Family: Plethodontidae, Lungless Salamanders view all from this family

Description 4 7/8-7 1/8" (12.5-18.1 cm). Slender, long-tailed brook salamander. Dull yellow to bright orange above; scattered black spots sometimes form 2 or 3 longitudinal rows. Belly yellowish and unspotted. Tail prehensile, clearly longer than body. Costal grooves, 14-15.

Breeding Fall to spring. Lays 50-90 eggs that cling separately to undersides of stones in cave or spring waters. Larvae hatch at 3/8" (10 mm), transform during second year at about 2" (57 mm).

Habitat Twilight zone of limestone caves or nearby springs and woodlands.

Range Limited to limestone areas; w. Virginia and se. West Virginia south to c. Alabama, west to ne. Oklahoma.

Discussion Adults, assisted by a prehensile tail, are great climbers, exploring crevices of cave walls for insect prey. They also forage outside caves under stones and woodland debris. Larvae grow slowly because of low water temperatures and the general scarcity of food.