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Northern Two-lined Salamander
Eurycea bislineata
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Photo: Trevor Persons
Distinguishing Characteristics
- Small and slim-bodied, approximately 3 to 4 inches in length
- Upperparts yellowish, with dark stripe on each side from behind the eye onto tail
- Sides grayish or yellowish-gray, with a yellow underside
- Tail has ridge along top to aid salamander in swimming
Status and Distribution in Maine
- Common
- Statewide
Habitat
Photo: Trevor Persons
- Primarily rocky streams; also shores of rivers and lakes
- Under rocks and logs along the edges of water
Diet
- Carnivorous, feeds on small terrestrial or aquatic invertebrates such as insects, worms, spiders, and mollusks
Seasonal Changes
- Overwinters underground, below frost level, near streams, springs, and seeps
Natural History Notes
Photo: Trevor Persons
- Highly aquatic, one of three species of “brook” or “stream” salamanders in Maine
- More abundant, and can tolerate a wider range of stream temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels, than northern dusky salamander or spring salamander
- Attaches eggs to undersides of rocks within streams
Share Your Sighting
There is much still to learn about the distribution and ecology of Maine’s herpetofauna, and we encourage members of the public to share their photo-documented observations as part of the Maine Amphibian & Reptile Atlas Project (MARAP).
To see if a township still needs documentation of a species, consult this distribution map (PDF). If a township lacks a photo or specimen record, we want your observation!
There are two ways to share your observations:
Submit your reptile or amphibian observation online
No service? No problem. Click here to download the survey to your device while connected, then take offline to collect observations from anywhere. Tip: The survey works best on Google Chrome and Safari.
Or upload sightings to the iNaturalist citizen science project through their website at iNaturalist.org or mobile app.
- When submitting an observation through iNaturalist add a description of the location (and other noteworthy information) to the “notes” field. This serves as a check on the locations automatically generated by smartphone cameras, which may be imprecise if cell service or GPS coverage is weak.
Thank you for doing your part to help conserve Maine’s reptiles and amphibians.