Yesterday (April 2nd) we loaded up the vans and headed to Indian Creek in Riley, Ohio. It was beautiful weather. The temperature was about 65 degrees and the wind was very low. While trudging through the creek, I found this Southern two-lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) swimming around under a couple of flat limestone rocks. It was very quick and hard to capture. After getting a hold of it, I realized it was still in the larval stage. The external gill were still present and fanned out when I put water in my hand.
Southern two-lined salamanders are semi-aquatic. The larval stage lasts about 1-3 years. The young salamanders eat mostly invertebrates such as very tiny crustaceans or insect larvae. Sometimes the salamanders will eat vertebrates. Large two-lined larvae have been seen preying on the streamside salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) larvae.
Emily Angner
Miami University, OH
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