Arkansas salamanders Family: Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders) Genus: Ambystoma (Mole Salamanders) Ringed Salamander Ambystoma annulatum Rare. Relatively large. Color a midnight blue with bold, narrow, yellowish "rings" (that do not extend onto the belly). Belly grayish to yellowish. Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum Relatively large. Color a midnight blue with two rows of large, yellow spots on body and orangish spots on head. Belly gray. Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum Relatively large. Color a midnight blue with bold, broad, silvery-white crossbands (often forming the appearance of inverse circles). Belly black. Mole Salamander Ambystoma talpoideum Rare. Relatively large. Color a wash of brown or gray with lichen-like or flecked patterning. Belly bluish-gray (often with a dark stripe running lengthwise). Head noticeably large. Small-mouthed Salamander Ambystoma texanum Relatively large. Color a wash of brown or gray with lichen-like patterning. Belly black. Head and mouth noticeably small. Eastern Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum Relatively large. Color a midnight blue to light brown with yellow blotches that form no definite pattern. Belly gray or black with yellow mottling. Family: Amphiumidae (Amphiumas) Genus: Amphiuma (Amphiumas) Three-toed Amphiuma Amphiuma tridactylum Aquatic. Large and eel-like. 4 diminutive limbs with 3 or fewer toes each. External gills absent. Family: Cryptobranchidae (Hellbenders) Genus: Cryptobranchus (Hellbenders) Ozark Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi Rare. Very large. Color grayish with dark blotches. Skin highly wrinkled, especially on sides. 4 limbs with 5 toes on each hind foot. External gills absent. Family: Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders) Genera: Desmognathus (Dusky Salamanders), Eurycea (Brook Salamanders), Hemidactylium (Four-toed Salamanders), and Plethodon (Woodland Salamanders) Ouachita Dusky Salamander Desmognathus brimleyorum Color brownish to grayish with little patterning. Tail fin-like. Spotted Dusky Salamander Desmognathus conanti Rare and potentially extirpated from AR. Color brownish to grayish, usually with 6-8 irregular golden dorsal blotches. Tail not fin-like. Dark-sided Salamander Eurycea longicauda melanopleura Often found at mouths of caves (or in similar cool, moist habitats). Color yellowish with dark spots. Sides darker and more gray. Sides of tail dark or with somewhat regular, dark, vertical bars. Cave Salamander Eurycea lucifuga Often found at mouths of caves (or in similar cool, moist habitats). Color bright orange with irregular dark spots. Sides of tail same as body. Many-ribbed Salamander Eurycea multiplicata Small. Slender. Color variable, but generally grayish or yellowish. Belly light gray or yellow. Found south of the Arkansas River. Dwarf Salamander Eurycea quadridigitata Small. Long and slender. Color bronze. Sides flecked with gray and black. All feet with 4 toes. Grotto Salamander Eurycea spelaea Cave-dweller. Color a ghostly white. Eyes small, beady, and underneath fused eyelids. Oklahoma Salamander Eurycea tynerensis Small. Slender. Color variable, but generally grayish or yellowish. Belly light gray or yellow. Found north of the Arkansas River. Some populations of extreme Northwest Arkansas are neotenic (). Four-toed Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum Rare. Color reddish-brown. Belly pure white with bold, black flecks. Tail thick and round with constriction at base. All feet with 4 toes. Western Slimy Salamander Plethodon albagula Most common and widely distributed "slimy" in AR. Color black with star-like flecks of white. Chin and belly dark gray. Secretes glue-like slime as defense. Ozark Zigzag Salamander Plethodon angusticlavius Middorsal stripe reddish (sometimes yellowish-green) and zigzagged with irregular margins. Caddo Mountain Salamander Plethodon caddoensis Rare and endemic to AR (known only from Caddo Mountain and surrounding areas in Howard, Montgomery, Pike, and Polk counties). Smallish. Color black with numerous star-like brassy flecks. Chin pale. Chest pale and speckled. Belly dark. Fourche Mountain Salamander Plethodon fourchensis Rare and endemic to AR (known only from Fourche and Irons Fork mountains in Polk and Scott counties). Larger, stockier build than similiar-looking mountain and slimy salamanders. Color black with 2 rows of large, lichen-like blotches and scattered smaller specks. Chin pale. Belly dark with a few white specks. Kiamichi Slimy Salamander Plethodon kiamichi Rare "slimy" (known in AR only from Kiamichi and Round mountains in Polk County). Color black with star-like flecks of white. Chin and belly gray. Secretes glue-like slime as defense. Rich Mountain Salamander Plethodon ouachitae Rare (known in AR only from Rich Mountain and surrounding ridges in Polk County). Color black with lichen-like flecks and a wash of maroon. Chin pale. Chest dark. Southern Red-backed Salamander Plethodon serratus Rare. Middorsal stripe reddish-orange with regular margins (each serration matching with a costal groove). Occasional "leadback" individuals without middorsal stripe. Family: Proteidae (Waterdogs and Mudpuppies) Genus: Necturus (Waterdogs and Mudpuppies) Red River Mudpuppy Necturus maculosus louisianensis Aquatic. Large. Color gray to reddish with dark blotches. Dark stripe through eye. 4 limbs with 4 toes each. External gills large and reddish. Family: Salamandridae (Newts) Genus: Notophthalmus (Eastern Newts) Central Newt Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis Aquatic (except for terrestrial eft stage). Color olive and yellowish with many black specks and very few red specks. Dark stripe through eye. Skin rough. External gills absent. Family: Sirenidae (Sirens) Genus: Siren (Sirens) Western Lesser Siren Siren intermedia nettingi Aquatic. Large and somewhat eel-like. Only front limbs present with 4-5 toes each. External gills present.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 12:07:18 +0000
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