Plethodon glutinosus (Green, 1818)

Common Name and Base Coloration

Plethodon glutinosus, commonly called the northern slimy salamander, is typically solid black overall, with many silvery or gold spots across its back.

Size Range

Its total body length (including the tail) usually ranges from 12–17 cm (4.7–6.7 in), though it can reach a maximum length of 20.6 cm (8.1 in).

Sexual Dimorphism

Males and females are hard to tell apart, though females tend to be slightly larger.

Costal Groove Count

This species has between 15 and 17 costal grooves.

Core Geographic Range

The geographic range of P. glutinosus extends from New York west to Illinois, south to Mississippi, and east to Alabama.

Isolated Populations

Isolated populations also exist in southern New Hampshire and northwestern Connecticut.

Primary Habitat Association

This salamander is strongly associated with moist, undisturbed woodlands and ravines.

Cave Usage

It can also be found in caves, and will retreat deeper into caves seasonally when above-ground conditions are not suitable.

Diurnal Shelter Use

During the day, it typically stays under debris such as logs and stones.

Nocturnal Activity

It emerges from this cover on moist nights.

Secondary Succession Habitat

It can be found in secondary succession areas within old-growth deciduous or hemlock forests that have steep, rocky slopes.

Preferred Microhabitat Hiding Spots

It prefers to hide under rotten logs and in decomposed organic matter like duff layers on the forest floor.

Moisture Requirement

It is most often found near water sources or in consistently moist areas.

Clear-Cutting Impact and Recovery

Forest clear-cutting causes large population reductions in affected areas, and it takes 13 years for populations to recover to half of their pre-clear-cutting numbers.

Female Sexual Maturity

Females reach sexual maturity in their second year of life, and do not lay eggs until their third year.

Breeding Season and Location

Breeding occurs on land in spring.

Courtship Behavior

During courtship, males perform a type of dance to attract female attention.

Egg Laying and Parental Care

Females lay clutches of 4 to 12 eggs in a moist location, and guard the clutch until hatching, often going without food during this time.

Egg Incubation Period

Hatchlings emerge from eggs after approximately three months.

Direct Development Trait

Unlike many other salamander species, this species has no aquatic larval stage; hatchlings develop directly into a fully terrestrial adult form.

Post-Hatching Growth Pattern

After hatching, young salamanders grow quickly during summer, and experience little to no growth over winter.