About Desmognathus conanti Rossman, 1958
Body Build
Desmognathus conanti is a moderately stout, medium-sized salamander.
Size and Tail Morphology
At sexual maturity, its body length ranges from 35 to 40 mm, and it has a moderately keeled tail.
Facial Coloration
This species has a bright color pattern, with a colored stripe located behind each eye.
Dorsal Markings
It has several pairs of golden spots on its back; these are larval spots that are often retained into adulthood, and may sometimes fuse together to form a light dorsal stripe in mature individuals.
Ventral Coloration
Its belly is light in color with dark flecks.
Species Identification
Desmognathus conanti closely resembles two related species, D. fuscus and D. santeetlah, so geographic range is the most reliable way to distinguish it from these species.
Overall Distribution
Desmognathus conanti has a broad distribution across the southeastern and south-central United States.
Range Boundaries
Its range extends from southern Illinois south to the Florida panhandle, and west to Louisiana and southern Arkansas.
Habitat
It is a semiaquatic species that typically lives in cool, forested seeps, streams, or along streamsides.
