Desmognathus valentinei
Description
Valentine’s Southern Dusky Salamander (formerly a part of Desmognathus auriculatus [Means et al., 2017], the Southern Dusky Salamander), is a medium-bodied “Desmog” found in coastal Louisiana and Mississipppi. Their range extends north into central Mississippi as well. Habitats for this species are usually clean, alluvial seepages. Length is usually 3-5 inches (Powell et al., 2016). This species is often mistaken for the more-common Desmognathus conanti. D. valentinei has a darker ventral side, often with a reddish or orange-striped tail and distinct paired pink/orange/red dorsal spotting.
Identifying Traits
- Gray or brown body
- Reddish line on tail
- Paired red, pink, or orange dorsal spotting (separates from D. conanti)

Habitat
Alluvial streams and ravines (Powell et al., 2016)
Behavior
Generally utilizes natural structures like rocks and logs for shelter
Diet
Various small invertebrates