Head to head
White-Spotted Slimy Salamander vs Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander
A white-spotted slimy salamander and an Atlantic Coast slimy salamander both emerged from the same historic split, when genetic study broke the once broadly defined slimy salamander complex into more than a dozen separate species, each looking almost exactly like the others.
| White-Spotted Slimy Salamander | Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Plethodon cylindraceus | Plethodon chlorobryonis |
| Range | Southern Appalachian Mountains | Atlantic coastal plain |
| Body pattern | White or brassy flecks on glossy black | White or brassy flecks on glossy black |
| Defensive secretion | Notably sticky skin secretion | Notably sticky skin secretion |
| Lungs | None, breathes through skin | None, breathes through skin |
| Species split origin | Slimy salamander complex split | Slimy salamander complex split |
| Habitat | Forested mountains | Forested coastal plain |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
White-Spotted Slimy Salamander vs Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander: common questions
How can you tell a white-spotted slimy salamander from an Atlantic Coast slimy salamander?
Visually, you generally can't with any confidence, since both share the same glossy black body flecked with white or brassy spots inherited from the same original slimy salamander complex; the most reliable way to distinguish them is by location, with the white-spotted slimy salamander found across the southern Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Coast slimy salamander instead restricted to the Atlantic coastal plain.
Why do these two salamanders look so similar?
Both species were only recently split off from a single, much more broadly defined slimy salamander complex after genetic studies revealed the group actually contained more than a dozen distinct species across the eastern United States, all of which retained the same basic glossy black, white-flecked appearance even after being recognised as genetically separate.
Why are both species called slimy salamanders?
Both produce a notably sticky skin secretion when handled or threatened, a defence inherited from their shared ancestry within the original slimy salamander complex, one that can be genuinely difficult to wash off the hands and is thought to deter many potential predators from attempting a repeat attack on either species.