Weller's Salamander

Range

They are found in areas with high elevations such as Mountain Rogers and Whitetop Mountain Virginia, Unaka Mountain in North Eastern Tennessee, Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.

Habitats

They live underneath logs, stones and rock. They are also found sometimes at lower elevations or mixed deciduous forest. They go underground during cold periods and resurface when its warm. They feed on chelonethoda, arachnids, acarina, collembola, hemiptera, lepidoptera, diptera, coleoptera. Breeding takes place in spring and fall that is around April and September. Secondary sex characteristics are evident during this time. Eggs are deposited underneath logs and moss mats which also serve as brooding sites. They lay 4-11 eggs which are about 3.6-6.5 mm.

Identification

They vary in length from 63.5 mm to 79.2 mm. It has 16 coastal grooves laterally. There's a line running from the head to the base of the tail of the dorsal median surface. The dorsal surface is black but with an abundance of light golden or silver patches. The lateral surface has a distribution of golden spots. Belly has white pigments. The male is larger and endowed with brighter colors than the female. The head is slightly larger than the neck. The fore feet have 4 toes and the hind feet has 5 toes. The feet and hands are slightly webbed between short toes.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians