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Dusky Salamander


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Dusky Salamander is a species of lungless salamander found in eastern North America. The species is mainly nocturnal. The salamander is generally solitary barring courtship and mating.



    Kingdom Animalia
    Phylum Chordata
    Class Amphibia
    Order Urodela
    Family Plethodontidae
    Subfamily Plethodontinae
    Genus Desmognathus
    Scientific Name Desmognathus fuscus


    Other Names Northern Dusky Salamander
    Size 6 to 14 cm
    Color Upper surface marked with reddish-brown bordered stripe running down the back; cream-colored belly with scattered gray or brown flecks
    Distribution West Virginia, Louisiana (United States), Canada
    Habitat Rocky woodland streams, seepages, springs, floodplains, sloughs, muddy places along upland streams
    Diet Earthworms, slugs, crustaceans, snails, spiders, mites, flies and fly larvae, ants, beetles and beetle larvae, moths, centipedes, mayflies
    Hibernation Fact Hibernate during winter
    Predators Raccoons, striped skunks, shrews, snakes, birds, other salamanders
    Breeding Season Fall and spring
    Mode of Reproduction Oviparous (egg laying)
    Clutch Size 10 to 51 eggs
    Incubation Period 40 to 80 days
    Reproductive Age Male: 2 to 3 years of age
    Female: 3 to 4 years of age
    Average Lifespan Up to 15 years
    IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

    Dusky Salamander Pictures Gallery

    Published on March 11th 2017 by under Salamanders. Article was last reviewed on 30th September 2019.

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