Kiamichi slimy salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kiamichi slimy salamander |
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The Kiamichi slimy salamander (Plethodon kiamichi) is a special type of salamander. It belongs to the Plethodontidae family. This salamander lives only in the United States. Its natural home is in cool, wet forests.
This animal is active at night, which means it is nocturnal. The biggest danger to the Kiamichi slimy salamander is losing its home. This happens when forests are cut down. Scientists first officially described this species in 1989. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature says we don't have enough information about it. This means it is a "data deficient" species.
What it Looks Like
Adult Kiamichi slimy salamanders are usually between 48 and 75 millimeters long. That's about the length of your finger! They like to eat small creatures. Their diet includes spiders, worms, insects, and other tiny animals without backbones.
Being active at night helps these salamanders stay safe. It keeps them hidden from animals that might try to eat them. Scientists think they sleep through the winter, a process called hibernation. This usually happens from mid-November until late March.
To avoid drying out, which is called desiccation, these salamanders hide. They go into small holes in the ground or under rocks and logs. They lay their eggs on land, not in water. You can often find them near logs and rocks in the forest. If you touch a Kiamichi slimy salamander, its skin can release a sticky, unpleasant liquid. This helps protect them from predators.
Where it Lives
The Kiamichi slimy salamander lives in a specific area. You can find it in the Kiamichi Mountains in Le Flore County, eastern Oklahoma. It also lives in the Round Mountains of Polk County, western Arkansas.
The main threat to this salamander is habitat loss. This means their forest homes are being destroyed, often by deforestation (cutting down trees). We do not know how many of these salamanders are left. Because of this lack of information, the IUCN has listed its conservation status as "data deficient." This means we need more research to understand how many there are and where exactly they live. They prefer moist forests and ravines, especially near logs and rocks. It is possible they are common in their small living area.
How it Was Discovered
The Kiamichi slimy salamander, known scientifically as Plethodon kiamichi, was first described by a scientist named Highton in 1989.
