Identification
The Northern
Spring Salamander is a long salamander with a moderately robust build. It is
variable in color, ranging from pinkish or salmon to yellowish-brown. They also
tend to be mottled, with a darker pigment on the back. The lower sides of the
body and the belly are pinkish or yellowish, and there are often dark spots
on the belly, throat, and lower jaw of older adults. The coloration is most
pronounced in juveniles and tends to fade with age. The snout of the Northern
Spring Salamander features a light line, which is sometimes bordered with grey
or black that extends between the eye and nostril and down the groove (naso-labial
groove) to the lip. Adults may grow to lengths of 12-23.2 cm (4.7-9.1 in), and
have 17-19 grooves along each side (costal grooves). The Northern Spring Salamander
is closely related to the Kentucky
Spring Salamander.
Distribution and Status
The Northern Spring Salamander can be found from southern Maine and Quebec west
through Ohio and south to northern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. A disjunct
population is also found in southwestern Ohio. Within the Midwest, the Northern
Spring Salamander is found in Ohio, where it is considered a species of Special
Concern.
Ecology
Spring Salamanders live in or around clear, cool waters that are high in oxygen,
such as streams or springs in wooded areas or in caves. Adults are found both
in water and on land, and seek refuge in cavities along stream banks, or under
rocks. A lungless salamander, the Spring Salamander absorbs oxygen through its
skin, as well as through membranes in the mouth and throat.
Threats
and Management Issues
Deforestation is the leading cause of population declines for the Spring Salamander.
They require clear, cool waters without predatory fish. Due to their large size,
and because they prey on other salamander species, Spring Salamanders tend to
reproduce more slowly, and are generally less abundant. As a result they are
more susceptible to environmental stresses such as temperature change or the
siltation of streams.
Resources
General reference guides
and websites.
Reference guides and websites specific to Amphibians.
Links to more information on the Northern Spring Salamander outside the Herp Center
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Bruce Kingsbury, Director
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
Science Building
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499