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Four toes, white belly, must be a: Four Toed Salamander!

Posted on May 31, 2014


I am a female Hemidactylium scutatum, or for those that prefer common names, four toed salamander. My name is quite literal as it refers to the fact that I only have four toes on my hind limbs whereas other amphibians typically have five. I am a member of the Plethodontidae family, so like my relatives I do not have lungs and rely on oxygen exchange through my wet skin. I happily live within moist woodlands throughout New York State, but I’m very secretive and hide myself near swamps, bogs, small ponds or seeps.

During the spring, I will move to mossy areas to find a suitable place to lay my clutch of eggs. Preferably, I choose mosses that overhang some form of water so that my eggs and I can stay moist and my young can quickly get themselves into the water once they hatch. I will stay and guard my eggs until they make their way into the water some 4-6 weeks after they are laid. Sometimes other females will lay their eggs with mine, making communal nests, but only one of us will stay to protect the eggs.

Four Toed Salamander Adult female

That’s me! A Four Toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) adult female.

The four toed salamander is often confused with the red backed salamander; however, their white and "peppered" colored bellies make it easy to distinguish the two apart.

I am often confused with the red backed salamander; however, I have a white and “peppered” colored belly making it easy to distinguish us from one another.

Four toed salamanders often nest in soft mosses directly above water, keeping the eggs moist and making it easy for them to reach water once the little ones hatch.

Once my eggs hatch they will reach the water by simply dropping down into it or wriggling their way through the moss.

The next generation soon to hatch!

The next generation soon to hatch! Can you see their  front limbs starting to form?

On Wednesday, May 28, a couple dedicated research students and a professor from Houghton College, joined by RTPI’s Conservation Technician Elyse Henshaw, found me and my nest. They quickly took some photos so that they could share my story with you and returned me back to my nest, causing no harm. Since there is so little known about my kind, humans are interested in learning more about how I behave and what resources my young require during their time of development in the water.

Furthermore, like all of my amphibian relatives I need my habitat taken care of and not heavily disturbed. Through various research, responsible humans like those at Houghton and RTPI can determine what I need to best survive and put forth management practices to ensure that I can continue to happily live in the area’s forests. I am an important species and can help humans by eating various insect pests, demonstrating the health of the forests and looking cute for all of those that are clever enough to find me.

I am one of the several species RTPI is working to learn about, conserve and educate others on. This summer RTPI is surveying the region to learn more about what is here and will have the help of several other passionate people. So be on the lookout for RTPI staff, JCC interns, SUNY Fredonia students, SUNY ESF students and Houghton students and professors aiding in the important work that is being done within the area.

Elyse Henshaw
Conservation Technician