Louisiana Slimy Salamander
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Scientific Name:
Plethodon kisatchie Terrestrial
Native
Salamanders
Description
Elongated body with overall length of up to 5.5 inches long. Glossy black above and dark gray underneath. Back and sides covered with varying density of pale beige or white, irregular spots.
Range and Habitat
Restricted range; found only in northern Louisiana and south-central Arkansas. Typically occurs in upland mixed pine-hardwood forests.
Behavior
When inactive, hides under logs, leaf litter, or other cover or in holes, crevices, or mammal burrows. Eats invertebrates. Eggs are most likely laid in or under logs in late summer; females tend to eggs until hatching, which may occur in mid-fall. No aquatic stage.
Population Status
Ranked as S1 (critically imperiled) in Louisiana. Threats include habitat loss and degradation due to logging.