Three-Lined Salamander
Eurycea guttolineata

The three-lined salamander is a representative of the long-tailed salamanders, and is one of the most striking Eurycea in our region. The tail of Eurycea guttolineata is between half and two-thirds the total length of the animal. These salamanders are also easily identified by their coloration: the ground color varies from yellow to bronze, and there are three well-defined black lines that run the length of the animal. The middle line runs along the dorsum, and the other lines are on the sides. Three-lined salamanders are found in swampy areas, along the margins of sluggish streams, often in similar habitats as Desmognathus auriculatus. Adults are predominantly terrestrial and may be found just about any time of the year, even if parts of the stream have dried. The larval period of E. guttolineata is shorter than that of E. cirrigera, usually lasting only five or six months, although some populations throughout its range (the southeastern United States) may occasionally overwinter and metamorphose at one year of age.