Lungless Salamanders (Plethodontidae)________________________________

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)

Juvenile Northern Slimy Salamander

The Northern Slimy Salamander is a state-listed (Threatened) species only found at the far western border of our state.  They prefer mature second growth forest where much of their time is spent below the leaf litter and under logs.  They do come to the surface to search for food after a good rain.

When handled, "Slimys" exude a very sticky secretion, hence their name - although the secretion really does feel more sticky than "slimy".  It can be difficult to wash off!

Here in the north, they have been known to mate in the spring and fall.  Their eggs are laid in a rotten log or in an underground burrow.  Then the female stands guard until the young hatch.  As with the Redback Salamander, there is no aquatic stage for the young.

Adult Northern Slimy Slamander

Slimy Salamanders are very slow to mature, taking between 3 and 5 years in the north.  This apparently gives them plenty of time to attain, at their largest, a legnth of 8 inches!

Because this is such a rare species, it should never be taken from the wild.