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Pennsylvania's Most Fascinating Salamanders

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Pennsylvania's Most Fascinating Salamanders Pennsylvania’s Most Fascinating Salamanders Eastern Hellbender Eastern hellbenders are Pennsylvania’s largest salamander measuring up to 20 inches long. They are gray or olive in color Eastern Hellbender with heavily wrinkled Mudpuppy skin. Their eyes are tiny, and they Mudpuppy have a rudder-like tail. They live Mudpuppies in fast moving streams with clear are the second largest salamander water and boulders or large stones. in Pennsylvania measuring up to The number of Eastern hellbenders 13 inches long. They are called in Pennsylvania has been decreasing mudpuppies, or waterdogs, because because of habitat destruction and people once believed that they could pollution. make a barking sound like a dog. Some people think that they have Mudpuppies are gray to rusty brown a venomous bite, but they do not. in color with dark blue to black spots. If you accidentally catch one while They have external gills their entire fishing, you can easily take it off life and four toes on their front and the hook. They are sometimes called hind feet (most salamanders have five “snot otters.” toes on the hind feet). They are found in lakes, rivers and streams in the western part of the state and are most active at night. to see spotted salamanders when they migrate to vernal pools. This happens during warm, rainy nights in late winter or early spring. Spotted salamanders are black or Spotted Salamander dark gray in color with two rows of Spotted Salamander large yellow or orange spots on their Spotted salamanders are fairly backs. They can be up to 8 inches long. common but rarely seen, because they These salamanders are found throughout spend most of their lives underground Pennsylvania in hardwood forests with (like a mole). People are most likely vernal pools or ponds. 48 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2012www.fishandboat.com www.fishandboat.com Eastern Red-spotted Newt Eastern red-spotted own coloration. Larvae newts are common in are greenish yellow. Pennsylvania and may be The efts are orange found in damp woods as with black-bordered red efts (especially on rainy spots on their back. Eastern Red-spotted Newt (efts) days). The larvae and adults This bright color warns may be found in ponds predators that they and lakes. This species is secrete toxins. Adults somewhat small, measuring are olive in color with up to 4 inches. a yellow belly and black Eastern red-spotted speckles all over. They newts go through three have black-bordered red Eastern Red-spotted Newt (adult) stages of life, each with its spots on their backs. Northern Slimy Pennsylvania’s Salamanders Checklist Salamander A complete list of Pennsylvania’s 22 species of salamanders. Northern slimy Giant Salamanders Four-toed Salamander salamanders are a Eastern Hellbender Hemidactylium scutatum woodland species, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis Green Salamander measuring up to 7 Aneides aeneus Mudpuppy Salamanders inches. Their skin Mudpuppy Necturus maculosus (threatened species) secretes a sticky Mole Salamanders Longtail Salamander Blue-spotted Salamander Eurycea longicauda longicauda mucus that is difficult Ambystoma laterale Northern Dusky Salamander to wash off. (endangered species) Desmognathus fuscus Northern slimy Jefferson Salamander Northern Ravine Salamander salamanders are black Ambystoma jeffersonianum Plethodon electromorphus with many small, Marbled Salamander Northern Red Salamander Pseudotriton rube white or silver spots. Ambystoma opacum They can be found Northern Slimy Salamander Spotted Salamander beneath rocks and Ambystoma maculatum Plethodon glutinosus Northern Spring Salamander rotting logs. These Newts Gyrinophilus porphyriticus Eastern Red-spotted Newt salamanders are porphyriticus Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens common throughout Northern Two-lined Salamander Pennsylvania. Lungless Salamanders Eurycea bislineata Allegheny Mountain Seal Salamander Dusky Salamander Desmognathus monticola Desmognathus ochrophaeus Valley and Ridge Salamander Eastern Mud Salamander Plethodon hoffmani Pseudotriton montanus (endangered) Wehrle’s Salamander Eastern Redback Salamander Plethodon wehrlei Plethodon cinereus Northern Slimy Salamander www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2012 49.
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