Cave Salamander

Description:

Cave salamanders are orange with black spots and they have long tails. In this part of MO they might be confused with long-tailed salamanders (E. longicauda) but their tails dont have vertical bars like the long-tailed salamanders have (just spots). Cave salamanders are lung-less salamanders (Plethodontidae) and absorb oxygen through the skin. A good book to read with lots of info on salamanders is the Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri by Tom Johnson.

Habitat:

Although they're called "cave" salamanders, they're not always found in caves. They do like karst or limestone hills and you can find them under the leaf-litter in cool moist places. This one actually WAS in a cave, haha, outside of Ellington.