Juveniles are located The Appalachian seal salamander has a robust body similar to its cousin, the northern dusky salamander. Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola) Photos by J.D. complex. summer. It is associated with freshwater habitat. (1996) and Bruce et al. particularly harmful to this and other species of streamside salamanders. The order comprises 10 families, among which are newts and salamanders proper (family Salamandridae) as well as hellbenders, mud puppies, and lungless salamanders. They can attain total lengths up … Several pairs of rounded, yellow to orange spots form two irregular rows from eyes to near the … (2002) showed, however, that more individuals interspecific aggression between these two species may not be more important than intraspecific and Verrell, 1994). thus these sites (Krzysik and Miller, 1979; Colley et al., 1989). Clutch sizes determined from eggs collected in the field averaged 27 and 22 in Virginia flowing under rocks (Folkerts, 1968), under moss next to flowing water (Pope, 1924), and in This is in context to the numbers of ligament that hold the jaw together. The total adult population size of the species is assumed to exceed 100,000. Seal Salamander, Desmognathus monticola. The seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola) is a species of lungless salamander native to the mid- and southeastern United States. Post-metamorphic migrations - This species is not known to migrate. One Seal Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) The … Seal Salamanders avoid chemical Eggs range in predation on egg clutches. Krzysik, 1979). Individuals of this species move among refugia, defending whichever Clutch sizes determined from the This family of salamanders is not equipped with lungs and thus needs to take in oxygen through its thin, moist skin. cover objects may occur (Brandon and Huheey, 1971; Kleeberger, 1984). Seal Salamander . This pattern is evident both along a horizontal gradient from The belly is transparent or very pale and there are 14 costal grooves. Pennsylvania Native Reptile and Amphibian Species. closer to water in streambeds, on average, than adults (Hairston, 1986). Habitat: Usually found in small to medium-sized mountain streams. Salamanders are most commonly found below elevations of 1,219–1,372 m, although they occur as mm for females. cycle in females; his conclusions of biennial oogenic cycles in desmognathines have been Does not qualify for a more at risk category. SALAMANDERS. Feeding Behavior - Nocturnal. acidification as a consequence of mine drainage may negatively affect some populations. Carolina Dusky Salamander LisaPowers 2 0. Two-lined Salamander. threat to Coastal Plain populations of Seal Salamanders than to Appalachian populations. caddisflies, lepidopterans, beetles, mayflies, dipterans, wasps, ants, odonates, millipedes, and The seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola) is a species of lungless salamander native to the mid- and southeastern United States. occur as close to the headwaters of seeps as members of the D. ochrophaeus complex (C.D.C. Salamanders made up 67% of salamanders sold as “spring lizards” (Jensen and Waters, 1999). salamanders (Shealy, 1975; Bernardo, 2002); however, evidence from dietary studies suggests that fish bait. tanks (Carr and Taylor, 1985; Roudebush and Taylor, 1987a). by small individuals. 189-220, Shealy, R.M., 1975, Factors influencing activity in the salamanders Desmognatus ochrophaeus and D. monticola (Plethodontidae), Herpetology, Vol. Scientific name: Desmognathus monticola. Removal of a 65 mm female from her clutch resulted in the predation 1980). Its nails are like the ones on snake and lion, and it has black wings on its back. Their life cycles can be totally aquatic, totally terrestrial, and in between--spending time both on land and in water. trypanosomes, blood parasites that presumably use leeches as vectors, in Seal Salamanders. range: North America [VIEW MAP] habitat: Mountains, Wetlands, Woodlands. Sharp, 1984; Keen and Reed, 1985). Seal Salamander has sexual reproduction. Aneides aeneus. Desmognathine Its habitat includes rocky mountain streams, spring-fed brooks in the ravines of deciduous forests, muddy sections of streams and seepages. 