It's Not Easy Being a Green Salamander

The green salamander, Aneides aeneus, is one of the rarest amphibians in Pennsylvania, where it is listed as "threatened" on the list of special concern species for the state. The entire range for this species is confined to the mountains extending from the northeastern tip of Mississippi, to the southernmost section of the Allegheny Mountains in Fayette County. Because of its very limited range, the green salamander is very vulnerable to decline, due especially to loss of habitat and over-collection. This is particularly true in Pennsylvania, where its distribution is very small.

The green salamander is the only eastern salamander considered semi-orboreal and lives in rock outcrops, often those composed of massive Pottsville sandstone. It has a flat head and body; the perfect body design for sneaking into tight cracks and crevices on cliffs. Even when they are not hiding, green salamanders can be hard to see; their bodies are patterned like lichen, which camouflages them on the rocky habitats where they live and breath.

Today's photo was taken by Charles Bier, director of WPC's Natural Heritage Program.

Reference: e-nature.com

E-mail Today's WPC Daily to a Friend!

Become a Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Member

View the winning WPC Daily (Makes a great screen wallpaper for October)