# Three-lined Salamander (*Eurycea guttolineata*) The Three-lined Salamander is a small, colorful creature with three bright lines running down its back. It loves to hide under rocks and logs in wet areas, making it a fun animal to discover! - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests and wetlands ![Three-lined Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eurycea_guttolineata_Stanton_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rstanton13, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eurycea_guttolineata_Stanton_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Three-lined Salamander is a slender amphibian, typically yellow, tan, or light brown. It has three distinct dark lines running down its back and sides, making it easy to identify from similar species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Plethodontidae - **Genus:** Eurycea ## Interesting facts - Amazingly, these salamanders don't have lungs and breathe only through their skin! - Female salamanders can guard their precious eggs for weeks until they hatch! - Their subtle stripes help them disappear among wet leaves and twigs on the forest floor! - They have special grooves on their head that help them smell tiny prey underwater! ## Special abilities - **Tail Escape:** The Three-lined Salamander can drop its tail if grabbed, distracting predators while it slips away, then regrows a new one! - **Skin Breathing:** The Three-lined Salamander can breathe through its moist skin, absorbing oxygen directly from both water and damp ground. - **Stealthy Hunter:** The Three-lined Salamander uses its keen sense of smell to ambush small insects and invertebrates in leaf litter. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7.5-12.5 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 0.05 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-50 - **Metamorphosis:** 90-365 days ## Diet & Feeding This little hunter loves to gobble up tiny insects and worms found in damp places. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat aquatic invertebrates; adults hunt terrestrial invertebrates on land. - **Primary Foods:** Springtails, Mites, Small worms, Tiny slugs, Insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — A common snake predator found in salamander habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — An opportunistic hunter that may find salamanders by streams. - **Parasitizes:** Chytrid Fungus (*Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis*) — A serious fungal pathogen impacting amphibian populations globally. ## 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. - [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. - [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. - [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 it stays safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Three-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 Three-lined Salamander? 7.5-12.5 cm ### How much does Three-lined Salamander weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Three-lined Salamander live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Three-lined Salamander move? 0.05 km/h ### What does Three-lined Salamander eat? This little hunter loves to gobble up tiny insects and worms found in damp places. ### Where is Three-lined Salamander usually found? Forests and wetlands ### How does Three-lined Salamander hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Brierfield Furnace](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brierfield-furnace) — Alabama, US · Historic Site - [Riverview Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/riverview-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Santeetlah Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/santeetlah-dam) — North Carolina, US · Historic Site - [Vicksburg National Military Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vicksburg-national-military-park) — Mississippi, US · Park [View all places to see Three-lined Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/three-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: [Three-lined Salamander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/three-lined-salamander)