Description: Coloration in this species (2.5 to 4.5 inches in length) is highly variable. They have a round tail and a light line from the eye to the angle of the jaw. Some individuals may have a stripe down the back that can vary in color from yellow to orange, red, or brown. This stripe can be irregular or straight. Other individuals may have spotting or flecking on the back instead of a dorsal stripe and others, especially males, maybe dark with little or no patterning. Some individuals may exhibit red legs or cheek patches.

Habitat: Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater springs, and rocky areas. Typically found along streams, in seepage areas, and on wet rock faces. Some may be encountered far from water; those at higher elevations tend to be more terrestrial than those found lower levels.

Range: The species is endemic to the Blue Ridge Mountains range of the southern Appalachian Mountains, within western Virginia and North Carolina in the south-eastern United States.

Found in these States: NC | TN | VA

Diet: Forest floor invertebrates make up this species' diet.

Reproduction: Their eggs are laid under logs or rocks. Females deposit their eggs under moss, rocks, or logs or under logs in or near flowing water. The female remains with her eggs until they hatch. Hatchling salamanders emerge from their eggs with external gills and spend up to 10 months as fully aquatic larvae before transforming into adults.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution and presumed large population.

Taxonomy: