northern zigzag salamander

Northern Zigzag Salamander

Plethodon dorsalis

Range

Central Indiana to central Alabama, including most of Kentucky and Tennessee, and adjacent areas of eastern and southern Illinois and northeastern Mississippi.

Habitats

This salamander prefers moist talus slopes or caves, and will also live in leaf litter on wooded hillsides, ravines, or in sinkholes.

Identification

A small, slender salamander that averages 3.5-5 cm in snout to vent length. Some individuals have a zigzag-shaped dorsal stripe, for which the species is named. It has slender legs and its tail is about the same length as its body. The dorsal stripe is usually light brown to orange, and the background coloration is grey or brown with tiny white speckles. Many individuals lack the dorsal stripe and are solid grey or brown with white frosting. Its ventrum is light grey with dense white speckling.

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