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Four-toed Salamander

Scientific Name: Hemidactylium scutatum
Size: 2-3.5 inches (5-10 cm) in length
PA Status: Species of special concern
PAHERP Resource: Have You Seen Me? Four-toed Salamander

Habitat Type:
Hardwood-conifer or mixed forest with bogs, marshes, woodland ponds, open meadows, or dry wooded hillsides.

Colorations:

  • The dorsal color of the head and body is reddish brown and mottled with black markings along the back that extend onto the dorsal of the tail.
  • The upper surfaces of the limbs and tail are bright reddish orange. The limbs have brown maculatoins.
  • The sides laterally become grey.
  • The ventral is white with scattered irregular bold black blotches or spots.

Characteristics:

  • Moderately slender species.
  • The legs are long and slender.
  • The feet have four toes.
  • The body is cylindrical.
  • The head is somewhat flat.
  • The tail is moderately long, oval in the cross-section with constriction around the base.
  • 13-14 costal grooves.

Hatchlings coloration and characteristics:

  • Resemble adults but they have a shorter tails.

Larvae coloration and characteristics:

  • Pond-type.
  • Well-developed gills and feathery.
  • The body is triangular in the cross-section.
  • The dorsal is brownish grey and mottled with yellowish green.
  • The ventral is immaculate.
  • The body is slender.
  • The eyes are prominent.
  • The dorsal fin extends nearly to the head dorsally and ventrally to the cloaca.
  • The head is broad and short.

Hatchlings coloration and characteristics:

  • The front limbs are developed with four toes on each foot. The rear limbs only have toe buds.

Confused with:

  • None

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults
Four-toed Salamander - By: Bob Hamilton Four-toed Salamander - By: Bob Hamilton Four-toed Salamander - By: Dave Emma
Four-toed Salamander - By: Dave Emma Four-toed Salamander - By: Dave Emma Four-toed Salamander - By: Dave Emma
Four-toed Salamander - By: Tom Diez Four-toed Salamander - By: Tom Diez Four-toed Salamander - By: Tom Diez
Four-toed Salamander - By: Bob Hamilton

Larvae
hemidactylium_scutatum-don-becker hemidactylium_scutatum-don-becker

Eggs
fourtoed_Joe_Wilson

Range Map:

References:

  • Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 96-100pp.
  • Petranka, James W. ,1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. 290-295pp.

Photo Credits:

  • Dave Emma
  • Bob Hamilton
  • Tom Diez
  • Joe Wilson
  • Don Becker
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