Northern pygmy salamander facts for kids

The northern pygmy salamander (Desmognathus organi) is a tiny salamander that lives on land. It belongs to a group of salamanders called Desmognathus. These salamanders are some of the smallest in North America. You can find them high up in the mountains of the southern Appalachians. Other small salamanders like the southern pygmy (D. wrighti) and the seepage salamander (D. aeneus) are also found there.

What Does the Northern Pygmy Salamander Look Like?

The Desmognathus organi is quite small, usually about 4 to 6 centimeters long. That's about the length of your pinky finger! It has a special pattern on its back that looks like a herringbone design. Its eyelids are a cool copper color. These features are also seen in its close relative, D. wrighti.

The color of its back can be dark reddish-brown or light brown. Its belly is much lighter. Like other Desmognathus salamanders, it has a light stripe from its eye to its jaw. Its back legs are longer and stronger than its front legs.

Unlike most salamanders in its group, its tail is round. It's also less than half the salamander's total length. This short, round tail is common for very small salamander species. The northern pygmy salamander is usually a bit bigger than the southern pygmy salamander (D. wrighti). Adult D. wrighti are usually less than 5 centimeters long. Most adult D. organi are longer than that. D. organi also have wider heads. Female D. organi tend to be larger than males, which is not the case for D. wrighti.

Where Do Northern Pygmy Salamanders Live?

You can find northern pygmy salamanders in high mountain forests. They live in spruce-fir and hardwood forests in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's rare to find them below 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet) in elevation.

Scientists think that long ago, these forests and salamander groups were connected. But as the climate got warmer and drier, the salamanders became separated. Now, they live in isolated "islands" of high-elevation forests.

This species lives north and east of the French Broad River. Their range goes from southwestern Virginia, including Mount Rogers, to the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Its close relative, D. wrighti, lives in similar high places. But D. wrighti is found south and west of the French Broad River, all the way to the Georgia state line.

Life Cycle and Habits

The northern pygmy salamander has a unique way of growing up. It skips the water-dwelling tadpole stage! Instead, its eggs hatch directly into tiny salamanders that look like miniature adults. This is called direct development. This special ability allows D. organi and other small Desmognathus species to live mostly on land, away from streams.

Most other Desmognathus salamanders need water to lay their eggs. Their young also spend their first stage of life in the water. But because D. organi hatch as small adults, they can survive in wooded areas without needing a stream nearby.

These salamanders have even been seen climbing trees up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) high! They might do this to catch insects or to escape from predators.

Males become ready to reproduce around 3.5 years old. Females are ready around 4.5 years old. Mating happens in the fall and spring. The male bites the female's tail to start the mating process. Then, they walk in a line, with the female walking over the male's tail. The male leaves a small packet of sperm (called a spermatophore) on the ground. He guides the female to it so she can pick it up with a special opening called a cloaca. This is how they have internal fertilization.

The female lays a clutch of about 3 to 10 eggs. She finds a moist spot, like a seepage area or damp ground, to lay them. She stays nearby to protect her eggs. The eggs just need to stay moist so they don't dry out. Once they hatch, the baby salamanders do not live in water.

You can usually find D. organi on the forest floor. They hide under moss, fallen leaves, logs, or small stones. They seem to prefer smaller pieces of wood to hide under, rather than big rocks.

During winter, D. organi gather together underground in moist areas. They often hibernate in groups. In 1959, a scientist named James Organ found 649 salamanders in one hiding spot!

From spring to fall, D. organi are mostly active at night or when it rains. They hunt small invertebrates like mites, moths, small beetles, and spiders.

Other animals that might eat D. organi include:

• Spring salamanders (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus)
• Larger Desmognathus species, like the blackbellied salamander (D. quadromaculatus)
• Small snakes, like the ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus)
• Certain beetles (carabid beetles)
• Birds

Conservation Status

The northern pygmy salamander (Desmognathus organi) has not yet been fully studied by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). This group helps decide how endangered animals are.

However, the southern pygmy salamander (Desmognathus wrighti), which used to include both northern and southern populations, is listed as "Least Concern" nationally. This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing. But in Tennessee, it was decided in 2011 that it needed careful management. More studies are still needed for D. organi.

This salamander could face problems like:

• Habitat loss: This can happen because of logging (cutting down trees).
• Increased recreation: More people visiting places like the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests can disturb their homes.
• Climate change: Changes in weather patterns can alter their habitat.
• Acid rain: Pollution can make rain acidic, which harms forests and the creatures living in them.