# Northern Two-lined Salamander (*Eurycea bislineata*) The Northern Two-lined Salamander is a small, yellowish salamander with two dark stripes. They love to live in cool, damp places and are great at hiding under rocks and logs! - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 23 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northern Two-lined Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Northern_Two-lined_Salamander_Eurycea_bislineata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northern_Two-lined_Salamander_Eurycea_bislineata.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Two-lined Salamander has a slender body with a yellow to orange-yellow back. It is distinctive for two prominent black lines running from behind its eyes down its sides, extending onto the tail. Its underside is typically a pale yellow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Plethodontidae - **Genus:** Eurycea ## Interesting facts - Sometimes they build underground tunnels near streams to stay cool and hidden! - Their name "bislineata" means "two-lined" in Latin, describing their stripes! - These salamanders can live under rocks and logs for many months during winter! - They spend their entire larval life living underwater as tiny gilled creatures! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Breathing:** Northern Two-lined Salamander can breathe underwater and on land through its moist skin and mouth lining because it has no lungs! - **Tail Escape:** Northern Two-lined Salamander can drop its tail when grabbed by a predator, distracting the attacker and allowing the salamander to escape. - **Nocturnal Hunter:** Northern Two-lined Salamander hunts at night, using its keen senses to find tiny insects and worms when predators are less active. - **Secret Blending:** Northern Two-lined Salamander has speckled brown and yellow skin that helps it blend perfectly with rocks and leaves in its streambed home. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.001-0.003 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Clutch Size:** 10-90 - **Metamorphosis:** 365-1095 days ## Diet & Feeding This tiny amphibian loves to snack on small insects, spiders, and other tiny invertebrates found near water! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat tiny aquatic invertebrates, while adults consume a wider variety of terrestrial and aquatic insects. - **Primary Foods:** mayfly larvae, beetles, mites, spiders, small worms - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) — Large fish often prey on both adult and larval salamanders. - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Snakes hunt them near water, especially during warmer months. - **Hunts:** Midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Adults and larvae consume the tiny larval stages of midges in streams. - **Hunts:** Caddisfly (*Limnephilus rhombicus*) — Larval salamanders feed on small caddisfly larvae found on streambeds. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of 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. - [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. - [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. - [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure. - [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 find a salamander, remember to look but not touch, so they can stay safe and happy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Two-lined 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 Two-lined Salamander? 7-12 cm ### How much does Northern Two-lined Salamander weigh? 0.001-0.003 kg ### How long does Northern Two-lined Salamander live? 5-10 years ### What does Northern Two-lined Salamander eat? This tiny amphibian loves to snack on small insects, spiders, and other tiny invertebrates found near water! ### Where is Northern Two-lined Salamander usually found? Forests ### How does Northern Two-lined Salamander hunt? Foraging ### How many eggs does Northern Two-lined Salamander lay? 10-90 ## Where to spot - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Brookfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookfield-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Chesterfield Gorge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesterfield-gorge) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Currier Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/currier-park-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-and-raritan-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Northern Two-lined Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-two-lined-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 Two-lined Salamander Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-two-lined-salamander)