21 Salamander Species in Arkansas (ID + Pics)

Arkansas offers a broad range of habitats that present great opportunities for many salamander species; wetlands on the floodplains of the Mississippi River are home to many larval salamanders, while the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests suit adults and species that are entirely terrestrial. These forests are protected, and include a mixture of oak, pine, and some hardwood forest.

There are a number of projects being undertaken to protect these forests; for example, the Nature Conservancy has schemes for the improvement of water quality, wildfire reduction, reforestation, and engaging the public in their work. This is making a vital difference in the conservation of the habitats on which salamanders rely.

As well as an enormous variety of native species, there are three species of salamander that are endemic to Arkansas: the Caddo Mountain salamander, the Fourche Mountain salamander, and the Ouachita streambed salamander.

Arkansas Salamanders

1) Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

• Native to the eastern US and eastern Canada
• Family: Ambystomatidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

Spotted salamanders are quite large, capable of reaching lengths of 24.8 cm (9.8 in). As their name suggests, their gray sides, back, and tail are adorned with large yellow spots – additional features include the twelve prominent costal grooves down their sides and their pale belly.

This species is usually found in lowland hardwood or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, and while it may occasionally be seen in more open habitats such as meadows, it does tend to stay close to woodland edges. Fragmentation of forest has resulted in spotted salamanders being unable to freely access breeding sites, which may have contributed to population declines in some areas, although these salamanders are still common throughout Arkansas.

In 2010, scientists discovered photosynthetic algae inside the cells of spotted salamander embryos. Previously it was thought that these algae lived outside the cells, so this finding was ground-breaking – a symbiosis of this nature had only ever been seen in invertebrates such as corals prior to this. The two organisms exchange metabolic and photosynthetic products, so each benefit from the relationship.

2) Small-mouthed salamander (Ambystoma texanum)

• Range from northeastern Ohio, west into Missouri and eastern Nebraska
• Family: Ambystomatidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The small-mouthed salamander has a small head that may appear slightly swollen behind the eyes. It reaches lengths between 10.9 – 17.8 cm (4.3 – 7 in) and is brown-gray or gray-black in color with pale gray flecks – there are between 13 – 15 costal grooves. Small-mouthed salamanders are found throughout Arkansas, although they are not generally seen in the Ozark Highlands or Boston Mountains.

The preferred habitat for this species comprises lowland forests near wetlands or floodplains, where individuals hide underneath leaf litter, rocks, or logs. The diet of adults consists of earthworms, slugs, moths, centipedes, and beetles, while juveniles consume small crustaceans such as Daphnia and isopods.

Small-mouthed salamander larvae have been shown to respond to chemical cues from predators such as fish – detection of these chemicals leads to larvae spending increased amounts of time in hiding. Other predators of this species include garter snakes, dragonfly larvae, and blue jays.

3) Three-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum)

• Native to the southeastern United States
• Family: Amphiumidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The three-toed amphiuma is entirely aquatic, spending its whole life cycle in the water. It is rather cylindrical in shape, and dark brown or black in color with a paler ventral region – it also has tiny legs, each with three toes. Despite their aquatic environment, adults have lungs and must move to the surface of the water to breathe. A large species, it has been recorded as reaching lengths of up to 106 cm (3 ft 5 in).

In Arkansas, the three-toed amphiuma can be found on the South Central Plains and Mississippi Alluvial Plain, where it occupies streams, swamps, and ditches. These salamanders are highly secretive and spend much of their time hiding buried under the substrate, among aquatic vegetation, or in holes. Individuals feed nocturnally on crayfish, tadpoles, snails, and earthworms.

4) Lesser siren (Siren intermedia)

• Native to the eastern US and northern Mexico
• Family: Sirenidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

Considered to be one of the most primitive salamanders, lesser sirens are entirely aquatic and possess many neotenic traits, such as external gills and a lack of hindlimbs. These salamanders are large, reaching lengths of up to 69 cm (2 ft 3 in), and are usually olive green, blue-gray, or black in color, with small spots strewn across the dorsal region.

