# Long-tailed Salamander (*Eurycea longicauda*) The Long-tailed Salamander is a small, colorful creature that loves to hide under rocks and logs. With its long tail and bright skin, it is a fun friend to find in the forest! - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Long-tailed Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Longtailed_Salamander_%28Eurycea_longicauda%29_-_Flickr_-_2ndPeter.jpg&width=800) Photo: Peter Paplanus from St. Louis, Missouri, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Longtailed_Salamander_%28Eurycea_longicauda%29_-_Flickr_-_2ndPeter.jpg) ## Appearance The Long-tailed Salamander is a slender amphibian, typically bright yellow to orange-yellow, covered with distinctive black spots or blotches. Its most striking feature is an incredibly long, slender tail, often more than half its total body length, making it visually distinct from other salamanders. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Plethodontidae - **Genus:** Eurycea ## Interesting facts - Each salamander has unique spots, like a fingerprint, to tell them apart! - Long-tailed Salamanders sometimes 'dance' to attract a mate in their underwater world! - Their extra-long tail can be more than half their entire body length! - They use tiny teeth to grab their prey, which they then swallow whole! ## Special abilities - **Quick Regeneration:** Long-tailed Salamander can regrow lost limbs, tails, even parts of their jaws, making them highly resilient to injury. - **Distracting Tail:** Long-tailed Salamander can drop its tail if grabbed, which wiggles on its own to distract a predator while it escapes. - **Super Senses:** Long-tailed Salamander has keen senses, including excellent night vision, helping them find food and avoid danger in darkness. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-18 cm - **Weight:** 0.003-0.008 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-60 - **Metamorphosis:** 90-180 days ## Diet & Feeding These salamanders are tiny hunters, eating small insects and other invertebrates they find near water. - **Age differences:** Young larvae eat tiny aquatic invertebrates; adults switch to larger insects on land. - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Spiders, Crickets, Larvae, Snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Common predator in and around their moist habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Nocturnal predator that searches for prey near water. - **Hunts:** Allegheny Mound Ant (*Formica subsericea*) — Actively preys on ants and other small terrestrial insects. - **Hunts:** [Leopard Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard-slug) (*Limax maximus*) — Will consume various slugs and other slow-moving invertebrates. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a salamander, watch it from a distance and don't touch it. They are delicate and need to stay safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Long-tailed Salamander? Compare body shape, toes, markings, tail and skin texture. Tadpoles and larvae can look nothing like the adults they turn into. Amphibian Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Long-tailed Salamander? 10-18 cm ### How much does Long-tailed Salamander weigh? 0.003-0.008 kg ### How long does Long-tailed Salamander live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Long-tailed Salamander move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Long-tailed Salamander eat? These salamanders are tiny hunters, eating small insects and other invertebrates they find near water. ### Where is Long-tailed Salamander usually found? Forests ### How does Long-tailed Salamander hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Crystal Grottoes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-grottoes) — Maryland, US · Natural Landmark - [Harmony Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harmony-historic-district) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic District - [Illinois Caverns State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-caverns-state-natural-area) — Illinois, US · State Park [View all places to see Long-tailed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/long-tailed-salamander) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Long-tailed Salamander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-tailed-salamander)