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Northern Dusky Salamander
Desmognathus fuscus
38.9886, -77.2293
Field Notes
Description:
This dusky salamander mother was spotted protecting her eggs under a small log along the edge of a first-order stream in Great Falls National Park, VA. Females attend to the eggs from deposition to hatching (40-80 days), leaving the nest infrequently at night to feed. Brooding females will aggressively defend their clutch from predators.
Habitat:
The species' habitat differs somewhat geographically; dusky salamanders in the northern part of the range prefer rocky woodland streams, seepages, and springs, while those in the south favor floodplains, sloughs, and muddy places along upland streams. They are most common where water is running or trickling.
Notes:
Dusky salamanders mate both in the spring and the fall, but fertilization can be delayed and eggs are laid in summer.
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