Mississippi slimy salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mississippi slimy salamander |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Plethodon
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| Species: |
mississippi
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The Mississippi slimy salamander (Plethodon mississippi) is a type of salamander that lives on land. You can find it in most parts of the U.S. state of Mississippi, and also in western Alabama, western Tennessee, a small part of western Kentucky, and eastern Louisiana. This salamander is part of a bigger group called the slimy salamander complex. They are known for being "lungless," which means they breathe in a special way.
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About the Mississippi Slimy Salamander
The Mississippi slimy salamander usually has a black body. It has white, silver, or bronze spots on its back. Adult salamanders can grow to be about 12 cm (4.7 in) long. That's about the length of a regular pencil!
Why Are They Called "Slimy"?
These salamanders get their name because they can produce a sticky, gooey slime. This slime is a special defense mechanism. If a predator, like a snake or a bird, tries to grab them, the slime makes it very hard to hold on. It can even stick to the predator's mouth, making them want to let go!
Breathing Without Lungs
Unlike humans and many other animals, the Mississippi slimy salamander does not have lungs. So, how do they breathe? They breathe right through their skin and the lining of their mouth! This is why their skin must stay moist. They absorb oxygen directly from the air or water through their damp skin.
Where They Live: Habitat and Home
Mississippi slimy salamanders prefer to live in moist, wooded areas. You can often find them under logs, rocks, or leaf litter on the forest floor. They need places that stay damp and cool to keep their skin from drying out. They are mostly active at night or during rainy weather.
What They Eat: A Salamander's Diet
These salamanders are carnivores, which means they eat other small animals. Their diet mainly consists of small invertebrates. They like to munch on insects like ants, termites, and beetles. They also eat spiders, worms, and slugs. They use their quick, sticky tongue to catch their prey.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Mississippi slimy salamanders breed from August to early September. The female salamander lays her eggs in a cluster, often in a hidden, moist spot. A typical clutch has about 17 eggs. The mother salamander stays with her eggs for up to two weeks. She guards them until the young salamanders are ready to go out on their own. The young salamanders hatch as miniature versions of the adults, without a larval stage in water like some other amphibians.
