A dusky salamander by David Huth

Where are they from?

They are found from southern Canada down through Kentucky and Tennessee and east of Indiana. They are suited for varied habitats and are able to survive at changing altitudes, such as in the Appalachian and Great Smoky mountains.

What do they eat?

They are carnivorous and eat things such as small crustaceans, insects, larvae, and worms.

How do they act?

These salamanders hatch from eggs and are already fairly well developed. They are aquatic and spend almost a year in the water before they metamorphize and can be terrestrial again. They are nocturnal, which means they are mostly active at night when they can come out from their hiding places with less fear of being eaten by a predator. They are also inactive during the winter if it becomes quite cold.

Are they endangered?

The dusky salamander has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

Amphibian Attention!

These salamanders have no lungs! They “breathe” by absorbing oxygen through their skin, and this gas exchange happens easier when their skin is wet. That’s why they have to live near water!


What if humans could breathe through their skin?


Source: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Desmognathus_fuscus/