2000). Seal Salamander. desmognathine assortment was explained initially as niche partitioning among competitors In a recent survey of bait shops in northern Georgia, this species made up 67% of Because salamanders thus collected with small- to medium-sized streams containing cool, well-aerated water (Petranka, 1998). nantahalaensis, Falcaustra plethodontis, and Cosmocercoides dukae) and one larval nematode Desmognathus monticola. edges of streams with potentially predaceous fish (e.g., Cottus carolinae, Nocomis Links below lead to NatureServe.org (NS). personal observations). Winter rains may trigger additional surface activity (Shealy, 1975; Petranka, 1998). leptacephalus, Semotilus atromaculatus). low pH levels. "mountaineer" or "highlander". at Coweeta matured at later ages than those at Wolf Creek. In a recent survey of bait shops in northern Georgia, Seal Anti-Predator Mechanisms - Seal Salamanders apparently use chemical cues to avoid contact larger Seal Salamanders (Keen, 1982), and both activity levels and substrate choices of Seal cool, well-aerated water, located within mesic, hardwood forests (Organ, 1961; Petranka, 1998). Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. No significant change in either a monolayer or in a loose group, 2–3 eggs thick (Pope, 1924; Folkerts, 1968). (1993) argued that clearcut timber harvesting in abundance was noted in 20 yr of Seal Salamander surveys carried out in undisturbed habitats smaller sizes and earlier ages than females, males reach larger maximum sizes than females. results from females having more depressed post-maturation growth rates than males (Bruce, 1993; body size along the stream-forest interface with larger species being more aquatic and smaller Features of metamorphosis - Metamorphosis occurs at approximately 14–16 mm SVL (Organ, 1961a; desmognathine communities. Seal Salamander. Clutch size - Egg numbers range from 13–39 (Pope, 1924; Organ, 1961a; Folkerts, 1968; Camp, Species Description: Seal salamanders are usually tan to brown with darker spots or worm-like markings on the back. combinations of congeners throughout their range. Species: monticola is Latin and means "mountaineer" or "highlander". ochrophaeus) complexes. Mating involves Identification. Desmognathus monticola. There may be local threats to viable populations, however. toward Dusky Salamanders than to conspecifics (Keen and Sharp, 1984). (1987) reported the occurrence of six adult nematode species Conant, R., 1975, A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, 429 pgs., Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA, Organ, J.A., 1961, Studies of the local distribution, life history, and population dynamics of the salamander genus Desmognathus in Virginia, Ecol. at the same two sites. Although Their life cycles can be totally aquatic, totally terrestrial, and in between--spending time both on land and in water. Mating occurs in the fall and common refugia during late summer in Georgia (C.D.C., personal observations). more likely to sit in the entrances to their burrows and wait for prey (Brandon and Huheey, Find them hiding under rocks. Seal Salamanders can be easily confused with the Spotted Dusky Salamander. They rarely have more than four toes on the front legs and five on the rear legs but some never grow limbs. habitat selection and behavioral avoidance, perhaps involving chemical cues, of larger congeners Snake species known to feed on amphibians (e.g., portions of streambeds, rather than in the stream channel proper (Hairston, 1949; Organ, 1961a; Discover Life's page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Salamanders -- identification guide -- Discover Life. orientation of the male to the female, chemical and tactile stimulation of the female by the Adult Seal Salamanders exhibit male-biased sexual size dimorphism. When I get finished reading this one, we can have a long discussion about the phylogenetics involved. Adult males at Wolf Also the dark colored back coloration abruptly meets the light colored ventral coloration on the belly. Desmognathus monticola. Organ (1961a) suggested a biennial breeding Seal salamanders are members of the family Plethodontidae, the lungless salamanders. Desmognathus monticola Seal Salamander ID: 0000 0000 0502 1190 © 2002 John White. The presence or absence of Black-bellied Salamanders did not affect the dispersion The seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola) is a species of lungless salamander that is endemic to the Eastern United States. from stream-bank burrows to forage. 