Cumberland dusky salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cumberland dusky salamander |
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The Cumberland dusky salamander (Desmognathus abditus) is a type of salamander. It belongs to a family called Plethodontidae. These salamanders do not have lungs; they breathe through their skin! This special salamander lives only in the United States. You can find it in cool, wet places like temperate forests and near rivers. Sadly, its home is shrinking because of habitat loss.
Where It Lives and Its Home
Scientists first described this salamander in 2003. Before then, they thought the Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander was just one species. But new studies showed it was actually a group of very similar species. The Cumberland dusky salamander is one of these five species.
You can find this salamander in Tennessee. It lives on the Cumberland Plateau. The northernmost place it has been found is near Wartburg. The southernmost place is near Tracy City. All known Cumberland dusky salamanders have been found under rocks in streams. They also live within a meter (about a yard) of flowing water. They especially like moss-covered rocks behind small waterfalls.
How It Lives and Interacts
Many other types of salamanders live in the same areas as the Cumberland dusky salamander. Scientists think it might breed with the Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander. It may also breed with the Ocoee salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). This means they can sometimes have babies together.
The Cumberland dusky salamander likely eats small bugs. It finds these tiny creatures in the leaf litter on the forest floor. Other animals might eat the Cumberland dusky salamander. These include small mammals, birds, and snakes. Even other larger salamanders in the Desmognathus group might hunt them.
Its Protection Status
The Cumberland dusky salamander is listed as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means it could become endangered in the future. We do not know exactly how many of these salamanders there are. But they live in only a small area of land in Tennessee.
Their natural home is at risk. People are building more retirement and vacation homes in these areas. This construction takes away the salamander's habitat. Luckily, this salamander lives in two protected areas. These are the Frozen Head State Park and the Obed River area. The Obed River is a "National Wild and Scenic River." These protected places help keep the salamanders safe.
