Four-toed Salamander

How to identify

• Small, 2–4 inches
• Reddish-brown above, sometimes with gray flecking
• White belly with distinct black spots — very clean, high-contrast pattern
• Visible constriction at base of tail
• Four toes on hind feet instead of the usual five — requires close examination

About this species

A small, delicate salamander of sphagnum bogs and moist forested wetlands, the four-toed salamander is the only Virginia salamander with four toes on the hind foot rather than the usual five. They nest in moss above water, and females often nest communally. The bright white belly with distinct black spots and the constriction at the base of the tail are distinctive.

Often confused with

Did you know

"If grabbed by a predator, four-toed salamanders can voluntarily drop their tail at the constriction point — the tail continues to wriggle, distracting the predator while the salamander escapes."

Sightings & citizen science

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