The range of the lesser siren in Arkansas extends throughout the South Central Plains and Mississippi Alluvial Plain, as well as into the southern Ouachita Mountains. In terms of habitat, this species can be found among mud or debris on the bottom of still or slow-moving waters. Should the pool in which a lesser siren lives dry up, it can undergo aestivation, where it burrows into the mud and secretes a cocoon of mucus.

Courtship in lesser sirens involves a lot of biting – generally, males bite females, however, some males have been observed with bite marks, suggesting that this behavior also plays a role in territorial behavior and mate guarding. The eggs are highly adhesive, sticking to each other as well as aquatic vegetation.

5) Caddo Mountain salamander (Plethodon caddoensis)

• Endemic to Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Near threatened

Caddo Mountain salamanders generally reach around 10 cm (3.9 in) in length, and have a slender body that is black in color, with white and brassy specks along the dorsal region. The ventral region, including the throat, is cream or white. Individuals spend much of their time hiding under logs or rocks, and during the summer have been observed to reside in abandoned mines. They are nocturnal, feeding on various invertebrate species.

This species is rare and confined to just a few areas of Arkansas, including the western half of the Caddo Mountains, and along the Cossatot River. Research in 2011 found that there are actually four geographically distinct lineages within the Caddo Mountain salamander population – these are highly divergent but are not currently recognized as independent species.

The Caddo Mountain salamander is threatened by habitat loss, mainly due to deforestation. Luckily, since many of the populations exist within Ouachita National Forest, they do have some level of protection, and the species is also state-listed as being of special concern.

6) Ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum)

• Native to the Ozark Plateau and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri
• Family: Ambystomatidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The ringed salamander is usually dark gray or black in color, with a series of white or yellow rings along the back and tail. These rings do not go all the way around the body, and the underside of the salamander is plain yellow or gray. Ringed salamanders have small heads, and long, slender bodies – the maximum recorded length for this species is 25.5 cm (10 in), although they are more commonly seen at lengths of around 18 cm (7 in).

In Arkansas, this species can be found in the Interior Highlands and mountainous regions of the Arkansas Valley. Ambystoma annulatum is quite secretive, hiding underneath logs or in burrows created by other animals – the best habitat for them is a forest with plenty of fishless ponds for breeding.

During breeding season, rainfall stimulates ringed salamanders to migrate to breeding pools, where they accumulate and undergo mass courtship. This involves the male repeatedly nudging females and then depositing spermatophores – the intensity of this activity gradually increases as time goes on. The females then lay their eggs the following night.

7) Fourche Mountain salamander (Plethodon fourchensis)

• Endemic to Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

The Fourche Mountain salamander is slender, reaching a maximum length of 17.8 cm (7 in), and is black across its back and tail, with white lower sides and a white belly. Two irregular rows of white spots run down the back that transition into a scattering of white covering the tail.

Comparatively little is known about the biology of this salamander; it utilizes forested areas and tends to be seen more about rainfall, suggesting that it hides for much of the time. Its range in Arkansas is restricted to the Fourche and Iron Forks mountain subranges within the Ouachita Mountains. It is likely that this species consumes invertebrates such as ants and beetles.

Due to residing entirely within Ouachita National Forest, this species is afforded some protection, however, populations may still be subject to declines due to habitat loss or degradation. It has been suggested that microclimate changes associated with global warming may also be a rising threat.

8) Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi)

• Native to southern Missouri and northern Arkansas
• Family: Cryptobranchidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Endangered

The Ozark hellbender lives an entirely aquatic lifestyle and has a large, flattened head with very small eyes, and a large, vertically compressed tail that aids movement through the water. The skin along the body of this salamander is green or brown, and is loose, forming folds along the sides and on the legs – this extra skin increases the efficiency of the salamander’s cutaneous respiration. Its laterally compressed body shape allows it to squeeze into crevices or under boulders.

