Southern Two-lined Salamander

Eurycea cirrigera

Reptiles & Amphibians6.5 to 12 cmIn the app

The Eurycea cirrigera are fairly small salamanders, with narrow bodies, ranging from 2.5-3.75 inches. They are light brown to light yellow with two black longitudinal str…

Southern Two-lined Salamander illustration

How to identify

The Eurycea cirrigera are fairly small salamanders, with narrow bodies, ranging from 2.5-3.75 inches. They are light brown to light yellow with two black longitudinal stripes on its lateral sides running from the eyes onto the tail. The dorsum is sprinkled with black blotches. Between adpressed limbs are costal grooves. Males have cirri, which are small downward projections from the nostrils that are thought to play are role in chemoreception. Males may also be identified by a swollen cloaca.

Range

Southern Two-Lined Salamanders are found throughout the Southeast, except for peninsular Florida. They are found throughout Georgia and South Carolina.

Habitat

They can be found in temperate forests, rivers, freshwater springs, intermittent rivers and swamps. They typically eat soft-bodied insects and sometimes even other smaller salamanders. It is one of the more aquatic plethodontid salamanders in Georgia. Those that live in streams occupy shallow areas where woody debris and cobble are present to provide cover. During breeding, the females lay their eggs on these substrates.

Similar species

The Northern two-lined salamander or Eurycea bislineata is a small salamander with a base coloration of yellow to yellowish brown. Two longitudinal black stripes which breaks up at the tail area characterize its dorsum. The Brownback salamander or Eurycea aquatic is brown to brownish red. There are two dark brown to black stripes that run on its lateral sides from its eyes to its tail. The three-lined salamander or Eurycea guttolineata is a medium sized salamander with a tan to pale yellow coloration. On its dorsum are three bold longitudinal lines from which its name is derived.