''Eurycea longicauda'', commonly known as the long-tailed salamander or longtail salamander, is a species of lungless salamander native to the

Appalachian Region Appalachian may refer to: * Appalachian Mountains, a major mountain range in eastern United States and Canada * Appalachian Trail, a hiking trail in the eastern United States * The people of Appalachia and their culture ** Appalachian Americans, e ...

of the eastern United States. It is a " cave salamander" that frequents twilight zones of caves and also inhabits springs and surrounding forest.

Subspecies

There are two or three

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

: * ''E. l. longicauda'' (Green, 1818) (long-tailed salamander, eastern long-tailed salamander) * ''E. l. melanopleura'' (Cope, 1894 "1893") (dark-sided salamander, black-sided salamander, Cope's cave salamander) * ''E. l. pernix'' Mittleman, 1942 (Midland long-tailed salamander) '' Eurycea guttolineata'' has earlier been treated as a subspecies of ''Eurycea longicauda'' (that is, as ''E. l. guttolineata''), but is now considered a full species. Eurycea longicauda melanopleura

Description

Body color varies from yellow to orange-red to red with random black spots. ''E. l. longicauda'' measure on average snout–vent length (SVL) and have long tail.

Reproduction

''E. l. melanopleura'' reproduces in November to February. The eggs measure in diameter. The larvae hatch in January–March at about snout–vent length (SVL). They metamorphose seven months later at SVL. Males become sexually mature between SVL and females SVL. The largest males and females are SVL.

Habitat and conservation

''Eurycea longicauda'' inhabit streamsides, spring runs, ponds, cave mouths, and abandoned mines. With wet weather, they may venture into wooded terrestrial habitats. They hide in rock crevices or under rocks, logs, etc. Eggs are laid in underground crevices associated with aquatic environments, but in caves they may also be attached to objects in or above water. The overall population size of this species is large (probably more than 100,000). Some local populations may have been impacted by strip mining and acid drainage from coal mining, but there are no major threats overall. Its range overlaps with several protected areas.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2247673 Eurycea Cave salamanders Endemic amphibians of the United States Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Amphibians described in 1818