Long tailed Salamander

Long-tailed salamander (Eurycea longicauda) - Shawnee National Forest, Union County, Illinois

 

I didn't realize until I was reviewing my images that I didn't have any photographs of this species until now. its a pretty salamander that ranges through the Appalachian region of the United States. Like all Eurycea this belongs to Plethodontidae, which are characterized by their lack of lungs. These lungless salamanders primarily breathe through their skin (cutaneous respiration), this limits them to rather wet environments as their skin is prone to drying out otherwise.

Done