Four-toed Salamander

Description:

Four-toed salamanders really do only have 4 toes. Other helpful ID hints are: there is a constriction at the base of the tail (it's not caused by losing/regrowing a tail), they have a "herringbone" pattern down their backs, and their bellies are white with dark spots. In this part of MO there really isnt anything else that looks like them, and they're a monotypic species (no sub-species). I think their faces look like old man faces lol (grumpy looking). This one was found when I worked on the Mofep Project.

Habitat:

Missouri Ozarks, forest, leaf-litter and pond shore.