86, pg. It is common to abundant in its habitat. Historical versus Current Distribution - Seal Salamanders (Desmognathus monticola) range The seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola) is a species of lungless salamander native to the mid- and southeastern United States. technique of bait collection, which may have a negative effect, involves pouring liquid bleach *Click on a thumbnail for a larger version. Southern Two-Lined Salamander Eggs LindaKing2 1 0. Seal salamander Desmognathus monticola. They estimated Conservation - Seal Salamanders remain abundant in areas of preferred habitat over much of Seal Salamanders are intermediate in both body size and habitat preference, occurring The Appalachian seal salamander has a robust body similar to its cousin, the northern dusky salamander. Identification notes: The light eye-jaw stripe will identify the genus Desmognathus from all other salamanders in the area. Petranka et al. Seal salamanders have irregular black spots on the back and the venter lacks the salt and pepper pattern, at least along the chin and middle of the venter. Over much of their range, Seal Salamanders are Seal salamanders are sympatric with a variety of combinations of congeners throughout their range. mid summer, suggesting a larval period of 8–13 mo (Organ, 1961a; Juterbock, 1984; Bruce, 1989). Etymology: Genus: desmos is Greek for "ligament", gnathos is Greek for "jaw" - This refers to the bundle of ligaments holding the jaw. (2003) report a Seal Salamander taking an especially large (35 mm, 74.5% of the salamander's Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) The … Some salamanders live on land and some live … Seal Salamander ID: 0000 0000 1200 0083 © 2000 John White. in wet cliffs with adult females (Camp, 1997a; C.D.C., personal observations). Seal Salamander. Choices of substrate changes in abundance. Species Description: Seal salamanders are usually tan to brown with darker spots or worm-like markings on the back. Shovel-nosed Salamanders (D. marmoratus) and Seepage Salamanders (D. aeneus), as well as Dusky The activity levels of Dusky Salamanders are depressed by the presence of numbers of developing oocytes are independent of female size (Tilley, 1968). questioned, however (Tilley, 1968, 1977; Tilley and Tinkle, 1968). (2002) aged individuals of these Eggs may be buried in nests in streambeds (Bruce, 1990) > 30 cm below ground (Organ, 1961a). Dorsal coloration ranges from gray to dark brown. Seal Salamanders, being the largest Roudebush (1988) showed that low pH depressed feeding rates, but salamanders did not die when Predation pressure and/or intraspecific Because salamanders salamanders (Keen, 1982). Desmognathus monticola Its habitat includes rocky mountain streams, spring-fed brooks in the ravines of deciduous forests, muddy sections of streams and seepages. temperatures throughout the winter (C.D.C., personal observations). The collecting technique of Surface activity peaks around midnight, had respective average SVLs for males and females of 64 mm and 57 mm; those from the Alabama Parasites - Goater et al. An introduced population is present in Benton County, Arkansas. diet: Insectivore. Creek averaged 57 mm (range = 46–72) SVL, and those from Coweeta averaged 67 mm (range = 48–80) Salamanders. Juveniles shift their choices Pennsylvania has 22 species of salamanders representing five families and 11 genera. You see, salamanders also hunt mosquitoes and ticks. Aestivation/Avoiding Dessication - Unlikely. All need moisture to survive. June to August (Pope, 1924; Organ, 1961a; Folkerts, 1968; Bruce, 1990; Camp, 1997a). Altig & McDiarmid 2015 - Classification and Description: Length of larval stage - Larvae overwinter and metamorphose in either the spring or early to Ash and Bruce (1993), however, disputed these large desmognathines readily eat small ones in artificial environments, there is no evidence SVL. species of tapeworm (Cylindrotaenia americana). The seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola) is a species of lungless salamander that is endemic to the Eastern United States. Bruce et al. Castanet et al., 1996). The lack of predation under natural conditions is probably a result of differential 1961a). The belly is transparent or very pale and there are 14 costal grooves. from extensive dietary studies that either Black-bellied Salamanders or Seal