# 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. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northern Dusky Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Desmognathus_fuscus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stanley Trauth, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desmognathus_fuscus.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Plethodontidae - **Genus:** Desmognathus ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Skin Breather:** Northern Dusky Salamander can breathe underwater and on land through its moist skin, because it has specialized pores that absorb oxygen. - **Tail Dropper:** Northern Dusky Salamander can drop its tail when caught by a predator, because this distraction helps it escape danger and grow a new one. - **Super Mom:** Northern Dusky Salamander has amazing mothers that guard their eggs for weeks, helping them stay safe until they hatch. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7.5-14 cm - **Weight:** 0.003-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Clutch Size:** 15-30 - **Metamorphosis:** 270-540 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters eat small bugs and worms they find hiding near streams and moist places. - **Age differences:** Young larvae mostly eat tiny aquatic invertebrates in the water. - **Primary Foods:** Springtails, Mites, Ants, Beetle larvae, Small earthworms, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — A common predator in its moist woodland habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. ## Traits - [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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [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, as they can be sensitive. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Dusky 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 Northern Dusky Salamander? 7.5-14 cm ### How much does Northern Dusky Salamander weigh? 0.003-0.015 kg ### How long does Northern Dusky Salamander live? 10-15 years ### What does Northern Dusky Salamander eat? These tiny hunters eat small bugs and worms they find hiding near streams and moist places. ### Where is Northern Dusky Salamander usually found? Forests ### How does Northern Dusky Salamander hunt? Ambush ### How many eggs does Northern Dusky Salamander lay? 15-30 ## Where to spot - [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Currier Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/currier-park-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Barre Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barre-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Campbell Falls State Park Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/campbell-falls-state-park-reserve) — Connecticut, US · Nature Reserve - [Flanders Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flanders-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Gifford State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gifford-state-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest [View all places to see Northern Dusky Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-dusky-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: [Northern Dusky Salamander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-dusky-salamander)