Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus)

Common Name: Green Salamander
Scientific Name: Aneides aeneus
Family: Plethodontidae – Lungless Salamander family
Location: The United States – Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Maryland
Size: 3 – 5 inches (7.6 – 12.7 cm)

The Green Salamander lives in the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States. It is the only member of its genus that lives in the eastern part of the US while the others lives in the West. As their name suggests, they have green mottling on their backs usually over a black to brown color. They make their homes in rock crevices on cliffs or other rock outcrops. The males defend their crevices from other males.

The breeding season lasts from May to September. The Green Salamander is a direct developing species. This means the eggs hatch directly into small salamanders, skipping a free living larval phase. Think like a tadpole for a frog. A major benefit to this way of development is that the eggs don’t need to be laid in water bodies. Mating for salamander takes place in the crevices where they live and the eggs are even laid there, thanks to their ability to directly develop. The female salamander will brood the eggs to protect them from predators and to keep them moist.

The Green Salamander is listed as endangered in many states (Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and Mississippi). The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses them as Near Threatened. In other states, they are listed as threatened and protected species. The salamander has a wide range and has a decent sized population. However, their preferred habitat is unique and not easily come. These areas are also threatened by developers. We need to protect these interesting salamanders.