Desmognathus imitator Dunn, 1927

Coloration

The imitator salamander (Desmognathus imitator Dunn, 1927) is dark brown or blackish in color. It sometimes has a pale, broken stripe running down its back, and a pale line that connects the eye to the jaw.

Physical Features

It often has red or orange patches on its cheeks, and its hind legs are more stocky than its forelegs.

Native Range

Imitator salamanders are native to the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina, occurring at elevations over 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. Their range stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains in the north to the Plott Balsams and Great Balsam Mountains in the south.

Habitat

This species inhabits stream banks, wet rocks, and the forest floor at higher altitudes.

Range Overlap

It shares its range with the Ocoee salamander (Desmognathus ocoee), but is typically found closer to bodies of water.