Connecticut is a small state in the southeastern United States. It experiences cold winters, and hot, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms. 60% of the state is forested, although most of this is privately owned, so the state has little influence on the management of this habitat – a potential conservation concern for those species that need additional support.
The forested areas are a mixture of deciduous, coniferous, and wetland forests, and other areas include habitats such as marshes, swamps, bogs, lakes, rivers, and floodplains. The extensive coastline also gives rise to saltwater wetlands.
Twelve species of salamander are found in Connecticut, belonging to a wide range of genera such as Ambystoma, Plethodon, Eurycea, and Desmognathus. This article includes descriptions of both salamanders and newts in Connecticut. To learn more about the differences between these two groups of animals, check out our article Salamanders vs Newts: What’s the Difference?
Connecticut Salamanders
1) Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
- Native to the eastern US and eastern Canada
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The spotted salamander is Connecticut’s most widespread mole salamander and tends to reside in forests with easy access to swamps or ponds. It is quite a secretive species, hiding away in burrows or underneath leaf litter, and is an aggressive predator, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as worms, slugs, crickets, beetles, or ants.
Larval spotted salamanders possess external gills and a broad tail; features that enable them to thrive in an aquatic environment – these features are lost when the larvae undergo metamorphosis to reach the terrestrial adult form, which breathes via lungs. The adults are brown or black, with yellow or orange spots along the back or sides, while the underside is gray. The maximum length of this species is 25 cm (10 in), and females tend to be larger than males.
Breeding spotted salamanders will often return to the same site each year to reproduce. This migration takes place between March and April, and is influenced by climatic factors: individuals are more likely to migrate when the surface temperature is higher than the soil temperature.
Spotted salamander populations are experiencing a decline in Connecticut: habitat destruction and acidification of waterways are the leading causes, as well as fragmentation of suitable habitats. It has been suggested that a small buffer of forested areas around vernal pools may help to maintain water quality.
2) Red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
- Native to eastern North America
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
Adult red-backed salamanders are found at lengths between 5 – 12.7 cm (2 – 5 in) and have short legs with cylindrical tails. There are various color types in this species, ‘red-back’ (striped) or ‘lead-back’ (unstriped) being the most common ones. Lead-backed individuals are entirely gray or black, while red-backed individuals have a reddish stripe running down the back and tail.
There is also an erythristic morph, which is bright red or orange in color. This is postulated to imitate the red eft, which produces an antipredator toxin – mimicry of this species could provide the red-backed salamander with protection and thus improve survival. All color types display mottled black and white undersides.
Habitat preferences of this species include moist forests, particularly those on rocky hillsides. These salamanders are fairly resistant to disturbance and fragmentation of habitat, and due to undergoing direct development, they are less reliant on close proximity to bodies of water. The diet of the red-backed salamander consists of insects, mites, and other invertebrates.
The red-backed salamander is considered a keystone species due to the effects it exerts on the ecosystem – it is considered an indicator of ecosystem health. The precise impact of this species has not been confirmed – it appears that the effects it has depend on the precise location and other ecosystem factors.
3) Blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale)
- Native to the Great Lakes states, northeastern US, and Southeast Canada
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The maximum length of the blue-spotted salamander is 12.7 cm (5 in), and individuals have a slender build, with a narrow head and long, compressed tail. The body is dark in color, with an abundance of bright blue spots and flecks extending down the sides, legs, and tail. The blue-spotted salamander frequently hybridizes with the Jefferson salamander in Connecticut, presenting a conservation concern.
Populations of pure blue-spotted salamanders in Connecticut are restricted to the east of the Connecticut River. Their preferred habitat is deciduous forests with riparian wetlands – it is thought that individuals may use chemical cues to select a suitable habitat. The terrestrial adults consume a diet of insects, slugs, and worms. The availability of vernal pools is important to this species; eggs are laid in them, and larvae develop here until they undergo metamorphosis.
Despite the overall conservation status of the blue-spotted salamander being that of least concern, this species is state-listed as endangered in Connecticut. The main threats to populations involve hybridization with the Jefferson salamander, habitat destruction or fragmentation, and urbanization (which leads to increased incidence of roadkill).
4) Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
- Native to the eastern US
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The marbled salamander is very distinctive, with thick white bands across a black body (these bands are pale gray in females), while the underside is pure black. Adult lengths vary from 7 – 12 cm (3 – 4.7 in), and the body is sturdy, with a short tail. The number of bars across the back and tail varies, and a team of researchers even created a pattern recognition system based on this, allowing fast and efficient identification of individuals.
These salamanders prefer deciduous woodland, usually in close proximity to water, although individuals have been found in both moist soils and dry, sandy areas. They spend much of their time hiding underneath rocks or logs, where they sit and wait for prey such as worms, snails, spiders, or beetles, which they ambush and capture using their tongue.
Marbled salamanders prefer undisturbed habitats and will not thrive alongside human development. The use of ‘buffer zones’ for the protection of breeding habitat has been implemented in some areas, although research suggests that a new, alternative approach might be required to really make a difference to populations.
5) Spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus)
- Native to the Appalachian Mountains and northeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The spring salamander is fairly large, with typical lengths of 12.7 – 19 cm (5 – 7.5 in), and individuals have laterally flattened tails with a ‘fin-like’ tip – reflecting their heavily aquatic lifestyle. The coloration of this species ranges from salmon to reddish-brown, with a pale white belly, although younger individuals are generally lighter in color overall.
The habitat of spring salamanders is usually within steep, rocky forests with cool, well-oxygenated waters – research into habitat use in this species found that individuals often made use of mudbanks and bedrock. These salamanders consume a wide variety of prey, including aquatic insect larvae and terrestrial invertebrates such as spiders and worms, and are even occasionally cannibalistic, feeding on larval conspecifics.
In Connecticut, the spring salamander is considered threatened: as a very sensitive species, it is highly susceptible to declines due to changes in water quality, particularly in relation to oxygenation and temperature. This species is afforded some protection by the Connecticut Threatened and Endangered Species Act.
6) Northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata)
- Native to the northeastern US and eastern Canada
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The northern two-lined salamander is a stream-dwelling species, although it is able to inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats: rocky streams with swift currents, swamps, or slow-flowing rivers all play host to populations. Individuals spend much of their time hiding under rocks, logs, or leaf litter in close proximity to the water.
Appearance-wise, this species is medium-sized, attaining lengths of 7 – 11.4 cm (2.8 – 4.5 in), and it has a slender build with long limbs. The dorsal region is yellowish-green or orange, and as the name suggests, there are two dark lines running from the snout to the tip of the tail. There are also some dark spots on the dorsum.
Northern two-lined salamanders tend to feed amongst the leaf litter on arachnids, annelids, and insects, but they have also been observed to climb plants to access phytophagous insects that are not found on the ground. The ability of these salamanders to hunt is reduced by mercury contamination; they show decreased speed and responsiveness. Thus, pollution presents a conservation concern for this species.
7) Common mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)
- Native to southern Central Canada and the midwestern US
- Family: Proteidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The common mudpuppy is unique in that it is the only fully aquatic salamander in Connecticut, and is also the largest salamander in the state, capable of reaching 43 cm (17 in) in length! It retains its external gills throughout adulthood – these are bushy and red in color, while the body is grey-green with blue-black spots. The head is broad and flattened in shape, with tiny eyes.
In Connecticut, the common mudpuppy can be found in the Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers. This species is tolerant to a variety of conditions but is often associated with deeper waters, where it consumes a diet of fish, fish eggs, crayfish, mollusks, and plant material. In turn, it is predated on by herons and water snakes.
Antipredator mechanisms in the common mudpuppy include the secretion of toxins, and vocalization in the form of a ‘bark-like’ squeak, which has earned them the alternative name of ‘waterdog’. Conservation efforts for this species are focusing on reducing siltation and pollution in waterways.
8) Northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus)
- Native to the Appalachian Mountains
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The length of the northern dusky salamander ranges from 6 – 14 cm (2.4 – 5.5 in). Individuals are mottled brown in color, with a ‘salt and pepper’ underside. These salamanders have long hind limbs and fairly short, laterally flattened tails, and some adults have a pale dorsal stripe running down the back and tail.
Northern dusky salamanders were once widespread throughout Connecticut; however, development has limited their range. They can be found in streams or springs, usually in areas associated with deciduous or coniferous forests, where they shelter under rocks or logs. This species is considered an important predator, commonly feeding on aquatic macroinvertebrates as well as terrestrial invertebrates such as worms, wasps, and woodlice.
Conservation efforts for this species mainly revolve around the protection of habitat, such as reducing levels of detritus and mud in streams, and maintenance of woodlands, which decreases the likelihood of flooding.
9) Northern slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
- Native to the eastern-central US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The northern slimy salamander ranges in length from 12 – 17 cm (4.7 – 6.7 in), although maximum lengths of 20.6 cm (8.1 in) have been reported. Individuals are usually black in color, with white flecks or spots along the back and sides, and a paler ventral region. The tail is fairly long and cylindrical. There is no larval stage in this species; juveniles undergo direct development and are very similar in appearance to adults.
As with all slimy salamanders, this species secretes a noxious substance from its skin when threatened. Other antipredator strategies in this species include its nocturnal habits, lashing out with its tail, and vocalizing. Snakes and birds are the predominant predators of this species, although some mammals will consume them too.
Northern slimy salamanders are state-listed as threatened in Connecticut. Habitat loss is the main contributor to this, particularly the destruction of mature, undisturbed forests, however, fragmentation by roads and habitat degradation are also causing populations to decline. This species is protected by the Connecticut Endangered and Threatened Species Act.
10) Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)
- Native to eastern North America
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
Reaching just 8.9 cm (3.5 in) in length, the four-toed salamander is Connecticut’s smallest salamander species. This species has smooth, reddish-brown skin, with a pale gray underside, and has four toes on the hind feet – a feature that contrasts with all other salamanders found in Connecticut, which have five toes.
Four-toed salamanders are found throughout Connecticut, typically occupying woodlands or wooded swamps – in particular, they prefer sandy, acidic, deciduous woodland, where they hide under rocks or logs. Antipredator mechanisms in this species include freezing, coiling up with the head tucked below the tail, and the production of toxic secretions.
This species utilizes nests for its eggs, usually depositing them amongst sphagnum or other mosses, although some have been recorded among leaves or rotting logs. In some cases, it seems the female creates these nests by turning repeatedly to form a cavity, whereas at other times they have been found to make use of naturally occurring spaces in the moss.
11) Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)
- Native to the northeastern US
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The Jefferson salamander ranges from 11.4 – 17.8 cm (4.5 – 7 in) in length, and has a fairly slender build, with long toes. The skin of this salamander is pale gray-blue or brown, with blue flecks along the sides, although older individuals often lack these. The tail is laterally flattened and is usually about the same length as the body.
In Connecticut, pure Jefferson salamanders are rarely found, as they often hybridize with blue-spotted salamanders. Populations tend to be seen more in western Connecticut and in northern Fairfield or Litchfield Counties, where they reside in steep, deciduous forests, often hiding in burrows. Their diet consists of various aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.
This species is a state species of special concern in Connecticut. Habitat disturbance and fragmentation are driving declines, along with the hybridization with Ambystoma laterale: the use of genetic markers has been suggested for identifying diploid (pure) vs triploid (hybrid) individuals.
12) Red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)
- Native to eastern North America
- Family: Salamandridae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
Also known as the eastern newt, the red-spotted newt is widespread in Connecticut and is commonly seen. Both the adults and larvae reside in aquatic habitats, usually in sunny areas with plenty of vegetation and slow-flowing water, while the efts are found in woodlands or meadows. This species is considered an indicator of a healthy wetland or forest.
Adult red-spotted newts are greenish in color, with black spots across the back and red spots along the sides, while larvae are olive-colored with a reddish-brown tail. The most striking phase is that of the red eft, during which time individuals are bright orange with red spots along the side, each of which has a black border.
This species undergoes an extensive courtship period, during which the male will release pheromones and wiggle his tail. The male and female then enter amplexus – during this time, other males will try to displace the original male, resulting in a lot of wrestling, although the intruding male is rarely successful!