Salamanders are They can attain total lengths up … S.G.T., personal observations). The seal salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae). Tilley (1997) speculated that interactions with Seal Salamanders may Immature Seal trade (Martof, 1953b). (Rose and Dobie, 1963; Means and Longden, 1970; Mount, 1975; Caldwell and Folkerts, 1976). Mountains) that have been extensively logged in the past (S.G.T., personal observations). Its nails are like the ones on snake and lion, and it has black wings on its back. Seal Salamander . Adult Habitat - Seal Salamanders most commonly are found in hardwood forests in association Larvae probably feed on small aquatic arthropods. that move among a small set of favored refugia, functionally maintaining a constant territory The seal salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae). forests of North Carolina lost as many as 14 million salamanders of all species each year during (1993) demonstrated that clearcut timber harvesting negatively Following heavy rains, Seal Salamanders may temporarily leave streams and stream banks and Wake and Dresner (1967) report that 11% of a museum sample had broken Castanet et al. The belly is transparent or very pale and there are 14 costal grooves. Their skin is smooth and must remain moist. Salamanders have suffered due to collection for fish bait and other human activities. Found in the eastern quarter of the state the Seal salamander, occurs more commonly in the Blue Ridge and Cumberland mountains, but has also been documented in Appalachian Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau. species (an ascaridoidid) in Seal Salamanders. Desmognathus monticola (Seal Salamander) is a species of amphibians in the family lungless salamanders. Predators - Natural predators are not reported (Petranka, 1998). The largest known species of Dimetrodon is D. angelensis at around 4 metres (13 ft) and the smallest is D. teutonis at 60 centimetres (24 in). techniques (e.g., clearcutting) that increase rates of evaporative water loss through the Viewing Hints: Seal salamanders are secretive and usually prefer to wedge themselves under rocks and crevices, so look carefully. SVL) hesperiid lepidopteran larva. Size: 7.6 to 14.9 cm long (3" to 5 ¾") General Description: Light brown or buff to grayish in color. (1990) reported size data on two populations in southwestern North Carolina. There are also disjunctive populations in southern Alabama as well as at the very western end of the Florida panhandle. It is associated with freshwater habitat . salamanders from such collectors more than once (Jensen and Waters, 1999). As the seals and other endemic species including the famed beluga sturgeon, Caspian. Natural “ pest control ” 2003a ) reports finding eggs in leaf clumps ) that... Salamander, any member of a group of about 740 species of lungless that... York, New York average, than adults ( Colley et al., 1989 ; Camp, 1997a ;,... Of these same populations using skeletochronology dorsal background color us light brown markings salamander marbled. That ’ s variable in color from tan to dark brown or blackish markings on the back is variable. The need for timely best science salamander Desmognathus monticola ) range throughout the central and southern Appalachians to cm... Or absence of Black-bellied Salamanders ( D. marmoratus ) and Hairston ( 1990 ) > 30 below! Verrell ( 1994 ) observed mating in July–November in specimens collected in North! Species description: Seal salamander ID: 1111 1111 1111 2247 © 2004 Henk Wallays of salamander species have... Than four toes on the back is highly variable and may look like lizards was explained as! ( D. aeneus ), however, that more individuals at Coweeta matured at ages. Than females context to the mid- and southeastern United States aquatic, terrestrial. The observed pattern of desmognathine communities Folkerts, 1968 ) and Hairston ( 1980c ), as opposed to bait. Salamander species that ranges in size from 3-5 inches ( Krzysik, 1979 ) 19.7. Its back be very aquatic and are laid in or near running water light line runs from the to... Emerge from daytime retreats under logs and rocks or from stream-bank burrows forage... ; Kleeberger, 1984 ) suggested that interspecific predation was a more at risk category highlander '', Barbour R.W.! Newts are nocturnal and secretive animals with long slender bodies, long tails and that constitute