Lake, Pond, and Stream Salamanders of New York State (PDF)
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. r;" :. ,.· ... ---..... ---- ·-:-.,,, • _, ... :.· ... ~ ♦ -~-'. ~.,......_ -:_ Two-lined Salamander—Yellowish-tan in Mountain Dusky Salamander— color, the two-lined salamander is eas- Though similar in color to the northern ily recognized by the two, dark rac- dusky salamander, the mountain dusky ing stripes along their sides and the has a round tail. The larval stage orange shading under the tail. They metamorphoses into small juveniles occur along fast-flowing streams in a that often have a red-orange stripe wide range of habitats, from remote, along the back and look similar to undisturbed forests to city parks. They have a small redback salamander. even been found in some cold water lakes Adult mountain duskys are found ew York State is home to 18 species of salamanders, nine of which live in or along lakes, ponds, streams at depths of more than 30 feet. Thin-bod- along stream edges to well with- and rivers. Sometimes confused with lizards (which are reptiles and have scales), salamanders are ied with small legs and long tails, these in the surrounding forest—most amphibians with smooth, moist skin. Because salamanders rely on their moist skin for a portion of their salamanders are sleek and speedy, capable of bursts of commonly along seeps or creeks. breathing, most are rarely found far from water or a moist terrestrial habitat. On land, salamanders speed as they flip and run along the ground, diving into Although fairly tolerant of habitat spend most of their time under a rock or log, or in a crevice or small mammal burrow. Thus, they are rarely seen. nearby streams to escape danger. Length: 2½ to 4½ inches. disturbances by humans, the highest Salamanders eat a variety of things, including small insects, spiders, worms, slugs, fish and frog eggs, and even densities of dusky salamanders are found in larger forests other salamanders. In turn, salamanders are eaten by a number of larger predators, including fish, snakes, turtles, Red-spotted Newt—One of New York’s most with clean streams. Length: 2½ to 4 inches. birds, and a variety of mammals such as raccoons, foxes, skunks and shrews. Many salamander species produce familiar salamanders, the red-spotted newt is perhaps toxic or distasteful secretions that provide some protection from predators. best recognized in its terrestrial juvenile red eft stage. However, this newt is primarily Eastern Hellbender—Special Concern Red Salamander— Quite colorful, the red aquatic, with the olive green adults r ~ having a yellow belly and two rows _f. The eastern hellbender is the salamander is generally brilliant red to red- of bright red spots along its back l largest salamander in North orange in color, with older adults (hence, the name). The tail is America. In New York becoming purple with dark mottling. IJj ~ prominently keeled in males, less I State, it only occurs in Their smooth skin, stout legs, and stur- so in females. Newts are commonly found in the Allegheny and dy keeled tail distinguish these lun- almost any relatively clean pond, lake, swamp, or slow- Susquehanna River gless salamanders from the red I moving stream near forests. While the red dots warn preda- I drainages. With a flat- eft stage of the red-spotted newt. tors of toxins in the skin that can cause severe sickness or tened body, short The aquatic larval stage of red salaman- death, snapping turtles, garter snakes, some birds, aquatic l~ (f stout legs, and very ders spends over three years in streams. Adults live in insects and fish will eat them. Length: 2½ to 5 inches. ·iji' small beady eyes, forests with streams, and often spend several months a year hellbenders are in the water. This species is rarely found in disturbed areas. The typical life cycle of a salamander well adapted to living under large flat rocks, stream banks Length: 4 to 6 inches. Northern Dusky Salamander— involves an aquatic stage followed by a ter- or debris in swift flowing streams. Under the cover of dark- Northern dusky salamanders occur restrial stage. However, some of our salamanders (such ness, they leave their shelters to prey on crayfish, worms, Spring Salamander— The spring salamander in a wide range of brown and gray as the hellbender) never transform into a terrestrial fish, or carrion. Although the larvae lose their external gills ranges in color from salmon pink to color patterns. With a light-colored form, and others lay eggs on land and skip the aquatic at about two years, hellbenders remain fully aquatic tan, getting darker with age. They can line from the eye to the back of the throughout their lives, never leaving the water. Adults may be distinguished from red salamanders mouth and much larger hind stage. For those salamander species with