Northern Dusky Salamander

Desmognathus fuscus

The Northern Dusky Salamander is a small, slimy creature that loves to live in cool, wet places. They have smooth skin and can be found hiding under rocks or logs in the forest.

Hábitat: Forests

Aspecto

The Northern Dusky Salamander is dark brown or grayish, often with faint darker spots or blotches. It has a distinctive pale line extending from its eye to the corner of its jaw. Its tail is keeled, appearing somewhat flattened from top to bottom.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseAmphibiaOrdenCaudataFamiliaPlethodontidaeGéneroDesmognathus

Northern Dusky Salamander

Categoría

Anfibios

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Larvae have gills, but adults breathe through skin and lungs.

Northern Dusky Salamanders use special organs to 'smell' their surroundings.

Their sticky tongue shoots out super fast to catch unsuspecting bugs!

They can squish into tiny cracks to hide from danger!

Habilidades especiales

Northern Dusky Salamander can breathe underwater and on land through its moist skin, because it has specialized pores that absorb oxygen.

Northern Dusky Salamander can drop its tail when caught by a predator, because this distraction helps it escape danger and grow a new one.

Northern Dusky Salamander has amazing mothers that guard their eggs for weeks, helping them stay safe until they hatch.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 7.5-14 cm
Peso: 0.003-0.015 kg
Esperanza de vida: 10-15 años
Tamaño de la puesta: 15-30
Metamorfosis: 270-540 días

Dieta y alimentación

These tiny hunters eat small bugs and worms they find hiding near streams and moist places.

Diferencias por edad: Young larvae mostly eat tiny aquatic invertebrates in the water.

Alimentos principales

Springtails
Mites
Ants
Beetle larvae
Small earthworms
Spiders

Método de búsqueda

Ambush

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

A common predator in its moist woodland habitat.

eaten by

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Larger fish may prey on salamanders in streams.

eaten by

Masked Shrew

Sorex cinereus

Small mammals sometimes prey on ground-dwelling salamanders.

eats

Girdled Springtail

Orchesella cincta

A common small insect prey found in damp leaf litter.

Rasgos

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Camuflado

El camuflaje describe a los organismos que poseen colores o patrones que les permiten mezclarse con su entorno.

Insectívoro

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos cuya dieta consiste principalmente en insectos y otros pequeños invertebrados.

Bosque

Los hábitats boscosos son entornos terrestres dominados por una densa cubierta arbórea, que sustentan una gran diversidad de vida animal y vegetal.

Descomponedor

Describe a los organismos que descomponen la materia orgánica muerta, reciclando los nutrientes de vuelta al ecosistema.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.