AMBYSTOMA CINGULATUM

(Flatwoods Salamander)

Range= southern 1/3 of GA

distinct white netlike pattern on dark background

belly is dark gray/black with white flecks

breeding males do not exhibit swollen vent

costal grooves= 13-16

AMBYSTOMA MACULATUM

(Spotted Salamander)

Range= eastern US, not present in southern 1/4 of GA

relatively large with head rounded

2 distinct rows of rounded spots from head to end of tail

spots usually yellow and on young can be orange

slate gray on sides

costal grooves= 12

AMBYSTOMA OPACUM

(Marbled Salamander)

Range= most of GA excluding small area in N and in S

black with white/gray markings

ladder pattern

AMBYSTOMA TALPOIDEUM

(Mole Salamander)

Range= most of GA excluding small regions in E and W

smaller member of genus, often paedomorphic

short, stocky body

gray to brown with light gray flecks

bluish belly with light flecks

costal grooves= 10-11

AMBYSTOMA TIGRINUM

(Tiger Salamander)

Range= south of fall line

black or dark brown background with yellow to beige spots

belly is yellowish with dark motteling

AMPHIUMA MEANS

(Two-Toed Amphiuma)

Range= south of fall line

long and slender

tiny front limbs with 2 toes

uniform dark gray with lighter belly

visible pores indicate well developoed lateral line

no external gills!!

AMPHIUMA PHOLETER

 (One-toed amphiuma)

Range= small region in SW corner

4 tiny single toed limbs

gill slits but no external gills

uniformly dark brown all over

CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS

(Hellbender)

Range= small patches in N GA

among largest amphibians in GA

flattened body, shovel like head, paddle like tail

wrinkle folds of skin on sides of body

light gray, black, reddish, orange, patterned

gill slits but no gills

5 digits on hind feet

ANEIDES AENEUS

(Green Salamander)

Range= very small part in NW and NE GA

yellow/green lichenlike patches on black background

belly is light

teos expanded with flattened toe tips

DESMOGNATHUS AENEUS

(Seepage Salamander)

Range= North GA

small salamander

stripe running down back and tail with chevron pattern

back of the head marked with a dark Y

light oval spot above thigh

stripe from eye to rear angle of jaw

costal grooves= 13-14

DESMOGNATHUS APALACHICOLAE

(Apalachicola Dusky Salamander)

*Range= small patch along Alabama border

brown/black background with 5-7 diamond shaped tan/reddish blotches that form a light stripe down the back

round tail that becomes slightly keeled

tail longer than body

DESMOGNATHUS AURICULATUS

(Southern Dusky Salamander)

*Range= south of fall line

stout hind limbs and tail slightly more keeled

brown/reddish pigment from eye to mouth

dark brown/black background, sides often flecked with tiny white spots

coal black belly with white specks

light spots along side

costal grooves= 14

DESMOGNATHUS CONANTI

(Spotted Dusky Salamander)

Range= north of fall line, down river systems

tan to dark brown with 6-7 pair of spots down body

cream to yellow belly with dark mottling

belly color blends with back color

white/reddish stripe from eye to jaw

moderately keeled tail

costal grooves= 14

DESMOGNATHUS FOLKERTSI

(Dwarf Black-Bellied Salamander)

Range= small region is central N GA

moderately large dusky

tail strongly keeled

light line from eye to jaw

2 rows of small light spots down side

completely black belly

DESMOGNATHUS MARMORATUS

(Shovel-nosed Salamander)

Range= small patch in NE corner of GA

brown to black with yellowish/reddish blotches

dark-gray belly

has cheek stripe

tail strongly keeled

"shovel-nosed", head slope starts behind eyes

costal grooves= 14

DESMOGNATHUS MONTICOLA

(Seal Salamander)

Range= northern 1/3 of GA

keeled tail starts last 2/3

gray or brown with dark wormy marking

belly is often white and never mottled

2-toned effect of dark back meeting light belly

irregular white dots down side

black toe-tips

costal grooves= 14

DESMOGNATHUS OCOEE

(Ocoee Salamander)