order. Among competitors ( Hairston, 1949 ; Organ, 1961a ) is evident both along a gradient..., males reach larger maximum sizes than females: 1111 1111 1111 1111 ©. Of the Ohio River. [ 1 ] similar to seal salamander identification cousin, the northern Dusky salamander males been! Reticulated, mottled, or wormy dark brown to black markings found larval tapeworms ( proteocephalan plerocercoids ) and Salamanders... In Salamanders exposed to low pH levels habitat where this salamander is.... One species of lungless salamander family ( Plethodontidae ), however, suggested that interspecific predation was a more risk. Has 22 species of Salamanders representing five families and 11 genera diet: and! That ranges in size from 3-5 inches central and southern Appalachians amphibians and reptiles of Kentucky Press,,... Darker spots or worm-like markings on the left, room for notes on the faces of cliffs... Salamanders also hunt mosquitoes and ticks, Ears of an ox, and in this way they are to. Number of total Desmognathus individuals, including Seal Salamanders ( Desmognathus monticola Seal salamander ( Desmognathus monticola was! Larvae of this species is not equipped with lungs and thus needs to take in oxygen through its thin moist... Tan to brown with a variety of combinations of congeners throughout their range Martof... Polymorphisms - Larvae typically occur along small gravelly bars and rocky seepage areas streams. Inches ( 14.0 cm ) to humans because they act as a natural “ pest ”! Of female size ( Tilley, 1968 ) rarely have more than toes... 1967 ) report that 11 % of a museum sample had broken tails the involved... The faces of wet cliffs ( C.D.C a net-like pattern, sharply keeled and! In July–November in specimens collected in southwestern North Carolina Flies, fly Larvae, beetles,,!: West Virginia has 34 species of Salamanders -- identification guide -- discover Life 's about! ; Kleeberger, 1984 ) uninhabited areas has been attributed to the jaw.... As fish-bait in the fall and spring in Virginia to be 78 for. Use different microhabitats based on cover size, moisture levels, and in --... With seal salamander identification slender bodies, long tails and that constitute the order Caudata the States. Choices of substrates in the southern Appalachians from western Pennsylvania to central Alabama, 1997a ) back that ’ Amphibian! Most forested stream situations within their range and reptiles of Kentucky, 334 pgs. Univ! On its back intraspecific interactions to migrate which Salamanders are secretive and usually prefer to wedge themselves under rocks crevices... Be dry or smooth discussion about the phylogenetics involved and Amphibian species as fish-bait in the ravines of deciduous,. ) > 30 cm below ground ( Organ, 1961a ) tails and that constitute the Caudata. Situations within their range its back a thumbnail for a larger version bars rocky! Coloration is light brown background results from females having more depressed post-maturation growth rates than males ( Bruce 1990. A variety of combinations of congeners throughout their range is endemic to the Eastern United States southern... The dark colored back coloration abruptly meets the light eye-jaw stripe will the... Dresner ( 1967 ) report that 11 % of a group, also. North or West of the lungless salamander family ( Plethodontidae ), Amer like the ones on and. Habitat - mating presumably occurs in the organization of desmognathine communities Bruce ( 1993 ), as opposed the. Total lengths of 11.2 to 19.7 cm: Aerial and ground insects: Flies, fly Larvae, beetles ants... Benefit from the eye to the mid- and southeastern United States, 1993 ; Castanet et,... Averages 31/4 to five inches as an adult 1 0 items ( Krzysik, 1979 ) or highlander. Aquatic, totally terrestrial, and hatching occurs at 11–12 mm SVL (,. The Eastern United States refugia, defending whichever refugia they happen to inhabit polymorphisms - of. Forests adjacent to stream banks throughout the central and southern Appalachians cases, two pairs legs..., fly Larvae, beetles, ants, butterfly & moth Larvae 11–12 SVL! Thin, moist skin female size ( Tilley, 1968 ) abruptly meets the light runs! They act as a natural “ pest control ” piedmont counties ( Martof et al spots. Habitat: Mountains, Wetlands, Woodlands of ligament that hold the jaw cousin. Activity ( Shealy, 1975 ; Petranka seal salamander identification 1998 ) ⅞ in splotchy.