# Southern Two-lined Salamander (*Eurycea cirrigera*) The Southern Two-lined Salamander is a small, slimy creature that loves to hide under rocks and logs. It has beautiful yellow stripes running down its back, making it look very special in its forest home. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Southern Two-lined Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eurycea_cirrigera_342074177.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alex Stach, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eurycea_cirrigera_342074177.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Two-lined Salamander is a slender amphibian, typically yellow-brown to orange with two prominent dark stripes running from its eyes down its sides to its tail. Its back is often dotted with tiny black spots, making it distinct from solid-colored stream salamanders. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Plethodontidae - **Genus:** Eurycea ## Interesting facts - Baby salamanders hatch with feathery gills and live underwater for many months! - Some male salamanders have special whisker-like 'cirri' under their nostrils! - They can grow back lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their eyes! - They lay their tiny eggs under rocks or logs in streams, carefully guarding them! ## Special abilities - **Skin Breathing Superpower:** Southern Two-lined Salamander can absorb oxygen directly through its moist skin because it lacks lungs, which helps them breathe underwater and on land. - **Escape Artist Tail:** Southern Two-lined Salamander can shed its tail when grabbed by a predator because the wriggling tail distracts the attacker, allowing the salamander to escape. - **Forest Floor Cloak:** Southern Two-lined Salamander has coloration that blends perfectly with wet leaves and rocks, which helps them hide from both predators and prey. - **Watery Childhood:** Southern Two-lined Salamander spends its early life as gilled larvae in streams, which allows them to develop in a safe, aquatic environment. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.003-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 1.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-50 - **Metamorphosis:** 180-300 days ## Diet & Feeding This salamander eats tiny insects and other small invertebrates it finds in damp places. - **Age differences:** Young larvae eat small aquatic invertebrates like copepods and insect larvae, while adults eat terrestrial prey. - **Primary Foods:** Small insects, Mites, Springtails, Worms, Larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Snakes hunt them near water. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons search stream beds for them. - **Eats:** Springtail (*Isotoma viridis*) — They hunt tiny springtails among damp leaves. - **Eats:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — They snatch up ants from the forest floor. ## 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, look but don’t touch! They need to stay safe in their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern 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 Southern Two-lined Salamander? 6-12 cm ### How much does Southern Two-lined Salamander weigh? 0.003-0.015 kg ### How long does Southern Two-lined Salamander live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Southern Two-lined Salamander move? 1.5 km/h ### What does Southern Two-lined Salamander eat? This salamander eats tiny insects and other small invertebrates it finds in damp places. ### Where is Southern Two-lined Salamander usually found? Forests ### How does Southern Two-lined Salamander hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Auburn University Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/auburn-university-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Campus - [East Anniston Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-anniston-residential-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Golden Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Haughville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haughville) — Indiana, US · Neighborhood - [Jackson–Washington State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-washington-state-forest) — Indiana, US · Forest - [Madison Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/madison-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District [View all places to see Southern Two-lined Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-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: [Southern Two-lined Salamander Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-two-lined-salamander)