What Kind of Salamanders Live in Tennessee?

Tennessee has vast areas of wetland habitats combined with a warm, moist climate which is ideally suited for amphibians to thrive in. The state is home to 55 confirmed species of salamander, ranging in size from several feet to just a few inches in length. All salamanders begin life in water; some remain there for their whole life, while others leave and never return.

  1. Slimy Woodland Salamanders

    • The most common genus of salamanders in Tennessee are the slimy, or plethodon salamanders, so called because of the slimy secretions all species produce on their skin. The state is home to 20 species of plethodon salamanders including the mud, red, tellico, Cumberland plateau and the southern red-backed. The four-toed salamander is a common native and is recognizable for having four instead of five toes on its rear feet like other species. The northern and southern zigzag salamanders are natives as are the white spotted, northern slimy, Jordans, red-legged southern ravine and several others.

    Dusky and Seal Salamanders

    • The genus Demognathus is the next most common group commonly called dusky, or seal salamanders. The state is home to 15 species in this group including the Allegheny mountain, Cumberland, Carolina mountain, Blue Ridge, Northern, Santeetlah, spotted and Blue Mountain dusky salamanders. The other native species in this group include the seepage, Ocoee, imitator, shovel-nosed, seal, black-bellied and the pygmy salamanders.

    Brook Salamanders

    • The brook salamanders in the genus Eurycea tend to be small species that live in slow moving streams or small pools. Tennessee is home to six species in this group including the southern and Blue Ridge two-lined salamanders. The three-lined, Junalaska, long-tailed and cave salamanders are all also native species to the state.

    Mole Salamanders

    • Members of the genus Ambystoma are commonly called mole salamanders because they dig out burrows to live in. Tennessee is home to six species in this genus including the mole, stream-side, spotted, marbled, small-mouthed and tiger salamanders.

    Large Fully Aquatic Salamanders

    • Tennessee is home to four species of large, fully aquatic salamander. The hellbender is a large and bulky salamander species that grows to almost 2 1/2 feet long. The mud puppy is also a large salamander that grows to just over 1 1/2 feet in length. Both the lesser siren and three-toed amphiuma are eellike salamanders with no rear legs and small, almost invisible front limbs. The amphiuma grow to almost 3 1/2 feet in length.

    Other Salamanders

    • The other four native species are members of other genera of salamander. The eastern newt is a member of the North American newt genus of salamanders. The green salamander is a climbing variety. The Tennessee cave and spring salamanders are members of the cave salamander genus known as Gyrinophilus.