1. Biology
1.1. Size
1.1.1. 7-10cm. Males are 12% larger than females.
1.2. Colour
1.2.1. Variety of colors. Males are darker in color. The Salamander have a straight line colored stripe down the back and tail. This tail can be in the color of yellow, orange, olive, gray, brown, or red.
1.3. Life cycle
1.3.1. They breed during Spring and Fall. 3-27 eggs either singly, in pairs, or in clusters. She will attend the eggs for 52-69 days until they hatch.
1.4. Offspring
1.4.1. The male deposits sperm packets on the ground which the female takes into her vent. The sperm can be stored for 1-2 years. The female will lay 3-27 eggs. For which she will nest until they hatch.
2. Photo
3. Map
4. Action Plan
4.1. What can the Government do?
4.1.1. Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007. The Salamander is protected from being killed, harmed, or possessed. They are protected on Niagara Parks Commission property under the Niagara Parks Act. It is "illegal" to hunt, trap, or molest any animal without a government permit.
4.2. What Can I do?
4.2.1. Spread Awareness through my voice.
4.3. What can NGO's can do?
4.3.1. A Dusky Salamander Recovery team has been established to develop strategies for the recovery of the species.
5. Status
5.1. Endangered Provincially, Threatened Nationally.
6. Biome or Ecozone
6.1. Forests
6.1.1. There is a small population in extreme southeastern Quebec, Canada, in the foothills of the Adirondacks. The Adirondack Mountains form the southernmost part of the Eastern forest boreal transition ecoregion. They are heavily forested, and contain the southermost distribution of the boreal forest, or taiga, in North America.
7. Human Impacts on the Species
7.1. Biologists use the amphibian's eggs to study embryonic growth. The Salamander gives scientists a glimpse into metamorphosis and life cycles involving complex morphological changes. It helps study problems in genetics, developmental biology, and tissue transplantation. Another impact is the study of the Salamander and their eggs in the field of toxicology. Scientists have used its eggs to assess the biotic effects of many substances that are significant to environmental and human health. The Destruction of habitats also pose a significant risk to the well being of the Salamander's.
8. Habitat
8.1. Air
8.1.1. This species belongs to the "lungless salamander" family and adults must keep their skin moist to breathe.
8.2. Water
8.2.1. It is a somewhat terrestrial salamander that can be found under stones, logs, and bark near springs, streams and other areas where the ground is saturated with water. They prefer places which are moist "wet" in order to breath.
8.3. Space
8.3.1. They are stationary, and stay within a 1 meter radius in the temperate forest biome. The biome consists of deciduous trees. If you were to look for the Salamander, you could find them near wet rock faces, springs, woodlands, seepage areas and streams, and under stones, logs and leaves where the ground is wet.
8.4. Temperature
8.4.1. They can survive up to -30 degrees Celsius in the winter to +30 degrees Celsius in the summer. Precipitation in their biome is relatively high and evenly distributed throughout the year.
8.5. Food
8.5.1. Aquatic larvae feed on small aquatic arthropods and their larvae. Arthropods such as spiders, flies, and mosquitoes. The adult Salamander feed on adult and immature terrestrial arthropods, terrestrial gastropods, aquatic insects and aquatic snails. They include earthworms, spiders, dragonflies, beetles, mites, and millipedes.
8.6. Behaviour
8.6.1. The Salamander are most active at night and on dark, humid says. They retreat to crevices, and shale banks during harsh winters. The salamander have a unique retreat ability, where if in danger they can break of their tail and leave it behind in order to escape. This tail eventually regenerates.