Mississippi Slimy Salamander
ExploreAmphibians
Mississippi Slimy Salamander
plethodon mississippi
The Mississippi Slimy Salamander (Plethodon mississippi) is a striking, terrestrial woodland amphibian native to the forested regions of Mississippi and neighboring areas in the southeastern United States. Like other members of the slimy salamander complex, this species is renowned for its incredible defense mechanism: a highly viscous, glue-like skin secretion released when threatened, which can easily gum up the mouth of a potential predator. This lungless salamander spends most of its life hidden in dark, humid microhabitats, such as under decaying logs or deep leaf litter. It plays an important role in forest ecosystems as an indicator of forest floor health and a controller of small invertebrate populations.
Habitat: Found in moist, mature deciduous or mixed hardwood forests, usually sheltering beneath rotting logs, flat rocks, and deep leaf litter.
Appearance
This medium-sized salamander typically measures between 11 and 18 centimeters in length, featuring a sleek, dark black or dark grey body heavily speckled with bright, silvery-white or brassy flecks along its back and sides. It has a rounded snout, dark eyes, and a pale grey throat, with a robust tail that constitutes about half of its total length.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderCaudataFamilyPlethodontidaeGenusPlethodon
Category
AmphibiansRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
The glue-like skin secretion of the slimy salamander is so strong it can stick to human hands for days and cannot be easily washed off with water.
They use a behavior called nose-tapping to pick up chemical trails left by potential mates or rival salamanders on the forest floor.
Unlike many other amphibians, they skip the aquatic tadpole stage completely, hatching from eggs laid on land as fully-formed miniature salamanders.
Special abilities
Ability
Sticky Adhesive Defense
Produces a thick, highly sticky mucus from skin glands when harassed, which is incredibly difficult for predators to remove.
Ability
Cutaneous Respiration
Lacks lungs entirely, absorbing oxygen directly through its moist skin and the specialized lining of its mouth.
Ability
Tail Autotomy
Can voluntarily shed its tail when grabbed by a predator, allowing the wiggling appendage to distract the threat while the salamander escapes.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 11-18 cm
- Weight
- 0.005-0.015 kg
- Lifespan
- 5-10 years
- Clutch Size
- 10-35
- Incubation
- 50-70 days
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on a wide variety of small forest-floor invertebrates, primarily hunting at night on moist ground.
Primary Foods
- Ants
- Beetles
- Earthworms
- Spiders
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
This small terrestrial predator frequently hunts young and adult Mississippi slimy salamanders on the forest floor.
hunts
Black Carpenter Ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
The salamander feeds heavily on these abundant ground-dwelling insects, helping control their population.
eaten by
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Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Forages in the damp leaf litter and will occasionally prey on emerging juvenile salamanders.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Mississippi Slimy Salamander?
The easiest way to identify Mississippi Slimy Salamander is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Mississippi Slimy Salamander?
11-18 cm
How much does Mississippi Slimy Salamander weigh?
0.005-0.015 kg
How long does Mississippi Slimy Salamander live?
5-10 years
What does Mississippi Slimy Salamander eat?
Feeds on a wide variety of small forest-floor invertebrates, primarily hunting at night on moist ground.
Where is Mississippi Slimy Salamander usually found?
Found in moist, mature deciduous or mixed hardwood forests, usually sheltering beneath rotting logs, flat rocks, and deep leaf litter.
How does Mississippi Slimy Salamander hunt?
Foraging
How many eggs does Mississippi Slimy Salamander lay?
10-35
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