Range= NE corner of GA

smaller dusky

flattened body, tail flattened at base (tip may be extended and thread-like)

gray, brown, orange, yellow

usually pattern of alternating spots down back

cheek stripe, brown/gray/red mottled belly

costal grooves= 14

DESMOGNATHUS QUADRAMACULATUS

(Black-bellied Salamander)

Range= small patch in NE GA

similar to dwarf but larger

completely black belly and underside

2 rows of light dots down side

keeled tail

costal grooves= 14

DESMOGNATHUS WRIGHTI

(Pygmy Salamander)

Range= Ga/NC border

rounded tail, cheek stripe

smallest in family

distinct chevrons down back

EURYCEA CIRRIGERA

(Southern two-lined salamander)

Range= throughout SE

small, slender body

yellow/brownish with stripe down back

tail makes up %50+ of body length

tail stripe extends all the way down tail

underside is yellow

costal grooves= 14

EURYCEA WILDERAE

(Blue Ridge two-lined salamander)

Range= Blue Ridge mtns, NE corner of GA

small, slender body

yellowish/brown band down back

underside is yellow

tail %50+ of body

broken tail stripe that does not extend down tail

lack of rows of light circles on side

costal grooves= 13-16

EURYCEA AQUATICA

(Coosa brownback salamander)

Range= NW corner of GA

tail is less than %50 of body

shorter and stockier than other two-lined species

sides are dusky black

costal grooves= 13-14

EURYCEA GUTTOLINEATA

(Three-lined salamander)

Range= found through most of GA

back and tail are yellow/tan

3 black stripes run down length of body

belly is heavily mottled with black and white

sides of tail darkly mottled

costal grooves= 14

EURYCEA LONGICAUDA

(Long-tailed salamander)

Range= NW corner of GA

long and slender

tail= 60-65% of length

yellow/orange/brown scattered with black/drak brown spots

spots may coalesce on sides

herringbone/ chevron pattern along sides of tail

belly immaculate yellow/cream

costal grooves= 14

EURYCEA LUCIFUGA

(Cave Salamander)

Range= NW corner of GA

orange/redish/yellow

black spots covering body, legs and tail

unmarked yellow belly

bulgey eyes

no herringbone pattern on tail

costal grooves= 14-15

EURYCEA QUADRIDIGITATA

(Dwarf Salamander)

Range= south of fall line

4 toes on hind feet

smaller and slimmer than 2lined

broad yellow/chestnut stripe extending to tail

black parallel stripes

belly is silvery white

costal grooves= 17-18

EURYCEA CHAMBERLAINI

(Chamberlain's dwarf salamander)

Range= small patches in GA but not well known

small, slender

looks like dwarf salamander or 2lined 

BUT has yellow belly

4 toes on hind feet

faint bronze chevron pattern on back

costal grooves= 15-16

GYRINOPHILUS PALLEUCUS

(Tennessee Cave Salamander)

Range= very NW corner of GA

inhabit subterranian water and paedomorphic

retains gills

slamon/pale pink in color

eyes small and head squared off

well developed lateral line

keeled tail

GYRINOPHILUS PORPHYRITICUS

(Spring Salamander)

Range= above fall line

reddish/orangish/brown/purplish

small black spots/chevron on back

distinct ridge (canthus rostralis) often outlined in yellow/black that runs from eye to nostril

costal grooves= 17-19

HAIDEOTRITON (EURYCEA) WALLACEI

(Georgia Blind Salamander)

Range=SW patch

small, stygobitic

somewhat translucent pinkish/silvery body

tiny specks of dark pigment

almost no eyes

limbs long and slender

long square head

bushy gills,  lateral line, keeled tail

HEMIDACTYLIUM SCUTATUM

(Four-toed Salamander)

Range= mostly N of fall line, but all down AL border

yellow/reddish brown along back

gray along sides

distinct white belly with black spots

tail constricted at base!!

4 toes on each hind foot

costal grooves= 13-14

PLETHODON GLUTINOSUS complex

(Slimy Salamanders)

Range= SE US

tail is round and longer than body

black back with white/brassy spots

sides are marked with white, gray, yellow spots that sometimes coalesce into lichenlike band

costal grooves= 16

PLETHODON JORDANI

(Jordan's Salamanders)

Range= barely in N of Ga

2 kinds- red legged and gray cheecked

body often uniformly black

red legged= white belly

gray cheecked= lightly pigmented chin and dark grey belly 

PLETHODON PETRAEUS

(Pigeon Mountain Salamander)

Range= found exclusively on Pigeon Mtn

upper surface black with small white/brassy spots overlain by a irregularly edged brown "stripe"

expanded toe tips

body is slightly flatter and thinner than slimy salamanders

tail is round and long

costal grooves= 16

PLETHODON SERRATUS

(Southern Red-Backed Salamander)

Range= W 1/2 of state N of fall line

very small and slender

nasal cirri

dark gray/brown

dark red stripe extending partialy down tail

stripe is regularly edged

salt and pepper belly

round tail slightly shorter than body

costal grooves= 20-22

PLETHODON VENTRALIS

(Southern Zigzag Salamander)

Range= small NW corner

small and slightly more stout than red-backed

stripe down back with irregularly lobed edges

stripe can be yellowish brown to red

intensity of stripe is uniform

black white and red mottled belly

PLETHODON WEBSTERI

(Webster's Salamander)

Range= W 1/3 N of fall line

teeny salamander

tail is round and slightly shorter than body

stripe on back has irregularly wavy edges

stripe usually brightest on tail protion

unstripped form is rare

belly is mottled orange, white and black

costal grooves= 18

PSEUDOTRITON MONTANUS

(Mud Salamander)

Range= most of GA except very N

moderatly stout

orange-brown-reddish background

round, well-seperated black spots

salmon to pink belly

short, blunt, slightly keeled tail

dark eyes

costal grooves= 16-17

PSEUDOTRITON RUBER

(Red Salamander)

Range= most of GA excluding southern parts

moderatly large

red, orange, purple or brown

numerous irregularly shaped black spots

black moustache!!

yellow, brassy eyes

costal grooves= 16-17

STEREOCHILUS MARGINATUS

(Many-lined Salamander)

Range= spread from coast

small, slender, non discript

small narrow pointed head

relatively short tail

brown or dull yellow with marrow alternating light and dark longitudinal stripes

yellowish belly with dark flecks

costal grooves= 18

NECTURUS CF. BEYERI

(Alabama Waterdog)

Range= Alabama border

large paedomorphic salamander

gills and finned tail

4 toes on hind feet

light brown with dark spots

midline of belly is white

costal grooves= 16

NECTURUS MARCULOSUS

(Mudpuppy)

Range= small patched in very N GA

largest N.American aquatic salamander

paedomorphic w/ fluffy gills

4 toes on each slender leg

more cylindrical body shape

rusty red to brownish gray

dark facial stripe and blunt snout

speckled gray belly

costal grooves= 15-16

NECTURUS PUNCTATUS

(Dwarf Waterdog)

Range= eastern region S of fall line

smallest of waterdogs

3 pairs of red gills

4 toes on feet

slender with no distinct pattern or marking

costal grooves= 14-16

NOTOPHTHALMUS PERSTRIATUS

(Striped Newt)

Range= South GA

olive green or brown

red stripe extending along each side of body

often there is a row of red stripes running under this stripe

belly is yellow with black spots

NOTOPHTHALMUS VIRIDESCENS

(Eastern Newt)

Range= eastern US

olive green with scattered red spots

belly is yellow with many dark spots

rough granular skin and lacking costal grooves

PSEUDOBRANCHUS STRIATUS

(Northern Dwarf Siren)

Range= S GA

slender, eel like salamander

2 front legs with 3 toes, no back legs

bushy gills and lidless eyes

broad dark stripe on back bordered by sharply defined yellow stripe\belly is gray to black

SIREN INTERMEDIA

(Lesser Siren)

Range= S of fall line

long, slender

2 front legs with 4 toes, no back legs

bushy gills and lateral line

body is dark brown to black

lack golden dashes seen on greater sirens

costal grooves= 31-34

SIREN LACERTINA

(Greater Siren)

Range= S of fall line

large aquatic salamander

tiny front limbs, no back limbs

keeled, muscular tail

olive green to grayish brown with distinctive gold flecks

costal grooves= 36-39

URSPELERPES BRUCEI

(Patch-nosed Salamander)

Range= only found in Ga

described in 2009

2nd smallest salamander

distinct yellow/gold patch on nose