The range of the Ozark hellbender in Arkansas is limited, but this species may be found in the upper reaches of the Spring River, some areas of the Eleven Point River, and in White River. These salamanders require a rather specialist habitat, preferring cool waters with limestone rock, where they consume a diet of crayfish, snails, insects, and small fish.

Conservation efforts for the Ozark hellbender are focusing on community education, protecting habitat, and researching how to breed these salamanders in captivity – a potential way to produce individuals for release. Removal of dams in some areas is also helping to restore vital habitats.

9) Oklahoma salamander (Eurycea tynerensis)

• Native to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Near threatened

The Oklahoma salamander is small, with a maximum length of just 10 cm (4 in). It ranges in color from tan to brown to gray, but all individuals have a golden dorsal stripe running down the back to the end of the tail, which is bordered on each side by a dark brown line. The sides have white flecks along them, and the ventral region is paler, usually gray or yellow.

This species has a purely aquatic life history, with a preference for clear water with clean gravel or rocky substrate. These specific needs have limited its range in many areas; in Arkansas, Oklahoma salamanders are found throughout the Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountains, and Arkansas Valley north of the Arkansas River. Threats to this species include habitat loss or degradation by siltation, and its need for clean water and gravel means it is highly sensitive to pollution.

10) Eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)

• Native to the Atlantic Coast from New York to Florida
• Family: Ambystomatidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The eastern tiger salamander is usually found at lengths of around 17.8 – 20.3 cm (7 – 8 in), although some individuals have been reported to reach 33 cm (13 in). This species is brown or black, with a series of yellow spots – the specific organization of these spots varies considerably between populations.

Eastern tiger salamanders have demonstrated themselves to be quite flexible in terms of habitat, occupying woodlands, savannas, swamps, and fields with ponds. In Arkansas, they tend to be found in the Springfield Plateau. These salamanders are fierce predators and will eat any animal they can swallow, including frogs, snakes, and mice, as well as various small invertebrates.

While the eastern tiger salamander is listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN, it is declining in many areas, and several states list it as threatened or endangered. Contributing factors to their decline are habitat loss, fragmentation, and reduced genetic pools in small populations.

11) Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)

• Native to eastern North America
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

Four-toed salamanders are fairly small, reaching around 10.2 cm (4 in) in length, and are reddish brown with pale flecks across the back and tail, while the belly is white with prominent black spots. It is aptly named, being the only terrestrial salamander to have four toes on both the front and hind feet. The tail of this salamander can detach and regenerate, a strategy to avoid predation.

This species resides in sandy, acidic deciduous woodland, where it hides underneath logs and rocks. Being in close proximity to swamps is important for the breeding of this species, and they particularly like areas with sphagnum moss, used by the female for constructing her nest. The range of this species in Arkansas is predominantly through the Ouachita Mountains, although it may be found in other areas where sphagnum moss is present.

12) Ouachita streambed salamander (Eurycea subfluvicola)

• Endemic to Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Unknown

The Ouachita streambed salamander is a fairly newly described species, having been discovered in 2014 as a divergent species from Eurycea multiplicata (the many-ribbed salamander). It is paedomorphic, retaining its aquatic form throughout life, and is associated with porous streambed, retreating below it when rainfall lessens and streams dry up.

These salamanders are very small, generally reaching just 4.6 cm (1.8 in) in length. Their back is yellow with brown spots, while the underside is largely unpigmented, and adults retain external gills even when they are sexually mature. There is very little research on this species, and it is rare, so its diet is largely unknown.

The only place this species has been reported as living is in the Slunger Creek Valley in Lake Catherine State Park, Hot Spring County. Due to its similarity to the many-ribbed salamander, it can be difficult to formally identify and thus further populations have not yet been discovered.

13) Many-ribbed salamander (Eurycea multiplicata)

• Endemic to eastern Oklahoma, southwestern Missouri, and northwestern Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

Mature many-ribbed salamanders may attain lengths of up to 16 cm (6.3 in) and are yellowish-brown in color across the dorsum, with occasional white flecks, while the belly is yellow. This species has nineteen or twenty costal grooves, a feature that has earnt its name, and the head is fairly small with large eyes.

The diet of adult many-ribbed salamanders is unknown, although it is presumed to consist of a variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic invertebrates. Larvae feed nocturnally on zooplankton, ostracods, and isopods. This species tends to hide under stones in streams during the daytime, an effective strategy for avoiding predation.

In Arkansas, the many-ribbed salamander can be found throughout the Ouachita Mountains, with some populations being seen in areas of the Arkansas Valley south of the Arkansas River, north of the Arkansas River in Faulkner County, and Caddo Valley, Clark County.

14) Rich Mountain salamander (Plethodon ouachitae)

• Endemic to the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Near threatened

The color of this species varies depending on where in the Ouachita Mountains it is found – but as a general rule, individuals are slate gray in color, with some brown mottled patterns along the back. The belly and throat are usually a paler grey, and individuals can grow up to 5 cm (2 in) long.

In Arkansas, Rich Mountain salamanders can be found in the Rich, Black Fork, and Kiamichi Mountain subranges of the greater Ouachita Mountains, and prefer moist deciduous woodland, usually on north-facing slopes. They tend to hide under rocks, logs, or debris during the daytime, while at night they venture out to forage on insects, insect larvae, worms, and spiders.

Due to its range within the Ouachita National Forest, this species is afforded a reasonable amount of protection, however, they may still be affected by logging, which not only removes habitat but can result in wider habitat degradation, due to edge effects and changes in the soil.

15) Ozark zigzag salamander (Plethodon angusticlavius)

• Native to southwestern Missouri
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concerned

The Ozark zigzag salamander is fairly small, with a maximum length of 10 cm (4 in), and is brown in color, with a distinctive wavy yellow or orange stripe running down the dorsum. The belly is mottled with black and white, while the sides are gray or brown with white flecks.

Habitat preferences for this species include cool, damp, upland forest, where they hide under rocks or rotting logs – during dry conditions through the summer, they undergo aestivation, seeking refuge deep underground. These salamanders consume a diet of flies, mites, and ants. Their range in Arkansas covers the Ozark Mountains, Boston Highlands, and the northeastern Arkansas Valley.

Ozark zigzag salamanders can be highly territorial, communicating boundaries via chemical cues. If conflict arises, they will engage in agonistic displays, although research has shown that large individuals with fighting experience are likely to be more aggressive than smaller, inexperienced individuals.

16) Ouachita dusky salamander (Desmognathus brimleyorum)

• Endemic to Arkansas and Oklahoma
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The Ouachita dusky salamander is medium-sized, capable of reaching 17.8 cm (7 in) in length. Individuals have fourteen costal grooves and their hind limbs are larger than the front limbs, while the tail is quite short. Their coloration is reddish brown to gray across the dorsal region, while the belly is white with dark flecks, and the base of the tail is yellow or olive green.

This species is found south of the Arkansas River and resides in mountain streams with adjacent ravine woodlands, preferring gravelly, rocky, or porous substrate – it often hides in crevices between rocks. Research examining the stomach contents of Ouachita dusky salamanders found that their diet included dipterans, hymenopterans, isopods, trichopterans, plecopterans, and oligochaetes – other organisms were found, however, these were much less common.

17) Southern red-backed salamander (Plethodon serratus)

• Native to west-central Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, central and southeastern Missouri, and northwestern Georgia
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The southern red-backed salamander has a maximum length of 10 cm (4 in) and is dark brown or black in color, with a reddish dorsal stripe running from the head to the tip of the tail. The edge of this stripe is often rather jagged, earning these salamanders the species name ‘serratus’.

The life history of this salamander revolves around woodland habitat: clumps of moss and decaying logs provide hiding places from predators and suitable locations for egg laying. Juvenile salamanders do not have an aquatic larval stage and undergo direct development as they mature. The range of this species within Arkansas extends throughout the Ouachita Mountains, although is apparently absent from the more northerly points of this region.

