Four-toed Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum (Temminck and Schlegel in Von Siebold, 1838)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Amphibia   >   Order Caudata   >   Family Plethodontidae   >   Genus Hemidactylium   

Status:

Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) is an extremely small, slender species, frequently associated with Sphagnum moss in boggy habitats. The common name refers to the fact that the hind feet have only four toes, while most salamander species have five. Adult Four-toed are primarily terrestrial, while the larvae are aquatic. Breeding occurs in early autumn, and afterwards, adults can often be found beneath moss patches near pools, guarding eggs. Handling this species is not encouraged, as they have a pronounced tendency to autotomously detach their tails when captured (Conant & Collins, 1998; Maryland DNR site; Bishop, 1943).

There are 171 records in the project database.

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Four-toed Salamanders in Howard Co., Maryland (3/13/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Caroline Co., Maryland (3/25/2017). Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/4/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Garrett Co., Maryland (9/5/2016). Photo by Justin Lee. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (11/30/2020). Photo by Jakob Cackowski. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/17/2012). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (04/10/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/15/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander in Caroline Co., Maryland (2/25/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Harford Co., Maryland (3/27/2019). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/28/2014). (c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Brian Gratwicke via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander in Montgomery Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander in Dorchester Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/6/2017). Photo by Justin Lee. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Caroline Co., Maryland (3/31/2018). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Eric Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Eric Johnson via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/7/2011). (c) Ashley Rodeheaver, all rights reserved. Photo by Ashley Rodeheaver. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Kent Co., Maryland (3/10/2019). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Caroline Co., Maryland (3/19/2018). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Four-toed Salamander in Caroline Co., Maryland (3/19/2018). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Four-toed Salamander eggs in Beaver Co., Pennsylvania (4/18/2013). Photo by Pete Woods, courtesy of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. (MBP list)


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