The Types of Salamanders Found in West Virginia

Plethodontidae Family

• The majority of West Virginia salamanders belong to the plethodontidae family, which denotes lungless salamanders. The species in this family complete gas exchanges across their skin and through the lining of their mouths. Most of the 26 West Virginia salamanders in this family fall into three genera. Plethodon sp. encompasses woodland salamanders and Eurycea sp. live in brooks and streams. The dusky salamanders of Desmognathus sp. have brown skin, large back legs and powerful jaws.

Ambystomatidae Family

• Five members of the ambystomatidae family live in West Virginia. These salamanders are called mole salamanders, because they live underground all year, except during breeding seasons when they hide under rocks, logs and other large items on the ground. Most of these salamanders breed in February and March, but the marble salamander mates in autumn. Spotted salamanders are the most common members of the ambystomatidae family in West Virginia, living in the waters of all 55 counties.

Salamandridae Family

• The salamandridae family categorizes the newts. Only one newt lives in West Virginia: the red-spotted newt. This salamander lives in permanent sources of water throughout the state at various elevations. Biologists label the adolescent red-spotted newt as the red eft, because its red body color and black-rimmed red spots make it easy to identify on the forest floor. Once they become the 4-inch long red-spotted newts, their skin turns green with a yellow belly with red spots and black specks.

Proteidae and Cryptobranchidae Families

• West Virginia houses one member of the proteidae family, which indicates mudpuppies, also called waterdogs. The common mudpuppy lives within the Alleghany Plateau region. Although they can reach up to 18 inches in length, the common mudpuppy poses no threat to people. Larger still, the Eastern hellbender grows up to 2 feet long and is the only West Virginian in the cryptobranchidae family of giant salamanders. Eastern hellbenders live in streams west of the Alleghany Mountains, where they mostly eat crayfish, insects and fish.