A small, thin salamander of a yellow orange to rusted color with two dark-brown stripes running the length of its body. The stripes turn to a speckled pattern toward the tail. It is named after the two “cirri” that grow on males during breeding season. Cirri are small, antennae-like lobes hanging from the salamander’s snout.
Forest, Wetland
The southern two-lined salamander is found in the Southeast United States except for peninsular Florida.
Common
Nocturnal
Carnivores feeding on crustaceans, mollusks, copepods, and insects.
Southern two-lined salamanders spend most of their time under logs or foliage hiding from their many predators. On damp nights they may emerge and forage on the forest floor. These salamanders may hibernate in winter, however movement and feeding during winter months has been noted and the extent of dormancy is undoubtedly related to local and regional conditions.
Salamanders have been shown to play a significant part in cycling nutrients between the forest leaf litter community and larger vertebrates, as they can build up large populations and and represent large portions of biomass.
Least Concern
