Northern Spring Salamander
Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus
Spring Salamanders are one of the largest salamanders in the Northeast, some reaching a length of 8 1/2 inches. Their name comes from their habitat, not their preference of season. These are creatures of stream edges, who can be found, with luck, by flipping over a flat , partially submerged rock. They are rare in Connecticut and require cool, pristine, moving water to live out their lives. These aquatic conditions create a high oxygen content, a necessity for these "skin-breathing" Caudata.
Their eggs are laid in the late summer/early fall and are attached singly to the underside of a flat sumberged rock. The larvae can take a couple years to develop.
I have found both Two-lined and Dusky Salamanders in the same stream as the Northern Spring Salamanders and have read of accounts where the two smaller species have served as a meal to this large orange amphibian.
This is a creature perfectly suited for its habitat. Its heavy body is flattened, making it possible for it to move along the bottom of a fast flowing stream. It feeds on a variety of animals smaller than itself - mostly insects.
If you come across one of these salamanders, please leave it be. They are too rare (CT DEP Listed as "Threatened") to be kept as pets.
