Plethodon glutinosus

Northern Slimy Salamander
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Caudata
Family:	Plethodontidae
Genus:	Plethodon
Species:	P. glutinosus
Binomial name
Plethodon glutinosus (Green, 1818)
Synonyms
Salamandra glutinosa Green, 1818 Cylindrosoma glutinosum Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854 Plethodon variolosum Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854 Salamandra elongata Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854 Salamandra melanoleuca Wied-Neuwied, 1865 Amblystoma melanoleuca Boulenger, 1882

The Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) is a species of terrestrial plethodontid salamander found through much of the eastern two thirds of the United States, from New York, west to Illinois, south to Texas, and east to Florida, with an isolated population in southern New Hampshire. It is called slimy because it is capable of excreting a sticky glue-like substance from its skin. It is also sometimes referred to as the Blue-spotted Salamander, Viscid Salamander, Grey-spotted Salamander, or Sticky Salamander depending on which source is consulted. Due to its large geographic range, some taxonomic researchers have suggested splitting Plethodon glutinosus into several distinct species, but this is not widely accepted.

Description

The Slimy Salamander is typically an overall black in color, with numerous silvery spots or gold spots across its back. They are usually 12-17 cm (4¾-6¾ inches) in length, but can grow to 20.6 cm (8⅛ inches).^[1] Males are not easily distinguished from females, though females tend to be slightly larger. They have 15-17 costal grooves.

Behavior

All Plethodonid salamanders are territorial, and will fight aggressively for territory. Their preferred habitat is in moist soil or leaf litter beneath stones, rotting logs or other debris near a permanent water source. They will sometimes make use of other animal's burrows. Their diet consists primarily of ants, beetles, sow bugs, and earthworms, but they will consume most kinds of insect.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place in the spring, and courtship consists of the males performing a sort of dance to attract the female's attention. Females lay clutches of 4 to 12 eggs in a moist area, which she will guard over, often neglecting food for the period until they hatch. Hatchlings emerge from the eggs in approximately 3 months, having no aquatic stage, like many other salamander species. They instead develop straight into their entirely terrestrial adult form. Maturity is not reached for 2–3 years.

References

1. ^ Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, 2nd edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.

• Animal Diversity Web: Plethodon glutinosus
• Amphibian Species of the World: Plethodon glutinosus

External links

• Caudata Culture Species Entry: Plethodon Complex