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Project Noah Nature School
Desmognathus imitator
This species ranges in overall coloration from brown to black, with a dark belly and a tail that is rounded in cross section. Some individuals may display yellow to red cheek patches. A faint, wavy stripe runs down the back of some individuals. This species can be distinguished from the Jordan’s salamander (Plethodon jordani) by the presence of a light line from the eye to the back of the jaw. Unlike the Jordan’s salamander, the back legs of this species are also much stockier than the front legs.
The imitator salamander is found only at high elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as at a few surrounding locations. Imitator salamanders are often found around streams and seeps but may also be encountered far from water on the forest floor as well as on damp rock faces.
Found next to a small seep on the trail to Grotto Falls. Did not try to run and allowed me to take several good photos.
Spotted on May 13, 2012
Submitted on May 20, 2012
7 Comments
Sounds like a Eurycea. Probably bislineata.
Thanks for the comments. I only wish the small yellow stripped one I saw would have been so easy to photograph. It was gone before I could even get the lens cap off.
As someone who was once a kid, I echo that! Just make sure they don't handle the little fellas too much!
So true! I guess that's why kids love to play with them--they can catch and hold them.
They're also pretty slow in comparison.
Salamanders have an interesting mentality the way they seem to "pose" for pictures, unlike lizards who are easily spooked.
nice spotting!