Basic Facts

Size:  6.4-9.5 cm

Description: This species has two dark lines bordering a broad light middorsal stripe. The back is yellow-brown flecked with black. The belly is yellowish. There are 15 to 16 costal grooves.

Distribution: Its range extends from southern Quebec to Ontario and is found in the St. Lawrence and Ottawa river valleys.

Feeding

larva: carnivorous
adult: carnivorous
food: This salamander feeds on small invertebrates.

Habitat

egg: aquatic
larva: aquatic
adult: terrestrial



Northern two-lined salamander
Eurycea bislineata

Adult
image
David Green


Life history

Breeding season: Courtship and the laying of eggs occurs in the early spring.

Egg habitat: Small clusters of eggs are laid under stones in streams.

Clutch size: Females lay 15-53 eggs.

Description: Adults which overwinter in streams migrate away from them on rainy nights in the early spring. Later in the summer newly metamorphosed individuals also migrate away from streams. Larvae may take two to three years to metamorphose. At the end of the summer there is a migration of individuals back to streams.

Adult habitat: This species is a brook-side salamander. It hides under cover objects along the water's edge and during warm wet weather it may wander into nearby woodlands. These salamanders are good swimmers and can be found in fast flowing streams.

Conservation

This species is know to be collected for use as fish bait.