Blue Ridge Blackbelly Salamander
Desmognathus mavrokoilius
Black-bellied salamanders are medium-sized, sturdily built salamanders with short, curled tails and 14 coastal grooves alongside the body. They are the largest species of…
How to identify
Black-bellied salamanders are medium-sized, sturdily built salamanders with short, curled tails and 14 coastal grooves alongside the body. They are the largest species of the Desmognathus genus, averaging around 4-7 inches long. These salamanders are primarily black or brown in color with two rows of white spots on each side of its body. Although their undersides are typically black in color, younger individuals may have pale yellow or white flecks. Black-bellied salamanders are extremely territorial of their ranges and use chemical cues to ward off predators, which is secreted through their cloacal glands or as feces.
Range
Desmognathus mavrokoilius inhabits the Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern United States. Its range extends from the eastern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains and the southeastern slope of the Great Balsam Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, northward to Mount Rogers in Virginia. It is mostly found in montane areas near the border of South Carolina.
Habitat
Black-bellied salamanders inhabit mountainous regions at elevations of 1600 t0 5000 feet, and can be found in small, perennial streams and waterfalls where water can seep through. They burrow under rocks during the day and will emerge during the night to hunt for food.
Similar species
This species was once part of Desmognathus quadramaculatus. Distinguishing between the complex is best done by range as their coloration can be variable
Name and etymology
Mavrokoilius: Greek for dark belly
At a glance
Range
Desmognathus mavrokoilius inhabits the Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern United States. Its range extends from the eastern…
Habitat
Black-bellied salamanders inhabit mountainous regions at elevations of 1600 t0 5000 feet, and can be found in small, perennia…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap