Geographically, Georgia is made up of five distinct regions: the Upper and Lower Coastal Plain, the Piedmont Region, the Blue Ridge Region, the Ridge and Valley Region, and the Appalachian Plateau. These regions give rise to an enormous variety of habitats, including but not limited to swamps, marshes, rolling hills, mountains, pine and deciduous forests, and valleys.
As expected, this great diversity of habitat supports an enormous diversity of plant and animal life. There are numerous species of salamander found in Georgia, many of which have vastly different requirements and life histories.
Georgia Salamanders
1) Georgia blind salamander (Eurycea wallacei)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Endangered
The Georgia blind salamander spends its entire life in an aquatic environment and possesses various neotenic characteristics, such as its external gills, which suit this lifestyle. Other identifying features of this species include the lack of eyes, the presence of twelve or thirteen costal grooves, and unpigmented skin, which may appear to be iridescent.
Georgia blind salamanders are found in the southwest of Georgia, where they occupy caves and underground springs and are very rarely seen above ground. Threats to this species include pollution, climate change, and changes to water systems such as damming. Due to the current lack of knowledge of the ecology of Eurycea wallacei, appropriate conservation measures are not always easy to identify.
2) Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
- Native to eastern North America
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The spotted salamander can attain lengths of up to 24 cm (9.4 in) and is monotypic, meaning that no subspecies have been discovered. Individuals have twelve costal grooves and vary in color, typically dark brown or black with a gray belly. There are two rows of yellow or orange spots running down the back and tail.
Ambystoma maculatum can be found in the Piedmont and Mountain regions of Georgia and is not seen in the southeastern part of the state. Its preferred habitat includes hardwood forests and swamps – it is a nocturnal species and hides in burrows to await and ambush its invertebrate prey.
3) Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
- Native to the eastern US
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The marbled salamander is named after the series of light bands crossing its dorsum, which contrast against the black background. Sexual dimorphism is present in this species, with males having white bands, while in females they are pale gray. A study also found that this species is sexually dichromatic, with males having a greater proportion of markings than females. Marbled salamanders reach lengths of 9 – 10.7 cm (3.5 – 4.2 in).
Ambystoma opacum is found throughout Georgia, except in the southeast. It is relatively adaptable in terms of habitat, occupying floodplains or wooded hillsides – although being a fossorial species, it spends much of its time underground. The adult diet consists of earthworms, slugs, snails, centipedes, and insects.
4) Seepage salamander (Desmognathus aeneus)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Near threatened
The seepage salamander is a small species, reaching just 5.7 cm (2.2 in) in length. Individuals have a slender build, with thirteen or fourteen costal grooves and a long tail, and the coloration is dark brown with a lighter, wavy dorsal stripe. Seepage salamanders undergo direct development and thus do not have a larval phase.
This species can be found in northern Georgia and is also found southeast of the Fall Line. As their name suggests, seepage salamanders are often located in upland habitats near seeps or springs, where they hide underneath vegetation. The diet of this species includes beetle and fly larvae, springtails, and mites.
5) Northern slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
- Native to the eastern and central US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
Northern slimy salamanders are large, with a maximum recorded length of 20.6 cm (8.1 in). Individuals have sixteen costal grooves, a prehensile tail, and have glands in their skin that secrete a sticky mucus when the animal is threatened. The coloration of this species is dark gray, with silvery spots on the back, sides, and tail.
The northern slimy salamander is found throughout Georgia, where it prefers to reside in undisturbed woodland or wooded ravines. It does not do particularly well in monocultures and is far less abundant in younger woodlands. This species spends much of its time hidden under rocks or logs, where it feeds on whichever terrestrial invertebrates head its way.
6) One-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Amphiumidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Near threatened
Of the three species of amphiuma, scientists know the least about the one-toed amphiuma. These salamanders resemble eels, leading to them being incorrectly referred to as ‘Congo eels’. Each of the tiny limbs possesses just one toe, and individuals have rounded snouts and lidless eyes. The highest recorded length for this species is 33 cm (13 in).
One-toed amphiumas are only found in the furthermost southern reaches of Georgia, where they occupy ponds and streams, remaining concealed in deep mud. Individuals are voracious predators and will consume an enormous variety of vertebrate and invertebrate prey. Threats to this species include pollution, logging, and mining.
7) Patch-nosed salamander (Urspelerpes brucei)
- Native to Georgia and South Carolina
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The patch-nosed salamander is very small, reaching just 2.6 cm (1 in). It is a slender species, with a narrow head and protrusive eyes, and it shows sexual dimorphism: males have fifteen costal grooves, while females possess sixteen. Males are also bright yellow in color, while females are brownish-yellow – although both sexes have two dark dorsal stripes and a patch of yellow on the snout.
Patch-nosed salamanders are found only in the Chattahoochee National Forest, in the Upper Piedmont Province. They reside under rocks or leaf litter in close proximity to small streams, where they are suggested to feed on small invertebrates.
8) Southern gray-cheeked salamander (Plethodon metcalfi)
- Endemic to the southern Blue Ridge Mountains
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The southern gray-cheeked salamander is found exclusively in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, where the borders of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina meet. Their preferred habitat is oak forest with deep soil, where they hide under logs or leaf litter and consume terrestrial invertebrates.
These salamanders reach about 14 cm (5.5 in) – the tail comprises half of this. Individuals have fourteen costal grooves, and their coloration is blue-gray, with a paler gray underside. There is a prominent lateral line where these two colors meet. Some populations may also display white spots along the sides, but this feature is not unanimous.
9) Ocmulgee slimy salamander (Plethodon ocmulgee)
- Endemic to Georgia
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Unknown (insufficient data)
Very little is known about the biology of the Ocmulgee slimy salamander, due to it only recently having been designated as a subspecies of the slimy salamander complex. It can be found on the coastal plain and Piedmont in Georgia, in areas associated with the Ocmulgee River drainage system.
Plethodon ocmulgee can reach lengths of up to 20.3 cm (8 in) and is black in color, with white or yellow spots covering the body. Being a member of the slimy salamanders, it produces a sticky substance via glands in its skin when threatened, a strategy that deters predators.
10) Atlantic Coast slimy salamander (Plethodon chlorobryonis)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Unknown (insufficient data)
The Atlantic Coast slimy salamander reaches lengths of between 12.1 – 17.2 cm (4.8 – 6.8 in) and is typically blue-black in color, with silvery spots and brassy flecks covering the dorsum. Plethodon chlorobryronis was first described in 1951, and the latter part of its name reflects the greenish lichen-like patches that some individuals display on their sides (chloro means green, while bryon means lichen).
Populations have been found in the Blue Ridge Province in northeastern Georgia, where they reside in swamps or near to creeks. The diet of these salamanders is unknown, however they are suggested to feed nocturnally on a variety of terrestrial invertebrates. This species has proven itself to be tolerant of habitat disturbance, meaning it is less likely to be affected by logging or development.
11) Pigeon Mountain salamander (Plethodon petraeus)
- Endemic to Georgia
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The Pigeon Mountain salamander is large, reaching lengths of up to 18 cm (7 in). This species has very distinctive coloration, with black sides, legs, and tail, and a reddish-brown dorsal stripe traveling from the head, down the back, to the tip of the tail. The underside is black, while the chin and chest are mottled with paler brown or yellow.
The range of Plethodon petraeus is incredibly limited, with populations only being known from the eastern slope of Pigeon Mountain, in Walker and Chattooga Counties. Its habitat preferences include access to cave systems, and mesic deciduous forests (such as that of oak or hickory). It is well adapted to climbing and frequents rocky outcrops.
12) Two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma means)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Amphiumidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The two-toed amphiuma is the largest salamander in Georgia, capable of attaining lengths of up to 114 cm (3 ft 9 in). Each of the tiny limbs possesses two toes, a key distinguishing feature of this species, and individuals have ‘pits’ on their heads, which contain sensory receptors that enable the amphiuma to locate prey and avoid predators.
The distribution of the two-toed amphiuma in Georgia extends throughout the Coastal Plain, with individuals preferring shallow, slow-moving, acidic water. This species tends to be associated with a muddy substrate in which it can burrow, although it ventures out to predate crayfish, worms, small fishes, and amphibians.
13) Chattahoochee slimy salamander (Plethodon chattahoochee)
- Native to northwestern Georgia and southwestern North Carolina
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Unknown (insufficient data)
Very little is known about the Chattahoochee slimy salamander: the length of this species is thought to be around 6.4 cm (2.5 in), based on recordings made from the first individual animals categorized as Plethodon chattahoochee. The skin is dark gray in color, fading to paler gray on the underside, while the sides are covered with numerous creamy white spots.
The range of the Chattahoochee salamander in Georgia covers the Chattahoochee National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains and areas in the northeast of the state. Although this species is common in these regions, it may be susceptible to declines related to intensive forestry or climate change.
14) Savannah slimy salamander (Plethodon savannah)
- Endemic to Georgia
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Unknown
The savannah slimy salamander reaches around 14 cm (5.5 in) and has black skin with an abundance of white spots, some of which may have a brassy tinge to them. There are fewer spots on the belly, and the chin is often slightly paler in color than the rest of the salamander.
This species can be found in Burke, Jefferson, and Richmond counties in Georgia, where it resides in moist, deciduous upland forests, swamp forests, or hardwood forests. Individuals spend much of their time hiding under leaf litter, venturing out at night to feed on invertebrates such as springtails, centipedes, snails, and spiders.
15) Mabee’s salamander (Ambystoma mabeei)
- Native to North America
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
Mabee’s salamanders typically range in length from 7.5 – 10.2 cm (3 – 4 in), although maximum lengths of 11.4 cm (4.5 in) have been reported. The tail is particularly long, reaching up to 68% of the total length, and individuals have thirteen costal grooves. The skin is brown, with sparse white spots across the back, which become more concentrated on the sides.
This species is found on the Coastal Plain in Georgia, where it resides in pine or hardwood forests. The diet of adults consists of terrestrial invertebrates such as earthworms, while larval Mabee’s salamanders feed on zooplankton. Threats to these salamanders include the drainage of breeding sites, urbanization, and deforestation.
16) Reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi)
- Native to the southeastern coastal plain of the US
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The reticulated flatwoods salamander can reach 13 cm (5.1 in) in length and has between fourteen and sixteen costal grooves. This species is slightly sexually dimorphic, with a narrower, more slender tail in males than females. As the name suggests, this species has a reticulated pattern with gray lines over a brown base color.
In Georgia, reticulated flatwoods salamanders are found in the Dougherty Plain in the southwest of the state. These salamanders prefer longleaf pine forests with wiregrass, and populations are heavily dependent on fires to stimulate the growth of grasses and sedges, which provide cover.
17) Chamberlain’s dwarf salamander (Eurycea chamberlaini)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Unknown (insufficient data)
The Chamberlain’s dwarf salamander was first described in 2003. This species reaches lengths of around 8.1 cm (3.2 in) and has sixteen costal grooves. The dorsum is brownish-bronze in color with a dark stripe running from the head to the tip of the tail, and the underside is yellow.
The distribution of this species in Georgia is largely unknown: it has long been suspected to be present, however, no populations had actually been uncovered until one was found in the Fall Line region. Salamanders similar in appearance to the Chamberlain’s dwarf salamander have also been found, but it is likely that they are a genetically distinct form.
18) Webster’s salamander (Plethodon websteri)
- Native to southeastern Piedmont
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The Webster’s salamander ranges in length from 7 – 8.2 cm (2.8 – 3.2 in) and has a fairly slender build, with a moderately long tail. The coloration is brown with orange or red mottling, and there is a wavy dorsal stripe that is usually red or yellowish in color. Males can be discriminated from females, as they have a swollen cloaca.
In Georgia, this species is concentrated in the west of the state. It occupies forest adjacent to rocky streams, where it hides under leaf litter and feeds on small terrestrial insects. Webster’s salamanders prefer forests comprised of sugar maple, red oak, yellow poplar, and slippery elm.
19) Red-legged salamander (Plethodon shermani)
- Native to the southern Appalachians in the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The red-legged salamander is quite large, reaching lengths of between 8.5 – 18.5 cm (3.3 – 7.3 in). Individuals usually have sixteen costal grooves, and the color of the dorsum varies from blue-gray to black, with a gray belly. As the name suggests, many populations of this species have red coloration on the dorsal surfaces of the legs.
Plethodon shermani is found in northern Georgia, where it resides in cool, mountainous forests. Plethodon salamanders have been reported to climb vegetation, and it would appear that this species is no different – its diet consists of invertebrates such as spiders, insects, worms, and snails.
20) Green salamander (Aneides aeneus)
- Native to the Appalachian region in the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Near threatened
The maximum recorded length of the green salamander is 14 cm (5.5 in). This species has a broad head and a rounded tail that is longer than the body, and its coloration is black or brown, with extensive green mottling across the dorsum. The underside is usually paler gray.
In Georgia, the distribution of this species is confined to areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the north. Its preferred habitat consists of humid cliff faces, with an abundance of moist rocks and crevices in which it can hide. There are numerous threats to this species, such as logging, lack of habitat burning, and droughts.
21) Black-bellied salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The black-bellied salamander is one of the largest salamanders in the southeastern United States, with lengths ranging between 10 – 21 cm (4 – 8.3 in). This salamander has a robust build, with a chunky, laterally compressed tail. The dorsum is brown or green-gray in color, while the belly is black – although there may be some white flecks on the belly in juveniles.
Black-bellied salamanders are found in the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, where they are predominantly aquatic and occupy rocky streams. Individuals forage at the edges of these streams, consuming a diet of crayfish and insects (both aquatic and terrestrial). This species may be impacted by pollution, although there are no major concerns about populations declining.
22) Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Cryptobranchidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The eastern hellbender is very large, reaching lengths of up to 74 cm (2 ft 5 in). Individuals have loose, slimy skin that is green, yellowish-brown, or slate gray in color – there may also be dark spots. This species has tiny, lidless eyes, and has a gill slit on each side of the head, both of which are adaptations to its purely aquatic lifestyle.
In Georgia, this species is found in streams and rivers of the Tennessee River drainage in the Cumberland Plateau, Ridge and Valley, and Blue Ridge provinces. Populations prefer fast-flowing, rocky streams, where they feed on crayfish, snails, frogs, snakes, and small mammals. There are many factors contributing to the decline of this species, including logging, pollution, and damming of rivers.
23) Pygmy salamander (Desmognathus wrighti)
- Native to the southern Appalachians of the US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The pygmy salamander is small, reaching lengths between 3.8 – 5.1 cm (1.5 – 2 in), of which the tail comprises around 40%. The hindlimbs of this salamander are muscular, and it has fourteen costal grooves, while the coloration is coppery with a paler wavy dorsal stripe and lighter underside.
The precise range of the pygmy salamander in Georgia is difficult to ascertain, however it is known to reside in forests at high elevations, particularly spruce-fir forests. Individuals often hide under rocks or logs, and are remarkably tolerant of dry conditions: in wet weather, they may be found in trees.
24) Northern zigzag salamander (Plethodon dorsalis)
- Native to the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concern
The northern zigzag salamander is small, with males reaching just 4.6 cm (1.8 in) and females being slightly larger at 5 cm (2 in). Individuals are small and slender, and are dark brown in color with a wavy red dorsal stripe. They have between sixteen and eighteen costal grooves.
This species can be found in western Georgia, where it prefers rocky areas with leaf litter to hide under. Some populations have also been found in caves, and the laying and brooding of eggs have also been reported to take place in cave environments. Although the conservation status of the northern zigzag salamander is that of least concern, populations may be affected by habitat fragmentation by roads.
25) Blue Ridge two-lined salamander (Eurycea wilderae)
- Endemic to the Blue Ridge mountains in the southeastern US
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Order: Urodela
- Conservation status: Least concerned
The Blue Ridge two-lined salamander reaches lengths of 7 – 10.7 cm (2.8 – 4.2 in), and is slightly sexually dimorphic, with males having longer legs than females. The coloration of these salamanders is usually bright yellow or orange, with two dark dorsal stripes running from the eyes to the lower back. The underside is usually paler in color.
The range of this species in Georgia is confined to the mountainous regions in the far north of the state, where it occupies rocky seeps, streams, and brooks, and hides underneath rocks or debris. Populations may be threatened by habitat loss, however there are no immediate concerns over the conservation status of this salamander.
