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[title size=”2″]Cave Salamander[/title]

The cave salamander is a member of the Plethodontidae family of lungless salamanders. It is native to the central states of the United States and is considered an endangered species in certain parts of the United States, although it is quite prevalent in the Ozarks. This amphibian is an average sized salamander with longer than normal limbs and tail, which can make up 60 to 65 percent of its body length. The cave salamander is a brightly colored orange with variations in shade from yellow-brown to orange-red. Spots cover most of the body, except for the lighter-colored undersides and the end of the tail, which is black. The cave salamander is usually found in caves as its name suggests. They specifically live in areas with limestone. However, they can also be found in wooded areas under rocks. Outside of caves, these salamanders are nocturnal, while inside caves they prefer lounging in areas that are dimly lit but can also be found in areas of complete darkness.

Cave salamanders breed in early summer and lay 50 to 90 eggs at a time. They have a unique mating ritual that involves the male getting the attention of the female by rubbing and nudging the female’s head and then performing pushups with its hind legs. After the he larvae hatch, they spend the first year or two of their life in water and grow to be 4 to 6 inches long at their mature stage. These fascinating creatures are one reason why visitors to the Ozarks may want to venture into one of the many cave formations for which its karst region in Missouri and Arkansas is so famous.

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Eurycea lucifuga

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