1 Specimen
is plump, large and has tire-like grooves on side;
large (110 - 300+ mm)...............see 3 - 7
2.
Specimen is narrow, slender and small with thin
grooves on sides (less than 130 mm).................see
8 - 12
3.
Silvery/white bands across black dorsum. Bands can
vary from complete to incomplete. Black belly. 11-13
costal grooves............................Marbled
Salamander
4.
Two rows of round yellow to orange spots and an
otherwise black dorsum and gray belly. Yellow head
spotting is more common in our area. 12 costal grooves......................Spotted
Salamander
5.
Highly irregular splotches olive to yellow color
on black dorsum. Olive/yellow dorsum. 12-13 costal
grooves. Very plump.......................Eastern
Tiger Salamander
6.
Dorsum grayish to bluish with blue to bluish white
speckles. Belly lighter shading. 12-14 costal grooves......................Blue
Spotted Salamander Complex
7.
Completely red to coral colored body. Dorsum heavily
speckled with black spots. Adults may be brownish/purplish
in color. 16-17 costal grooves.............................Red
Salamander
8.
Two color phases: Red-backed phase has red
stripe extending down top of dorsum from base of
head to tip of tail. Sides black to gray, belly
black with white splotches. Lead backed phase completely
black to slate gray. Belly same as red-backed.
18-20 costal grooves..............................Redback
Salamander
9.
Belly enamel-white with black speckles. Dorsum
red/brown and sides gray. Four toes on hind legs;
Constricted area by the base of the tail usually
present. 13-14 costal grooves....................Four-toed
Salamander
10.
Yellow or brown dorsum with bright orange spots.
Belly is yellow to cream with many pepper-like black
spots. Flat paddle-like tail. Aquatic............................Red
Spotted Newt
11.
Yellow to brown dorsum; Dark line running down each
side. Lines may be broken, especially around tail.
Belly pale yellow to white. Tail oval and compressed.
13-16 costal grooves............Two-lined
Salamander
12.
Distinct pale line from eye to jaw angle. Tail is
keeled an triangular. Gray to brown dorsal color,
plain or mottled. Venter usually lightly mottled,
brown or gray. Costal grooves: 14................Dusky
Salamander