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South Central ARMI
Guide to Louisiana Amphibians |
Adults are both terrestrial and gilled. Terrestrial adults occur in areas with seasonal isolated wetlands, and gilled adults are more commonly found around permanent and semipermanent bodies of water. Terrestrial adults are chunky, black, brown, or gray burrowing salamanders that range from 3 to 4 inches in length. Dorsum is dappled with bluish white markings. Head and feet are disproportionately large in comparison to the rest of the body. Venter is bluish gray and often has a dark midventral line. Adults have large heads and limbs and a short tail. Hind feet have five toes and front feet have four toes. Individuals are often neotenic. Larvae are aquatic. Adults are slow moving and secretive and are occasionally found aboveground under logs and in other damp hiding places. Breeds from late fall to early spring during periods of abundant rainfall. Females lay eggs in fishless water from early December to mid-February in clusters of 4 to 20. Eggs are enclosed in a soft, gelatinous mass. Metamorphosis takes place from late April to early June. Species occurs throughout the State in hardwood wetlands in the lowlands and valleys.
Return to List of Salamander Species
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
