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Eurycea longicauda melanopleura
Dark-sided salamanders are a sub-species of long-tailed salamanders. They're easily confused for cave salamanders instead though, because they dont tend to have the bars on their tails like long-tailed salamanders do, and they are also more orangey-colored. (Confusing right?) Check out the reference I've supplied for more clarification, and also check out the Reptiles and Amphibians of Missouri guide book, it has lots of good info in it.
Missouri Ozarks, caves, limestone hills, karst, leaf-litter.
Spotted on Sep 22, 2009
Submitted on Sep 22, 2012
6 Comments
BrianEdmond, we were doing a study on the Currant River Conservation Area, managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. This is in Reynolds County, outside of the town of Ellington. Dark-sided salamanders do look a lot like cave salamanders, especially since they're more orange than yellow like longtailed salamanders (the other E. longicauda subspecies). I think a lot of people get them confused. (Especially when they're found in caves like this one, lol.)
I'd probably call this a cave salamander if I found it in the wild. It is an unusual coloration pattern for both species. Did you, perchance, find this individual in Pulaski Co MO?
Love the colors. Awesome photos.
very nice!
thanks!
Great spotting and photos :)