Description: This slimy salamander is typically an overall black in color, with numerous silvery spots or gold spots across its back. It is usually 4.7 to 6.7 inches in total length (including tail), but can grow to 8.1 inches. Males are not easily distinguished from females, though females tend to be slightly larger.

Habitat: Wooded areas; generally under or in rotting logs, stumps, or leaf litter, or under rocks, during the day. Goes underground during dry or freezing weather. Eggs are laid in rotting logs, underground, or in rock crevices.

Range: Range includes most of the Blue Ridge physiographic province of northern Georgia; also southwestern North Carolina; distribution approximately coincides with the limits of the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Found in these States: GA | NC

Diet: Unknown, but as with other Plethodon species, feeding likely takes place at night under moist conditions. Prey items likely include a range of invertebrates, especially insects.

Reproduction: Reproduction is terrestrial. Breeding migrations are not known for any Plethodon species. Egg deposition sites are unknown, but likely to be in underground cavities.

Status: Lungless salamanders require cool, moist habitats; this species scored "Highly Vulnerable" on Climate Change Vulnerability Index. Loss of forested habitat, over-collecting, and intensive forestry are threats. Intensive harvest of mature forest greatly reduces salamander density in the logged area; population recovery occurs slowly. However, most of the forest within its range have already been clear-cut and are recovering, so logging not much of a current threat. Currently, no major threats impacting species, but climate change may become one.

Taxonomy: