Southern dusky salamander
A species of Dusky salamanders Scientific name : Desmognathus auriculatus Genus : Dusky salamanders
Southern dusky salamander, A species of Dusky salamanders
Scientific name: Desmognathus auriculatus
Genus: Dusky salamanders
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Noah J Mueller , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The southern dusky salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus) is a species of salamander native to the coastal regions of the southeastern United States, from Virginia to Texas. Older sources often refer to it as the eared triton.
General Info
Lifespan
5-10 years
Diet
Southern dusky salamander primarily feeds on small invertebrates including insects, spiders, and mollusks. A hunter by nature, it locates its prey through chemoreception, using its keen olfactory senses.
Appearance
Southern dusky salamander is a medium-sized salamander with smooth, moist skin. Notable for its robust body and slightly keeled tail. Its coloration ranges from brown to gray, often displaying a mottled pattern. It lacks the bright stripe seen in other species. There is little variation in appearance between sexes or age classes.
Behavior
Southern dusky salamander is predominantly nocturnal, hidden under rocks at day and foraging for prey at night. This salamander demonstrates territorial behaviors, aggressively defending its home from intruders. Despite being generally solitary, males sometimes share space with juvenile males. A defense mechanism for southern dusky salamander includes secreting a milky substance when threatened.
Population
Decreasing
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Amphibians Order
Salamanders Family
Lungless salamanders Genus
Dusky salamanders Species
Southern dusky salamander 
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