both stages, live 70 years, and reach sexual maturity at five to eight by the light-colored line that legs than front legs, it is often eggs are laid in water and hatch into gill-breathing years old. Mistakenly thought to be venomous, hellbenders runs from the eye to the nostril. confused with the mountain larvae. This is similar to the tadpole stage of frogs, are sometimes killed by anglers that accidentally catch Living near and in springs and dusky salamander. However, the except that salamander hatchlings have four miniature them. Length: 12 to 29 inches. streams, their thick, keeled tails northern dusky can be distin- legs, whereas tadpole hatchlings are legless. Larval and short, strong legs are well guished from its cousin by the sharp salamanders eat small invertebrates, fish eggs, fish fry — Found in cold and suited for life in running water. They eat earthworms, insects keel found along the top of its tail. The Common Mudpuppy and even other salamander larvae. Depending on the warm water streams, rivers and lakes, the and other salamanders. Length: 5 to 8 inches. larval stage spends two or three months in streams, and species, the larval stage lasts from just a few weeks mudpuppy is New York’s only salamander to adults seldom travel far from a stream edge. Length: 2½ to —Special Concern to six years. At that time, most species keep its external gills throughout its life. Like Long-tailed Salamander 4½ inches. One of New York’s rarest metamorphose, losing their external gills and hellbenders, they are gener- salamanders, long-tailed modifying the skin for life on land. ally found under larger salamanders are colorful rocks and debris in shallow and slender with a very waters where they nest. Adults long tail. Though more Note: Length of each salamander is given as total length measured from the end of the snout to the tip of the tail. have light gray to dark brown backs with restricted in range than the However, since pieces of the tail are often lost to predators and the tail will regenerate, an irregular pattern of spots. Larval mudpup- closely-related two-lined salamander, this measurement can vary greatly for otherwise similar sized animals. pies are distinctly patterned with a dark dorsal stripe bor- long-tailed salamanders occur in sim- dered by yellow; a pattern that is lost at about age six. Often ilar habitats, in and along streams and caught by ice anglers, mudpuppies are mistakenly believed to Authors: Alvin Breisch and Peter K. Ducey; Maps prepared by John Ozard seeps with a high pH and bordered by hardwoods. Although be venomous and a threat to game fish. Art work by Jean Gawalt, Graphics & Layout by Frank Herec occasionally found far from water in rich forest habitat, they Length: 8 to 19 inches. Maps based on New York Amphibian and Reptile Atlas data. must return to streams to breed. Length: 4 to 7 inches. This project was funded by Return A Gift To Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and NYS Biodiversity Research Institute. New York State Conservationist, April 2003 15 Two-lined Salamander—Yellowish-tan in Mountain Dusky Salamander— color, the two-lined salamander is eas- Though similar in color to the northern ily recognized by the two, dark rac- dusky salamander, the mountain dusky ing stripes along their sides and the has a round tail. The larval stage orange shading under the tail. They metamorphoses into small juveniles occur along fast-flowing streams in a that often have a red-orange stripe wide range of habitats, from remote, along the back and look similar to undisturbed forests to city parks. They have a small redback salamander. even been found in some cold water lakes Adult mountain duskys are found ew York State is home to 18 species of salamanders, nine of which live in or along lakes, ponds, streams at depths of more than 30 feet. Thin-bod- along stream edges to well with- and rivers. Sometimes confused with lizards (which are reptiles and have scales), salamanders are ied with small legs and long tails, these in the surrounding forest—most amphibians with smooth, moist skin. Because salamanders rely on their moist skin for a portion of their salamanders are sleek and speedy, capable of bursts of commonly along seeps or creeks. breathing, most are rarely found far from water or a moist terrestrial habitat. On land, salamanders speed as they flip and run along the ground, diving into Although fairly tolerant of habitat spend most of their time under a rock or log, or in a crevice or small mammal burrow. Thus, they are rarely seen. nearby streams to escape danger. Length: 2½ to 4½ inches. disturbances by humans, the highest Salamanders eat a variety of things, including small insects, spiders, worms, slugs, fish and frog eggs, and even densities of dusky salamanders are found in larger forests other salamanders.