Species
Southern blackbelly salamander
Desmognathus amphileucus
The largest dusky salamander, a black-bellied hunter of fast mountain streams.
Photo Michael J. Papay (opens in a new tab) / iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
At a glance
- Size
- Usually 10 to 17 cm long; up to about 21 cm
- Habitat
- Fast, rocky mountain streams and waterfalls
- Diet
- Insects, crayfish and other salamanders
- In Georgia
- The mountains of north-east Georgia
- Rabies vector
- No
Identification
- Key marks
- Large and stout; dark with two rows of pale spots on each side; black belly; sharp-edged tail
- Told apart from
- Seal salamander, which is smaller with a pale belly
- Where to look
- Under rocks in fast water and at the base of waterfalls
Behaviour
It lives in the splash zone of fast streams and waterfalls, hunting at night on wet rocks.
Why they matter
It is the top salamander predator in many mountain streams.
Reproduction and lifecycle
Eggs — Attached under rocks in water, guarded by the female
Hatching — In two to three months
Larvae — Aquatic for two to three years
Maturity — At several years
Lifespan — Over 10 years
Breathing — Through the skin; no lungs
Living around people
- At waterfalls, enjoy them from the path; the wet rocks are its home.
Misconceptions
- Waterfalls are too rough for small animals. This salamander lives in their spray.
Related species
Seasonal activity
When this species is breeding, and when there are nests on the ground. Mowing during the shaded months is how most nests are found.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding | Jan: no | Feb: no | Mar: no | Apr: no | May: no | Jun: no | Jul: no | Aug: no | Sep: no | Oct: no | Nov: no | Dec: no |
| Active nests | Jan: no | Feb: no | Mar: no | Apr: no | May: no | Jun: no | Jul: no | Aug: no | Sep: no | Oct: no | Nov: no | Dec: no |
| Notes | Under rocks in water | Under rocks in water | Active | Active | Active | Laying eggs | Females guarding eggs | Guarding eggs | Larvae hatching | Active | Active | Under rocks in water |
Where it lives
Recorded in 4 states and provinces. Each one links to the other animals there, and to the rehabilitators licensed for them.
United States
If you found one
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