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Northern Dusky Salamander

Status: Endangered

Northern dusky salamander © Scott Gillingwater

Characteristics

The northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) is tan to dark brown in colour with sparse dark spots or mottling that is concentrated on the sides, and may also have a light dorsal stripe or two dark dorsal stripes. Old individuals are generally uniformly dark with white spots on the sides. Juveniles have five to eight pairs of spots on the back between the front and hind legs. The underside is lighter in colour with white or grey spots. As in all dusky salamander species, a pale line runs diagonally from the eye to the jaw, and the hind legs are larger than the front legs. This species is also heavier bodied than other lungless salamanders, such as the eastern red-backed salamander, and has a sharply keeled tail that is triangular in cross-section and laterally compressed at the base. Adults attain lengths of up to 14 centimetres.

Northern dusky salamander © Joe Crowley

Similar Species

The northern dusky salamander can be easily confused with the Allegheny mountain dusky salamander, which often has chevron-shaped dorsal spots. The tail of the Allegheny mountain dusky salamander is rounded at the base rather than laterally compressed. The northern dusky salamander can be differentiated from all other lungless salamanders in Ontario (eastern red-backed, two-lined, and four-toed) by the line running from the eye to the back of the jaw, the heavier body and hind legs that are larger than the front legs.

Northern dusky salamander © Joe Crowley

Habitat

The northern dusky salamander inhabits mountain springs, seepages, and small headwater streams in forested areas. Although it actively forages on the forest floor, this species is rarely found far from its aquatic habitat. Subterranean retreats and cover objects such as rocks, logs, moss, and leaf litter are important microhabitats that this salamander uses for foraging, nesting and avoiding desiccation and predators. It overwinters in underground retreats or in streams, where it may remain active throughout the winter.

View an interactive map of the known ranges of northern dusky salamanders in Ontario.

Biology

Northern dusky salamanders belong to the “lungless” salamander family; they do not have lungs but breathe directly through their skin, which must remain moist to facilitate breathing. They breed on land in the spring or fall and have elaborate courtship rituals. The female deposits eight to 45 eggs under logs, moss or rocks along stream edges in areas where the soil is saturated with water, and remains with the eggs to protect them from predation and desiccation until they hatch six to 10 weeks later. The aquatic larvae, which are about 1.5 centimetres long when they hatch, metamorphose into semi-terrestrial adults after about one year. They reach sexual maturity at two to three years of age, and can live at least 10 years. Northern dusky salamanders forage primarily at night to avoid desiccation, and eat a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.

Other names: Salamandra fusca, Desmognathus phoca 

Northern dusky salamander © Scott Gillingwater

Threats and Trends

The northern dusky salamander relies on clean headwater streams. Pollution from urban, agricultural or industrial areas is a significant threat to this species. Changes to the groundwater table or stream flow can have significant negative impacts on salamander populations by causing the loss of aquatic habitat, bank instability from excess runoff, or changes to the moisture regimes of terrestrial habitats. Forestry activities can also degrade aquatic habitat by causing siltation of streams, as well as alter the microhabitat conditions of the forest floor. The Ontario population of the northern dusky salamander is especially susceptible to extirpation due to changes in water quality or quantity, since the population relies on a single watershed. This species is rare in Ontario, where it is at the northern limit of its range, and trends in the species’ population levels and distribution are unknown.

Juvenile northern dusky salamander © Scott Gillingwater

Current Status and Protection

The northern dusky salamander is currently listed as Endangered under both the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007 and the federal Species at Risk Act. The species has been designated as a Specially Protected Amphibian under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. These acts offer some protection to individuals and their habitat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the global status of the northern dusky salamander as Least Concern. The species’ status was confirmed in April 2004.

Learn more about reptile and amphibian conservation and what you can do to help these species on our Reptile and Amphibian Stewardship page.

Northern dusky salamander © Scott Gillingwater

What You Can Do

Northern dusky salamander © Scott Gillingwater