Please identify this salamander

[robin_k]

This salamander was found in its aquatic state in mountainous Cunningham Falls State Park, Maryland. There were hundreds of identical salamanders in this one area. I think he is a salamander because he had external gills as a baby, and he lost them during metamorphosis. Six months later he has recently became terrestrial, and is probably 4.5 inches long. He was 1 inch long when I found him! He spends most of his time out of the water now, and he is very fast. Any idea what he is?

I could provide a pic of what he looked like when we found him, or any other information.

 

[robin_k]

P.S. I think I may know what he is, but I want unbiased opinions. : )

 

[danielle]

you should probably wait for a professional opinion on here but it looks an awful lot like the striped salamanders I find under the rocks near the delaware river in PA! They're fast lil buggers.. I'll check back for sure 'cause I'm curious to see exactly what kind it is! Take care!

 

[jeff]

Ok, here goes... I would be confident in saying that the individual is a Euryca bislineata(two lined salamder).


(Message edited by newtsrfun on February 16, 2006)

 

[edward]

Which is why it is the same as the ones seen by Danielle near the Delaware.

Ed

 

[robin_k]

So, Ed, you agree with Jeff? Is it a southern two-lined, or just a two-lined?

 

[jeff]

Based on the location It does not seem that it is a southern subspecies. At first I almost said it was a Desmognathus fuscus(northern dusky) but I looked at the picture some and I am 99 percent sure.

 

[edward]

Its a E. bislineata see http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Eurycea/Eurycea_sp.shtml

Ed

 

[robin_k]

Thank you!!!!!!!

 

[robin_k]

Thanks a ton to all of you.