About Eurycea aquatica Rose & Bush, 1963
Common Name Etymology
Eurycea aquatica, commonly called the brownback salamander, gets its common name from its characteristic brown body color. This brown color contrasts with the yellow body hue of the closely related southern two-lined salamander.
Adult Size
Adult members of this species typically measure between 30 and 40 millimeters in total length.
Sexual Dimorphism in Head Shape
The species shows sexual dimorphism in head shape: males of Eurycea aquatica have broader heads than females.
Distinguishing Male Trait
Unlike other brook salamanders, including the southern two-lined salamander, male brownback salamanders do not have cirri, which is a key trait to distinguish this species from related taxa.
Habitat Type
The brownback salamander lives in springs across the southeastern United States.
Confirmed Distribution Range
Confirmed, verified populations of the species are currently known from the U.S. states of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
