from under its home rock at nightfall to hunt – mostly for crayfish, but also small fish, frogs, toads, tadpoles, water snakes and other hellbenders – within a range of 30-60 feet, before returning under that same rock before daybreak.
With its seemingly ill-shaped, flattish, wide-mouthed physique, the hellbender is often referred to as unattractive. Some of its other names are mud devil, devil dog and ground puppy. However, in 2017 the hellbender was proposed to become Pennsylvania's official amphibian. It was approved by the Pennsylvania Senate, but never voted on by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
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Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)
Pennsylvania's second largest salamander, the mudpuppy, grows as large as 13 inches. Like it's giant cousin, the hellbender, the mudpuppy is completely aquatic and mostly nocturnal, although it will be more active during the day in muddier, murkier waters. It too prefers clear, fast-moving waters in the Ohio and Delaware river and Lake Erie watersheds, but will inhabit lesser waters, even shallow, muddy, warm, plant-clogged streams and rivers.
The mudpuppy's most notable physical feature are the large, reddish gills that extend out from behind each side of its head.
It feeds mostly on crayfish, but also eats small fish, fish eggs, aquatic insects and worms.
In Pennsylvania, the mudpuppy is listed as a species of special concern, which mean it's rare or not common due to one or more of the following factors: range restriction, population decline, limited distribution, direct threats from habitat alteration, or collection from the wild.
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Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)
In a round-about way, the Jefferson salamander is named for Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father, third president of the U.S. and an accomplished naturalist. The salamander was named for Washington and Jefferson College in Canonsburg, near Pittsburgh. And, the college was originally named Jefferson College in honor of the president.
The salamander is believed to occur in limited numbers in most of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. It prefers damp, deciduous woodlands near ponds or wetlands.
Courtship occurs as early as March in shallow ponds. The female lays as many as 20 egg masses, each holding as many as 15 eggs, which hatch 30-45 days later. Larvae transform into land animals in July-September.
The Jefferson salamander is a relatively large salamander, reaching lengths of as much as 7 inches. It is a member of the mole salamander family (Ambystomatidae)
In Pennsylvania, the Jefferson salamander is listed as a species of special concern, which mean it's rare or not common due to one or more of the following factors: range restriction, population decline, limited distribution, direct threats from habitat alteration, or collection from the wild.
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Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
With its two prominent rows of yellow to orange spots along its back, from head to tail, the 6- to 8-inch spotted salamander is considered one of Pennsylvania showiest salamanders.
However, it lives mostly underground, emerges in early spring – prompted by warm rains and warming air temperatures – to gather in shallow breeding ponds. The female lays as many as 4 egg masses, each containing about 100 eggs. Larvae hatch in 1-2 month and transform into terrestrial animals in 2-4 months.
A member of the mole salamander family (Ambystomatidae), the spotted salamander is considered abundant in hardwood forests – particularly wooded hillside around ponds – across Pennsylvania.
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Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
Giving rise to its name, the marbled salamander is covered head to tail, across is back, in striking white to silver crossbands on a field that is otherwise black or dark gray. It is a chunky salamander that might grow to 4 inches in length.
It occurs in two populations in Pennsylvania: One in the southcentral and southeastern areas of the state. The other in western Pennsylvania, from Indiana and Westmoreland counties north to Crawford County.
The marbled salamander – a member of the mole salamander family (Ambystomatidae) – tends to occupy drier, more sandy or gravelly habitat than most of Pennsylvania's salamander species. Also unlike most other salamanders, it breeds in the fall and on land, where the female lays 50-200 eggs in a small, sheltered depression, where they wait for rains to cue their hatching.
In Pennsylvania, the marbled salamander is listed as a species of special concern, which mean it's rare or not common due to one or more of the following factors: range restriction, population decline, limited distribution, direct threats from habitat alteration, or collection from the wild.
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Eastern red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens)
The eastern red-spotted newt, occupying ponds, lake and stream across Pennsylvania, is the most commonly spotted and most well-known salamander species in Pennsylvania. Its terrestrial form, the red eft, is similarly well-known and regularly sighted in the damp woodlands where it is active throughout most of the year.
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More about the eastern red-spotted newt
The eastern red-spotted newt passes through more stages than the other salamanders of Pennsylvania. Breeding in the spring, the female deposits 200-400 eggs, which individually adhere to the underwater stems of plants. The larvae hatch in a month or two, and then live in that aquatic form for another 2-3 months, before emerging as the terrestrial red eft form. After 1-3 years as red efts in the forests, the salamanders move back to the water, where it transforms into the adult red-spotted newt, ready for breeding to start the elongated life cycle all over again.
The eastern red-spotted newt – a member of the newt family (Salamandridae) – is considered abundant in Pennsylvania.
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Green salamander (Aneides aeneus)
Found only in damp sandstone outcroppings in a small area of Fayette County, the green salamander is listed as a threatened species in Pennsylvania.
The salamander is 3-5 inches long, covered entirely over its head, back, sides and tail with irregular greenish-yellow patches over a black base.
The green salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae).
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Northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus)
The 2.5- to 4.5-inch salamander is a rather plain-looking species, with gray to tan to dark brown on top, becoming lighter on the sides.
It's rarely found far from running water, especially spring seeps, small rivulets and woodland streams, where it spends much of the summer. It also hibernates underwater.
The northern dusky salamander breeds June-September, and the female deposits a cluster of 10-30 eggs under rocks or in rotting logs near a stream. When the larvae hatch they move quickly into the stream, where they remain for 6-13 months, before transforming into their adult form.
Abundant across Pennsylvania, the northern dusky salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae).
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Seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola)
The 3- to 5-inch seal salamander inhabits a portion of southwestern Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Mountains, east of Pittsburgh and south of Forest County. Within that range, it's considered abundant.
It generally lives close to a mountain stream, hiding under a rock or log, but ready to slip into the water if threatened.
The seal salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae).
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Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)
The Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander is abundant across the western half and northern half of Pennsylvania, where it is most often found near a mountain stream flowing through a coniferous forest. The 3- to 4-inch salamander exhibits a wide range of coloring. An orange, yellow, light gray or tan line runs along its back, contrasting with darker, gray to brown to olive sides.
The Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae), and is considered abundant in Pennsylvania.
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Northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata)
The northern two-lined salamander is found – often in large numbers – near small, rocky, mountain brooks across Pennsylvania. However, during wet periods, it often moves out into the surrounding forest.
The 2.5- to 4-inch salamander has a yellow – possibly tinged brown, green or bronze – band down its back, framed on each side by a narrower black or dark brown stripe from its eyes to the tip of its tail.
Courting begins in late winter and results in the female laying 30 or so sticky eggs that adhere to the underside of submerged rocks or logs. The hatch in May or June, and the young remain in the larval stage for the next 1-3 years.
The northern two-lined salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae), and is considered abundant in Pennsylvania.
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Longtail salamander (Eurycea longicauda longicauda)
As the name implies, most of the longtail salamander's 4-6 inches lies in its tail. It's yellow to red-orange with black spots that are more concentrated on its sides.
It's found along mountain brooks throughout the state, except for a strip of northwestern-most Pennsylvania within 40 miles of Erie. It's also known to live in caves and abandoned mines.
The longtail salamander breeds in or near the water from October-March. The females lays as many as 100 eggs in or very near the water. The larvae break free in 6-8 weeks and transform into their adult form in 4-7 months.
It's a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae), and is abundant across most of Pennsylvania.
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Northern spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus)
The 5- to 7.5-inch northern spring salamander, with its bright salmon-colored hide, is abundant along mountain streams and in caves across the state, except for the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania.
Breeding has been documented from June-November, with the female preferring to lay her eggs in cool water, where they will hatch from April-July. The larval stage will persist for 2-3 years before the animal transforms into its adult form.
The northern spring salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae).
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Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)
When grabbed by a predator, the tail of the four-toed salamander can detach easily, allowing the animal to escape. The tail will regenerate, restoring the salamander's full 2- to 3.5-inch length. While most other salamanders have five toes per foot, the aptly named four-toed salamander has just four.
The salamander is reddish-brown to yellowish-tan on its back, mottled gray on its sides and white with large black spots on its belly. Near the base of the tail is a distinct ring that marks the point where the tail can detach from the body.
The four-toed salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae), and is considered abundant in Pennsylvania.
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Eastern redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
The eastern redback salamander is completely terrestrial. Across Pennsylvania, the redback lives in cool, damp forests, where it hides under stone, logs and other objects during daylight hours. In particularly dry periods, it burrows down into the earth.
A broad stripe, usually red but sometimes orange, pink or yellow, runs from the head, along the back and along the front part of the tail. The salamander is 2-3.5 inches long.
The female attaches a cluster of 6-12 eggs that looks like a tiny, off-white bunch of grapes to the underside of a decaying log, where she first digs a small depression. The redback has no aquatic larval stages and the young that hatch from the eggs are miniature replicas of the adults. They will reach maturity in 2 years.
A member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae), the eastern redback salamander is considered abundant in Pennsylvania.
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Northern slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
Living up to its name, the northern slimy salamander has skin glands that secrete a thick, extremely sticky liquid. The 5- to 7-inch salamander is black with abundant white to silver spots that are larger on the sides than on the back.
It is found in deep, shaded, moist ravines across the state, where females lay 10-40 eggs egg in late spring deep beneath the surface. The juveniles that hatch are miniature replicas of the adults.
The northern slimy salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae), and is considered abundant in Pennsylvania.
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Valley and ridge salamander (Plethodon hoffmani)
The 2- to 4-inch valley and ridge salamander is found on wooded hillsides and ridge tops, as well as sparsely vegetated talus slopes, throughout central Pennsylvania.
It's a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae).
In Pennsylvania, the valley and ridge salamander is listed as a species of special concern, which mean it's rare or not common due to one or more of the following factors: range restriction, population decline, limited distribution, direct threats from habitat alteration, or collection from the wild.
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Wehrle's salamander (Plethodon wehrlei)
The Wehrle's salamander is named for R.W. Wehrle, an Indiana, Pennsylvania, resident who collected the specimens that allowed for the animal to be described as a distinct species. The 4- to 5-inch, bluish-gray, white spotted salamander occurs in woodlands of beech, sugar maple and eastern hemlock in a swath from northcentral to southwestern Pennsylvania.
It's a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae), and is considered abundant within its range in Pennsylvania.
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Northern ravine salamander (Plethodon electromorphus)
The northern ravine salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae).
In Pennsylvania, the northern ravine salamander is listed as a species of special concern, which mean it's rare or not common due to one or more of the following factors: range restriction, population decline, limited distribution, direct threats from habitat alteration, or collection from the wild.
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