Southern Appalachian Salamander
Plethodon teyahalee
It is a large salamander, its adult growing up to 120mm-170mm in total body length. This animal has scattered small white dots on its dorsum and lateral sides. The dots o…
How to identify
It is a large salamander, its adult growing up to 120mm-170mm in total body length. This animal has scattered small white dots on its dorsum and lateral sides. The dots on its sides are larger than the ones on its back/dorsum. It has four legs that are short with slightly webbed appendages (toes) on each leg, there may also be small red spots marking it’s legs or they may be absent. Its belly is slate gray but the color is lighter on its chin. There is presence of bulging eyeballs that are almost charcoal dark.
Range
The Southern Appalachian salamander is seen in the Unicoi and Great Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee.
Habitat
It can be found under rocks, logs and leaf litters that have collected over time in moist forest woodlands, especially in mountain valleys. It is gathered that this species most likely breeds in the summer or late summer to fall and then its female deposits the eggs underground in the following spring. It will brood its clutch until when they hatch into juveniles. When it comes out from its ‘retreat hole’ at night to forage on the forest floor and dine on a variety of invertebrates including millipedes, beetles, ants and moth larvae, it must also be wary because it is prey for a variety of carnivores which do not exclude snakes and birds.
Similar species
Northern Gray-cheeked salamander or Plethodon monatus is a 90mm- 130mm head-to-tail long salamander with slate gray to bluish- black color, its belly is gray to black and it has no distinguishing colors or markings. It often hybridizes with its closely related species. Red-cheeked Salamander or Plethodon jordani is a long, (90mm to 127mm in length) salamander with a slate gray to bluish-black color and reddish cheek patches which are actually patterns. Its belly is gray to black and no other colors or patterns occur on its body. Tellico salamander or Plethodon aureolus is large and black in color. It measures up to 102mm- 155mm in total length. It has many, brass colored spots on its dorsum while its lateral sides have white or yellowish spots and its belly is gray with a lighter chin. Its tail is round in cross-section
Name and etymology
Teyahalee: Belonging to Teyahalee Bald, North Carolina.
At a glance
Range
The Southern Appalachian salamander is seen in the Unicoi and Great Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee.
Habitat
It can be found under rocks, logs and leaf litters that have collected over time in moist forest woodlands, especially in mou…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap