Eurycea paludicola

Scientific name. Eurycea paludicola

Common Name. Dwarf Salamander

General information. Eurycea paludicola remains under vegetative cover most of the time.

Protected status. The Dwarf Salamander is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Slender body and tail. Small head with large, protruding eyes. No external gills. Relatively long tail (as much as 1 1/2 times the head-body length). Four toes on ALL feet. Fourteen to seventeen costal grooves.

Coloration. Yellow-brown with dark stripes down each side of the back extending onto tail, though color and pattern can vary widely.

General distribution. In North America, Eurycea paludicola is found in the Coastal Plains states from North Carolina to Texas.

Texas distribution. In Texas, Eurycea paludicola is found throughout east Texas.

Habitat. Eurycea paludicola prefers moist, debris-covered areas and swampy areas in pine woods.

Reproduction. Breeding in Eurycea paludicola occurs in the fall months. Females lay 12-48 eggs and attach them singly or in small clutches to submerged debris in shallow water.

Size. Eurycea paludicola can grow to an adult size of 5-9 cm (2-3.5 in) total length.

Map. Orange counties indicate new county records since previous Herps of Texas update in 1998; all other colored counties reflect known distribution prior to 1998 for species and/or subspecies. Map is based on museum voucher specimens.