Name: Dunn's Salamander (Plethodon dunni)
Order: Salamanders (Caudata)
Family: Lungless Salamanders (Plethodontidae)
What they look like
- 5-8cm
- Dark brown or black on their backs with tannish spots and small white specks.
- Have a yellowish/greenish or brown stripe along their backs that stops before the end of their tail.
- Underside is dark and can have lightest spots
- Tops of their legs are lighter colored, usually yellow.
Where they live
- View a map of where they live.
- They are found in Southwestern region of Washington state.
- Dunn's Salamanders are most often found under rocks in wet shaded areas on the edges of streams in forests.
Breeding
- Breeding season is spring and early summer.
- Eggs are laid in underground lairs and protected by the females.
- There is no larval stage, the eggs hatch into tiny fully formed salamanders.
- Young Dunn’s usually have brighter markings than adults and the stripe on their back may reach the end of the tail.
Cool Biology Facts
- Male has two small lobes near its vent and a large mental gland on their chin that is used during courtship for the release of chemical cues.
- Do not have lungs and breathe only through their skin.
- Larvae do not have gills and are exclusively terrestrial.
- When disturbed they will either rapidly scurry away or sometimes will become completely motionless to avoid being seen.
Threats
- Main threats include logging and changes to its habitat that affect moisture levels. View their status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Explore more of the Amphibians & Reptiles of Washington or check out All About Amphibians.