Scientific Name: Eurycea longicauda
Size: 4-6.25 inches (10-15.9 cm) in length
PA Status: Abundant

Habitat Type:
Upland deciduous and mixed hardwood-conifer forest, meadows/forest borders, open shale banks, road-cuts, pond banks, streams, springs, and in caves and mines.

Colorations:

• The color and pattern is highly variable. There are three common patterns.

Most Common Variation.

• The dorsal background color ranges from lighter yellow, orange to deep brick red with an abundant amount of irregular black spots that cover the dorsum and sides of the body.
• The head has a few round spots on the top; with dense spotting on the sides of the head that often form a line from the neck to the posterior margin of the eye.

Less Common Variation.

• The dorsal background color ranges from lighter yellow, orange to deep brick red with an abundant amount of black spots covering the sides and a single medial row of dorsal spots.
• The head has spotting on the sides; No spots are present on the top of the head.

Least Common Variation.

• The dorsal background color ranges from lighter yellow, orange to deep brick red with fine black spots covering the body.
• The head has fewer and smaller spots on the sides; No spots are present on the top of the head.

In all Variations.

• The ventral surface is light yellow.
• The chin, throat, and upper chest may have some dark maculations.
• The tail has a series of herringbone shaped markings that run along the entire length of both sides. The dorsum of the tail is usually mottled with black, but may have no markings.

Characteristics:

• Large, long and slender species.
• The head is distinctly set off from the body and somewhat depressed dorsoventrally.
• The eyes are large and protrude.
• The limbs are well-developed and strong.
• The tail is very long and laterally compressed with a well-developed knife-like dorsal keel.
• 13-14 costal grooves.

Juvenile coloration and characteristics:

• Similar to adults but lack maculations on the chin, throat, and upper chest area.

Recently Transformed coloration and characteristics:

• The dorsal color is olive grey.
• The sides are black.
• The chin is dark.

Larvae coloration and characteristics:

• Stream-type with short well-developed gills that branch slightly.
• The body is streamline.
• The dorsal fin is well-developed and terminates above the insertion of the hindlegs.
• The ventral is white.
• The lateral and dorsal surfaces of the head and body are covered with small dark flecks.
• Mature Larvae – The dorsal background is clear yellow with a medial row of dark spots.
• The sides are heavily flecked with dark mottling.

Hatchling coloration and characteristics:

• The dorsal color is cream and uniformly marked with melanophores.
• The underside of the throat often has patches of melanophores.

Confused with:

• Two-Lined Salamander

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults

Range Map:

References:

• Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 88-93pp.
• Petranka, James W. ,1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. 254-257pp.

Photo Credits:

• Kyle Loucks
• Billy Brown
• Dave Emma
• Jeff Hankey