Seal Salamander

Desmognathus monticola

Seal Salamander

SLSA

Status

The Seal Salamander is abundant to common in the mountains and upper Piedmont. Alabama state protects this species under nongame laws.

Description

The Seal Salmander is a medium-sized (8–14.9 cm), light brown to gray salamander with dark brown reticulations on its dorsum. The venter is either lightly mottled or uniform in color. The tail is keeled.

Distribution

This species occurs from southwestern Pennsylvania south through West Virginia, western Maryland, eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, western Virginia and North Carolina, to extreme northwest South Carolina and northeast Georgia. Disjunct populations occur in the Red Hills Province of southwest Alabama, and in extreme northwest Florida.

Habitat

This species is most common in the mountains and foothills. It is found in or near cold, rocky, flowing streams, seepages, and springs. This species is more aquatic than the congeneric Dusky and Mountain Dusky Salamanders.

Special Requirements

Desmognathus monticola requires shaded streams with an abundance of rocks.

Breeding Habits

The Seal Salamander breeds in late spring and deposits its eggs (12–36) in early summer. The female will then remain with the eggs until hatching occurs in late summer.

Food Habits

This salamander is an opportunistic feeder; its diet includes small arthropods and worms.

Management Suggestions

Impoundments of mountain streams and clearcuts, or intensive harvesting without stream buffer zones, would be detrimental to this species.

Additional References

Martof and others 1980.