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Spotted-tail salamander

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Spotted-tail salamander
Adult Eurycea lucifuga
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Genus: Eurycea
Species:
E. lucifuga
Binomial name
Eurycea lucifuga

The spotted-tail or spotted-tailed salamander (Eurycea lucifuga) is a species of brook salamander in the family Plethodontidae.[2] This species is, somewhat vaguely, referred to by the common name of 'cave salamander'; however, it is not restricted to dwelling inside deep caverns, but is known for inhabiting surface-level, terrestrial, woodland habitats, as well. More often than not, the common name 'cave salamander' refers to the "true" cave salamanders, such as the olm (Proteus anguinus) of Europe. It is rarely used to refer to the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), another species which, like the olm, inhabits caves that never see daylight, thus lacking skin pigment and having extremely poor (to useless) eyesight when compared with the vivid orange and bright-eyed spotted-tail salamander.[1][3] Additionally, true cave salamanders, including the olm, spend their entire lives as fully-aquatic amphibians, while the spotted-tail salamander is not limited to an exclusively amphibious lifestyle.

Description

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The spotted-tail salamander is a relatively large lungless salamander, ranging in total length from 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in). The tail makes up a significant proportion of the total length, up to 60–65%.[4] Post-metamorphic individuals have orange to reddish orange backs and a pale, unmarked ventral surface. The dorsal surface of the body is heavily marked with irregularly spaced spots and dashes.[5] The limbs of the spotted-tail salamander are long. There are 14–15 costal grooves on the side of the body. This species has a prehensile tail.[6]

Habitat and distribution

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Spotted-tail salamanders are typically found in areas with exposed limestone or other calcareous rock, particularly in crevices of rock faces, bluffs and caves.[7] This species is also frequently found hundreds of metres from the mouths of caves, far beyond the twilight zone of the cave.[8] Despite the alternative name, the spotted-tail salamander is not restricted to caves, and may be found in forests near bluffs and rocky crevices and around springs, and also under moist rocks and logs.[6][9] This species is found in Alabama, Arkansas[3] Illinois,[10] Missouri,[11] Kentucky, Virginia,[12] West Virginia,[10] Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas, Indiana, and Ohio.

In Arkansas

Courtship and reproduction

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The courtship and mating season is not well documented in this species, although available data suggests it occurs in the summer, continuing to early autumn. Observations made from a pair maintained in captivity are summarized as follows: The courtship of this species is described as similar to that of the Northern two-lined salamander; where the male nudges and rubs his chin on the females’ head and snout. The male may engage in ‘push-ups’ using his hind legs, and begin to position the base of his tail under the females. If receptive, she will straddle his tail as they walk in unison, while the male arches his back. A spermatophore, approximately 4 mm high is deposited on the ground in the females path, which she picks up with her cloaca.[13] After mating, there seems to be a prolonged period in which the females deposit eggs, taking place from September to February.[6] Few biologists have found eggs of the spotted-tail salamander, suggesting that females seek difficult to access places, such as springs, streams and rim stone pools deep within caves and crevices. In Missouri, eggs have been found laid singly or attached to the sides of rimstone pools, on silt deposits or on the bottom of small pools. Recently laid eggs are white, with two jelly membranes surrounding the embryo. Egg diameter ranges from 2.5 to 3.2 mm.[14] Females can produce between 5–120 eggs.[15]

Larval ecology

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Larval spotted-tail salamanders appear similar to other larval Eurycea. Larvae have been found in both surface streams, and in cave streams and pools. It is thought that larvae found in surface streams may have been washed out of caves and crevices by heavy rains. Spotted-tail salamander larvae are predators, and feed primarily on benthic invertebrates, such as snails, ostracods, copepods, isopods, mayflies, stoneflies, beetles and flies, of which ostracods, snails and fly larvae are the most common dietary item. Prey is captured by slowly crawling over the substrate and grasping the invertebrate by the mouth and swallowing it whole, thus prey is limited by the gape of the salamanders mouth.[16] From hatching to metamorphosis to a terrestrial adult takes between 6 and 18 months, although this period is variable by region.[6] Larvae may attain sizes of 70 mm (33 mm snout-to-vent-length) by the time of metamorphosis.[17]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eurycea lucifuga.
  1. ^ a b IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Eurycea lucifuga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T59269A196339688. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T59269A196339688.en. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  2. ^ Conant, R.; Collins, J.T. (1998). Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles and Amphibians (Eastern/Central North America). New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395904528.
  3. ^ a b "Salamanders". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  4. ^ Hutchison, V.H. (1966). Eurycea lucifuga. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. pp. 24.1–24.2
  5. ^ Lannoo, M.J. (1998). Status and Conservation of Midwestern Amphibians. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press. ISBN 0877456321.
  6. ^ a b c d Petranka, J.W. (1998). Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1588343081.
  7. ^ Banta, A.M.; McAtee, W.L. (1906). "The life history of the cave salamander, Spelerpes maculicaudus (Cope)". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 30 (1443): 67–73. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.30-1443.67. hdl:10088/13873.
  8. ^ Peck, S.B.; Richardson, B.L. (1976). "Feeding ecology of the salamander Eurycea lucifuga in the entrance, twilight zone, and dark zone of caves". Annales de Spéléologie. 31: 175–182.
  9. ^ Mount, R.H. (1975). The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Printing. ISBN 0817300546.
  10. ^ a b Conant, R.; J.T. Collins, J.T. (1998). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395904528.
  11. ^ Johnson, T.; Love, K. (1987). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri. Jefferson City, Missouri: Missouri Department of Conservation. ISBN 1887247092.
  12. ^ Smith, Hobart M. (1978). Amphibians of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York, New York: Golden Press. p. 160 ISBN 0307636623
  13. ^ Organ, J.A. (1968). "Courtship behavior and spermatophore of the cave salamander, Eurycea lucifuga (Rafinesque)". Copeia. 1968 (3): 576–580. doi:10.2307/1442027. JSTOR 1442027.
  14. ^ Green, N.B.; Brant, P. Jr.; Dowler, B. (1967). "Eurycea lucifuga in West Virginia: its distribution, ecology and life history". Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science. 39: 297–304.
  15. ^ Bishop, S. (1994). Handbook of Salamanders: The Salamanders of the United States, of Canada, and of Lower California. London: Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN 0801482135.
  16. ^ Rudolph, D.C. (1978). "Aspects of the larval ecology of five Plethodontid salamanders of the western Ozarks". The American Naturalist. 100 (1): 141–159. doi:10.2307/2424785. JSTOR 2424785.
  17. ^ Williams, A.A. (1980). "Fluctuations in a population of the cave salamander". National Speleological Society Bulletin. 42: 49–52.
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