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ID Keys:
Frogs Salamanders Turtles Lizards &
Snakes
How to key Glossary
Photos:
Frogs Salamanders Turtles Lizards & Snakes
Links |
Cortland Herpetology Connection
Salamander Key
See also species
distribution
maps at the
New
York State
Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project website.
Key to the families of adult salamanders in New York
Key to the species of the family Proteidae
of New York
Key to the species of the family
Cryptobranchidae of New York
Key to the species of the family
Salamandridae of New York
Key to the species of the family
Ambystomatidae of New York
Key to the species of the family
Plethodontidae of New York
1.a. |
Light line from eye toward angle of jaws |
2 |
1.b. |
No light line, hind limbs distinctly thicker than forelimbs |
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2.a. |
Tail rounded in cross section |
Mountain
dusky salamander |
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Desmognathus
ochrophaeus |
2.b. |
Tail with distinct dorsal keel |
Northern
dusky salamander |
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Desmognathus
fuscus |
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3.a. |
Four toes on hind feet |
Four-toed
salamander |
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Hemidactylium
scutatum |
3.b. |
Five toes on hind feet |
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4.a. |
Body with dorsal red stripe, sides dark |
Redback
salamander |
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Plethodon cinereus |
4.b. |
No red stripe |
5 |
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5.a. |
Yellow under tail, two dark stripes bordering a yellow/tan/gold dorsal
stripe, belly white or yellow |
Northern two-lined salamander |
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Eurycea
bislineata |
5.b. |
Not as in 5a |
6 |
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6.a. |
Body all orange, pink, red, or purple |
7 |
6.b. |
Body brown, grey, black |
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7.a. |
Acanthal ridge and light line from eye
to nostril, body pink, salmon, or purple |
Northern
spring salamander |
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Gyrinophilus
porphyriticus |
7.b. |
No ridge or line from eye to nostril |
8 |
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8.a. |
Body orange, red or purple with numerous small black spots, tail short and
thick |
Northern
red salamander |
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Pseudotriton
ruber |
8.b. |
Body orange or yellow orange, tail long and thin, dark spots on body and
dark vertical bars on tail |
Longtail
salamander |
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Eurycea
longicauda |
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9.a. |
Costal grooves = 19, limbs small, belly
mottled |
Redback
salamander |
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Plethodon cinereus |
9.b. |
Less than 19 costal grooves, limbs
moderate |
10 |
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10.a. |
Bright white spots scattered over dark body, throat grayish, 16
costal grooves |
Slimy
salamander |
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Plethodon
glutinosus |
10.b. |
Dark body with light flecking on sides, throat light, usually 17
costal grooves |
Wehrle's salamander |
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Plethodon wehrlei |
Cortland Herpetology Connection |
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Special thanks to all those who generously loaned images and other
help. See our
credits page for more information.
http://www.cortland.edu/herp/keys/salakey.htm |