Hi everybody, I have a question about dusky salamanders. Is there any easy way to tell allegheny mountain dusky salamanders from northern dusky salamanders? I have found dusky salamanders in Lycoming county PA-
as well as Lebanon county PA-
But I have trouble distinguishing the two species, even after reading about them on paherps, and looking at pictures in the database. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Allegheny Mountain Dusky vs. Northern Dusky
Moderator: Scott Waters
- The Jake-Man
- Posts: 224
- Joined: June 25th, 2012, 4:08 pm
- Location: Lebanon Pennsylvania
Re: Allegheny Mountain Dusky vs. Northern Dusky
Mountain Dusky Salamander:
- round, slightly longer than the rest of the body
- very sinuous mouth shape
- many have an arrow pattern on their back (2nd and 3rd photo)
Northern Dusky Salamander:
- tail is keeled, less than total body length
- less sinuous mouth shape
It could help to look up some pics of each from you area and see what they look like. Hope that helped!
- round, slightly longer than the rest of the body
- very sinuous mouth shape
- many have an arrow pattern on their back (2nd and 3rd photo)
Northern Dusky Salamander:
- tail is keeled, less than total body length
- less sinuous mouth shape
It could help to look up some pics of each from you area and see what they look like. Hope that helped!
- The Jake-Man
- Posts: 224
- Joined: June 25th, 2012, 4:08 pm
- Location: Lebanon Pennsylvania
Re: Allegheny Mountain Dusky vs. Northern Dusky
So do you think it would be safe to say that the Lycoming county individuals are all mountain duskies and the Lebanon county individuals are all Northern duskies?
Re: Allegheny Mountain Dusky vs. Northern Dusky
I think so.
- The Jake-Man
- Posts: 224
- Joined: June 25th, 2012, 4:08 pm
- Location: Lebanon Pennsylvania
Re: Allegheny Mountain Dusky vs. Northern Dusky
Alright. Thanks for your help!
Re: Allegheny Mountain Dusky vs. Northern Dusky
I agree with the Lycoming individuals being ochropaheus and he Lebanon individuals being fuscus. You're third pic is a perfect example of ochrophaeus.
For what it's worth, I lived and worked around Lycoming Co. in 2011 and 2012 and all I ever found were Allegheny Mtn Duskies. Looking through my records, I actually never found fuscus up there.
For what it's worth, I lived and worked around Lycoming Co. in 2011 and 2012 and all I ever found were Allegheny Mtn Duskies. Looking through my records, I actually never found fuscus up there.
- kyle loucks
- Posts: 3147
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 1:40 am
- Location: Pennsylvania- Bucks Co. near Phila.
Re: Allegheny Mountain Dusky vs. Northern Dusky
Weird though, I would have said three of those fuscus tails were round, had I not known the location.