Range
Narrow range in the Appalachian Mountains along the northern border of Tennessee and North Carolina, and a small area in adjacent Virginia.
Habitats
Typically found at elevations above 4900 feet in spruce-fir and hardwood forests. It is a highly terrestrial species that can often be found away from water sources, and is known to climb trees up to 2 meters high. It often hides under small pieces of wood debris, moss, leaf litter, or small stones.
Identification
One of the smallest salamanders in North America, this species only reaches 4-6 cm in total length. It has a relatively large head with a blunt pointed snout, and laterally positioned eyes that are only mildly bulging. It has a stout body with well-developed legs and long, non-webbed toes. Its tail is shorter than its body, and round in cross-section. Its back is typically adorned with a unique herringbone pattern, and it can be shades of orange, red, or brown. Most individuals have a dark lateral stripe on each side of the face, running through the eye.
Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians