Blackbelly salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackbelly salamander |
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The blackbelly salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) is a type of salamander. It belongs to the family called Plethodontidae. This salamander lives only in the United States. It makes its home in rivers, temporary rivers, and fresh springs. Sadly, its home is sometimes destroyed, which threatens its survival.
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What Does the Blackbelly Salamander Look Like?
The blackbelly salamander is a medium-sized amphibian. It usually grows to be about 10 to 18 centimeters (4 to 7 inches) long. It has a strong body and a long tail. Its skin is dark brown or black. You can often see two rows of small, light-colored spots along its back. The belly is usually black. Young salamanders might have some light spots on their belly.
Where Do Blackbelly Salamanders Live?
These salamanders live in the Appalachian Mountains. This mountain range is in the southeastern United States. You can find them from West Virginia down to northern Georgia. They also live in parts of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Blackbelly Salamander Habitat
Blackbelly salamanders mostly live in water. They prefer cold mountain streams. These streams are found at high places. They can be from about 375 to 1,725 meters (1,230 to 5,660 feet) above sea level.
How Do Blackbelly Salamanders Behave?
Blackbelly salamanders spend a lot of time in the water. They spend more time in water than most other salamanders in their group. They usually search for food on land. They have a special area they call home. This area is at least 1,200 square centimeters (190 square inches). But they rarely move more than 30 centimeters (12 inches) away from their stream.
Finding Food and Staying Safe
Within their home area, they have secret hiding spots. These spots are often cracks in rocks or small burrows. They use these spots to hide and wait for small invertebrates to pass by. Then, they ambush them for food. They also protect these hiding spots from other blackbelly salamanders.
Blackbelly Salamander Breeding Habits
Breeding happens in the late spring. The female salamander lays about 15 to 40 eggs. She attaches them to the bottom of rocks that are underwater. The eggs hatch after about three months. The young larvae grow slowly. They change into juvenile salamanders after about three and a half years. This change is called metamorphosis.
What Is the Blackbelly Salamander's Role in Nature?
Several other salamander species live in the same areas. These include the dusky salamander and the seal salamander. Blackbelly and seal salamanders seem to avoid each other. They might use special smells to know where the others are.
How Do Blackbelly Salamanders Defend Themselves?
Sometimes, garter snakes try to attack blackbelly salamanders. The salamanders have a few ways to protect themselves. They have a warning color, even though they are not actually poisonous. They might stay very still, hoping a predator won't see them. They can also bite the attacker. Another trick is to drop their tail. This distracts the predator while the salamander escapes. Biting works well against garter snakes and small mammals like shrews.
What Is the Blackbelly Salamander's Conservation Status?
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species says the blackbelly salamander is of "Least Concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. Scientists believe there are at least 10,000 of these salamanders. Their numbers seem to be stable. However, their population could drop in some places. This might happen if streams become too acidic from mining. Also, some fishermen catch them to use as bait.
