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Dusky Salamander
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Dusky Salamander is a species of lungless salamander found in eastern North America. The species is mainly nocturnal. The salamander is generally solitary barring courtship and mating.
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Amphibia |
Order | Urodela |
Family | Plethodontidae |
Subfamily | Plethodontinae |
Genus | Desmognathus |
Scientific Name | Desmognathus fuscus |
Other Names | Northern Dusky Salamander |
Size | 6 to 14 cm |
Color | Upper surface marked with reddish-brown bordered stripe running down the back; cream-colored belly with scattered gray or brown flecks |
Distribution | West Virginia, Louisiana (United States), Canada |
Habitat | Rocky woodland streams, seepages, springs, floodplains, sloughs, muddy places along upland streams |
Diet | Earthworms, slugs, crustaceans, snails, spiders, mites, flies and fly larvae, ants, beetles and beetle larvae, moths, centipedes, mayflies |
Hibernation Fact | Hibernate during winter |
Predators | Raccoons, striped skunks, shrews, snakes, birds, other salamanders |
Breeding Season | Fall and spring |
Mode of Reproduction | Oviparous (egg laying) |
Clutch Size | 10 to 51 eggs |
Incubation Period | 40 to 80 days |
Reproductive Age | Male: 2 to 3 years of age Female: 3 to 4 years of age |
Average Lifespan | Up to 15 years |
IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Dusky Salamander Pictures Gallery
Published on March 11th 2017 by staff under Salamanders. Article was last reviewed on 30th September 2019.