Desmognathus – Dusky salamanders

These stout, medium-sized salamanders exhibit variable brown coloration and a translucent belly with “salt and pepper” patterning. The tail is flattened laterally, with a knife-like top edge. The base of the tail is olive, yellow, or bright chestnut.

They “breathe” by absorbing oxygen through the skin. Also, members of this family have a groove that runs from the nose to the upper lip, which may aid in smell – an essential feature when finding prey. Dusky salamanders can be pretty common in areas such as the shaded streamside of moist woods. But tree removal threatens them in some regions, exposing their moist bodies to the sun.