Bell's salamander

Pseudoeurycea bellii

SUBFAMILY

Plethodontinae

TAXONOMY

Pseudoeurycea bellii Gray, 1850, Mexico.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Bell's false brook salamander.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

This is a spectacular species that is the largest lungless salamander and close to the largest terrestrial salamander (it reaches nearly 14 in or 36 cm total length). It is shiny dark black with a pair of red to red-orange spots on the back of its head and paired rows of similarly colored spots along the back to the base of the tail. There is usually a chevron-shaped mark at the beginning of the paired rows. The tail is long and large and is basally contricted. The limbs are long and well developed and the overall appearance of the animal is massive.

DISTRIBUTION

Bell's salamander is widely distributed from northwestern and northeastern Mexico into central Mexico, usually at relatively high elevations (above 4,000 ft or 1,220 m).

HABITAT

This is a strictly terrestrial species that is found under large surface objects such as logs and rocks in relatively moist woods. It utilizes terrestrial burrows and can be found in holes in road banks.

BEHAVIOR

Almost nothing is known of the behavior of this species, except that it is nocturnal.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

No information is available. It most likely feeds mainly on insects, which are caught with its freely projectile tongue.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Almost nothing is known except that it lays clutches (more than 20) of large, yolky eggs.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species is widespread and was once common in many parts of Mexico. Not threatened, although in recent years it has become scarce.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.