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The Mountain Dusky Salamander's Physical Behavior

Desmognathus ochrophaeus, the mountain dusky salamander, is a lungless amphibian living in forested areas of the Appalachian Mountains of the United States and Canada. Found as far south as Alabama and as far north as Quebec, physical behavior is governed by their size and habitat. They prefer living in wet and damp areas, near springs, streams, and under stones and logs. Like many salamanders, the mountain dusky is as happy living terrestrially as it is in water, although those living in higher climes tend to live mainly on land.

Physical Characteristics
- The mountain dusky has comparatively long legs for a salamander, but is a relatively small species, averaging between 2.7 to 3.9 inches in length. With slender bodies and tapered tails, they can be found in a variety of colors and with various patterned skins. Males and females look alike, although males are generally larger. When first hatched, the larvae, which have a light stripe extending from their eyes to their tails, are equipped with gills, but they lose them before adulthood. Mature mountain dusky Salamanders breathe through their skin.
Feeding
- As a carnivore, the mountain dusky feeds on insects and other arthropods. The juveniles eat small aquatic creatures such as spiders, flies and insect larvae. The adults, however, are ambush predators, often climbing trees to find prey. They use their keen eyesight to catch creatures such as earthworms, millipedes, beetles and dragonflies. This behavior of ambushing reduces the risk of injury compared to direct hunting methods adopted by other, larger salamander species.
Breeding
- The mountain dusky breeds during spring and fall. The species is nonvocal so females release a scent on leaves, branches, or the bark of a tree to initiate courtship. Males then release a sperm package on the ground (spermatophore), which the female picks up and places into her reproductive vent. Fertilization takes place internally, with the ova fertilized and gestated for about three months before the eggs are laid. Nests are made by burrowing in soil or laying eggs in rocks or tree crevices.
Habits
- The female lays up to 27 eggs and she remains with the nest, attending to her eggs until they hatch, which takes about three months. Mountain dusky salamanders have also been known to look after eggs belonging to another female. Larvae take about eight months to mature into an adult.
  
  As with many other salamander species, the mountain dusky has the ability to lose its tail when threatened by a predator. When attacked, this tail breakage allows the salamander to escape. The tail eventually regenerates.

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