Southern red-backed salamanders play an important role in the ecosystem, predating on insects and other invertebrates and thus controlling numbers. Both salamanders and eggs also provide a vital source of food to many woodland predators.

18) Western slimy salamander (Plethodon albagula)

• Native to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The western slimy salamander is the most common type of slimy salamander in Arkansas; it is widespread across the state and not confined to any specific areas. In terms of habitat, this species prefers damp woodlands, where it lives under rocks or logs, although in warm, dry conditions it will retreat into caves or burrow deep into leaf litter.

These salamanders may reach around 20 cm (8 in) in length and are black or blue-black with an abundance of silver spots covering the dorsal surface, while the underside is much plainer, usually dark gray. The diet of the western slimy salamander includes ants, beetles, and worms.

Western slimy salamanders display a number of antipredator mechanisms, such as secreting a sticky substance when touched, flipping their bodies, lashing their tails, and vocalizing. Their nocturnal, secretive lifestyle also allows them to evade many potential predators.

19) Kiamichi slimy salamander (Plethodon kiamichi)

• Endemic to the Kiamichi Mountains in Oklahoma and Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Unknown

Kiamichi slimy salamanders range in length from 4.8 – 7.5 cm (1.9 – 3 in) and are usually black in color, with numerous silver spots covering the dorsal region. This species can be found in temperate forests in the Kiamichi Mountain range, confined to the eastern edge of Arkansas. The IUCN found that there was insufficient data to draw conclusions about the conservation status of this species, however, it may be threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation.

Very little is known about the life history of Kiamichi slimy salamanders; it is thought that they predate on invertebrates such as worms, insects, and spiders, and that they undergo hibernation through the winter. However, beyond this, there is very little research into their reproduction or migration.

20) Louisiana slimy salamander (Plethodon kisatchie)

• Endemic to northern Louisiana and south-central Arkansas
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The Louisiana slimy salamander is closely related to the Kiamichi slimy salamander and the western slimy salamander; much of their range in Arkansas overlaps and they are commonly seen throughout the state. Similar to these other species, very little is known about the life history of Plethodon kisatchie, although it is known that breeding takes place terrestrially, and juveniles undergo direct development (there is no larval phase).

In terms of habitat, this species is generally seen in hardwood or pine forests, where it consumes invertebrates such as worms, insects, and spiders. As with all slimy salamanders, when threatened, individuals will secrete a noxious, sticky substance, although they stay well out of the way of most predators by hiding underneath logs or leaf litter.

While the overall conservation status of the Louisiana slimy salamander is that of least concern, populations may be threatened at a local level by habitat loss and degradation due to logging.

21) Grotto salamander (Eurycea spelaea)

• Native to Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma
• Family: Plethodontidae
• Order: Urodela
• Conservation status: Least concern

The grotto salamander earned its name due to its cave-dwelling habits, although it may also be found near freshwater springs. In Arkansas, it can be found in the Ozark Highlands and northern parts of the Boston Mountains. There are several subspecies of the grotto salamander: southern grotto salamanders (Eurycea braggi), western grotto salamanders (Eurycea spelaea), and northern grotto salamanders (Eurycea nerea).

This species reaches a maximum length of 13.5 cm (5.3 in) and is pinkish-white in color, with orange on the tail, feet, and lower sides, and between sixteen and nineteen costal grooves. It is a top predator in cave environments, feasting on millipedes, pseudoscorpions, beetles, and mosquito larvae. Interestingly, it is more common in caves that have abundant bat populations – a feature that is possibly linked to the production of guano and the invertebrates that are associated with it.

Although this species’ conservation status is that of least concern, its highly specific needs in terms of habitat may mean that it is more susceptible to environmental changes; for example, pollution of cave water or human disturbance could have a negative impact on the grotto salamander.