Chamberlain's Dwarf Salamander
Eurycea chamberlaini
Blends well into dead leaf litter with yellow sides fading up to a light brown back. A jagged dark reddish-brown line separates the yellow from the brown coloration along…
How to identify
Blends well into dead leaf litter with yellow sides fading up to a light brown back. A jagged dark reddish-brown line separates the yellow from the brown coloration along its sides. It has a relatively long tail and long, skinny legs set far apart.
Range
Found in eastern North and South Carolina.
Habitat
Semi-aquatic species that lives along the margins of freshwater streams, rivers, and marshes in temperate forests, hiding amid leaf litter.
Variations
Yellow on sides can be light to vibrant. Dark line down sides can vary from lighter brown to very dark brown.
Similar species
Closely resembles the Hillis's dwarf salamander (*Eurycea hillisi*), which is found further south and west. Also looks like the southern two-lined salamander (*Eurycea cirrigera*) or the coastal plain dwarf salamander (*Eurycea quadridigitata*), both of which can overlap in range.
Name and etymology
Genus
Eurycea
Probably honoring Eurydice the wife of Orpheus in Greek mythology. Although Rafinesque, who named the genus, only wrote "mythological"
Origin
Honors
Sources
- Rafinesque, 1822. Kentucky Gazette, Lexington, N. S., Vol. 1, No. 9, Feb. 28, p. 3, column 6
Eurycea. Rafinesque, 1822 - Kentucky Gazette, Lexington, N. S., Vol. 1, No. 9, Feb. 28, p. 3, column 6
Species epithet
chamberlaini
Honoring Edward Burnham Chamberlain
Origin
Honors
Sources
- Harrison and Guttman, 2003. A New Species of
Eurycea chamberlaini. Harrison and Guttman, 2003. A New Species of
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Range
Found in eastern North and South Carolina.
Habitat
Semi-aquatic species that lives along the margins of freshwater streams, rivers, and marshes in temperate forests, hiding ami…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap