Desmognathus fuscus
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photo by Jeff Humphries
Northern Dusky Salamander
Desmognathus fuscus
Home Back to Salamanders
photo by Jeff Humphries
| Species Description: A
medium-sized salamander, attaining lenghts of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm).
This salamander is brown or gray with a scallop-edged darker stripe down
the back. The belly is light in color and mottled with brown or gray.
The tail is strongly keeled and there are 14 costal grooves. Juveniles
usually have five to eight pairs of reddish spots on the back between the
front and rear legs.
Habitat: The northern dusky inhabits small streams and seeps and can usually be found along the stream's edge or along muddy banks. They are very active at night, but remain in their burrows during the day. Breeding Activity: Mating has been observed both in the spring and fall. Females deposit between 10 and 20 eggs in a cavity under a rock or log and she stays with them, usually coiling her body around them, until hatching. The larvae have gills and spend approximately one year in pools within the stream. Range: The northern dusky salamander is common throughout West Virginia, from the lowest elevations up to an altitude of 3,900 ft. It is the most common salamander found in many of the streams in the state. Status: Not listed. |
