Dunn's salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunn's salamander |
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Plethodon gordoni Brodie, 1970 |
The Dunn's salamander (Plethodon dunni) is a cool type of salamander. It belongs to a family called Plethodontidae. This means it breathes through its skin and mouth, not with lungs! You can only find this salamander in the western United States. It lives in places like southwestern Washington, western Oregon, and a small part of northwestern California.
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What Does a Dunn's Salamander Look Like?
The Dunn's salamander is a medium-sized salamander that lives on land. Adult salamanders are about 6 to 7.5 centimeters (2.4 to 3 inches) long from their snout to their tail vent. Their total length, including the tail, can be 10 to 15.5 centimeters (4 to 6 inches).
Colors and Markings
Their body is usually dark brown or black. They have a clear, wide stripe on their back. This stripe can be yellowish or olive green. It runs from their head all the way to their tail, but it doesn't quite reach the very tip.
You might also see light spots on their sides. Some Dunn's salamanders are completely black. These black ones were once thought to be a different species. However, scientists now know they are just a color variation of the Dunn's salamander.
Young Salamanders and What They Eat
Dunn's salamanders do not have a larval stage that lives in water. This means they hatch from eggs looking like tiny versions of the adults. Young salamanders are about 13 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long when they are born.
Their main diet is small invertebrates. These are tiny creatures without backbones, like insects or worms.
Where Do Dunn's Salamanders Live?
Dunn's salamanders like places that are moist and cool. You can often find them near shady streams or wet, rocky areas. They also live in forests, on rocky slopes, and on moss-covered rocks.
They often hide under rocks, logs, moss, or fallen leaves. These salamanders prefer very moist spots. They like places even wetter than where other salamanders, like the Ensatina or the Western Red-backed Salamander, might live.
Are They in Danger?
Good news! The Dunn's salamander is not considered to be in danger. They live across a fairly wide area. Also, they are not very sensitive to changes in their habitat, like logging. This means their populations are stable and healthy.
