Topic: Frog Profiles
Green Salamander Aneides aeneus
The Green Salamander is of the Plethodontidae family (lungless salamanders). Of all the Indiana salamanders, it is probably the easiest to identify by its green lichen pattern, no other Indiana salamander has a green coloring. It is also the only one with squared off toes. Its one of seven salamanders in the Aneides genus, and the only one found in Indiana. This salamander reaches 4 to 5 inches in length with 14 or 15 costal grooves. It has a flat head and body with a rounded tail. The underside is usually light and unmarked and sometimes has yellow at the base of the legs. The Indiana population is disjunct from the normal Allegheny Plateau and Blue Ridge Mountains range. Rocky outcrops that are moist, but not wet are preferred habitat. Many also spend time in the tree canopy. In Indiana, they are only found in two locations in Crawford County in sandstone/limestone outcrops. They are usually in the highest part of the outcrops. Males can de distinguished during the June-July breeding season by a round mental gland under the chin. Females lay about 18 eggs in a nesting crevice and brood their clutch for two to three months. Young hatch as miniature adults with shorter tails. These salamanders are usually observed at night foraging for small beetles, ants, mites, mosquitoes and other small insects. Their primary predators are ring-necked and garter snakes. They were discovered in Indiana in August of 1993 by Robert Madej while doing surveys on woodrats. They are currently listed as an Endangered Species in Indiana, though there is talk of lowering their protected status and putting a "no collect" moratorium on them as with the Eastern Box Turtle.
Crawford County is the only place to find the Green Salamander in IN.
Sources: Minton, Sherman A. 2001, Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana (revised second edition), Indiana Academy of Science
Williams, MacGowan, Kingsbury, Walker 2006, Salamanders of Indiana, Purdue Extension
Lannoo, Michael (Madej, Robert), 1998, Status and Conservation of Midwestern Amphibians, University of Iowa Press
Lannoo, Michael (Pauley, Watson) 2005 Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species, Regents of the University of California
Zimmerman, Steve December 2006, Salamander Trek, the search for Aneides, Reptiles Magazine
Blackburn, Laura M., Priya Nanjappa, and Michael J. Lannoo. 2002. US Amphibians Distribution Maps. Ball State University and Muncie Center for Medical Education, Indiana University School of Medicine, Muncie, Indiana