Hellbender

Cryptobranchidae

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

not poisonous, as some believe; largest salamander in North America

Lesser Siren

Sirenidae

Siren intermedia

communicate by clicking sounds made by snapping their jaws together

Eastern Newt

Salamandridae

Notopthalmus viridescens

3 stages of life: aquatic larvae, terrestrial eft, and aquatic adult

Common Mudpuppy

Proteidae

Necturus maculosus

humans are main predators because of catching and discarding; two rows of teeth;  strictly carnivorous

Two-toed Amphiuma

Amphiumidae

Amphiuma means

North America's longest amphibian; eellike

Spotted Salamander

Ambystomatidae

Ambystoma maculatum

burrowing; sedentary, only move far enough to find food

Mole Salamander

Ambystomatidae

Ambystoma talpoideum

will eat almost anything smaller than itself that it can overpower

Tiger Salamander

Ambystomatidae

Ambystoma tigrinum

among the largest terrestrial salamanders, up to 20 cm 

Marbled Salamander

Ambystomatidae

Ambystoma opacum

most strongly sexually dimorphic of the Ambystomatidae

Green Salamander

Plethodontidae

Aneides aeneus

may be seasonably arboreal

Plethodontidae

Desmognathus auriculatus

closely related to D. fuscus and D. ochrophaeus, may not occur in our area at all

Northern Dusky Salamander

Plethodontidae

Desmognathus fuscus

this species complex tends to be more terrestrial and variably marked than other Desmognathus

Seal Salamander

Plethodontidae

Desmognathus monticola

active year-round except during the coldest weather

Mountain Dusky Salamander

Plethodontidae

Desmognathus ochrophaeus (carolinensus)

this species complex tends to be more terrestrial and variably marked than other Desmognathus

Blackbelly Salamander

Plethodontidae

Desmognathus quadramaculatus

inhabit mountain streams and rest near waterfalls and streams

Plethodontidae

Desmognathus welteri

Pygmy Salamander

Plethodontidae

Desmognathus wrighti

endemic to high mountains; no larval period, development occurs in the egg

Two-Lined Salamander

Plethodontidae

Eurycea bislineata

generalist predators

Three-Lined Salamander

Plethodontidae

Eurycea guttolineata

formerly considered a subspecies of the Longtail sally; the two species seldom occur together

Longtail Salamander

Plethodontidae

Eurycea longicauda

limestone and shale substrates

Spring Salamander

Plethodontidae

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus

preys on smaller salamanders

Four-toed Salamander

Plethodontidae

Hemidactylium scutatum

Redback Salamander

Plethodontidae

Plethodon cinereus

generalist predators on small inverts

Slimy Salamander

Plethodontidae

Plethodon glutinosus

western VA, extreme NWestern NC

Jordan's Salamander

Plethodontidae

Plethodon jordani

found above 2000 ft; breed terrestrially, like all Plethodons

Plethodontidae

Plethodon wehrlei

Plethodontidae

Plethodon welleri

Yonahlossee Salamander

Plethodontidae

Plethodon yonahlossee

females are dramatically larger than males

Mud Salamander

Plethodontidae

Pseudotriton montanus

occur in fine, black mud beneath logs and stones

Red Salamander

Plethodontidae

Pseudotriton ruber

habitats include leaf accumulations

Pelobatidae

Scaphiopus holbrooki

one spur on each back foot for burrowing

American Toad

Bufonidae

Bufo americanus

earliest toads to breed in our area

Southern Toad

Bufonidae

Bufo terrestris

lets out a chirping release call if handled or accidentally grasped by another male

Fowler's Toad

Bufonidae

Bufo woodhousei

uncommon at high elevations

Hylidae

Acris crepitans

call resembles two small stones clicking together

Hylidae

Hyla avivoca

loud, rapid, bird-like call, similar to an osprey

Green Treefrog

Hylidae

Hyla cinerea

often breeds in permanent water

Spring Peeper

Hylidae

Hyla crucifer

adults are secretive and most often heard rather than seen

Gray Treefrog

Hylidae

Hyla versicolor

not reportedly found in South Carolina

Hylidae

Pseudacris triseriata

Bullfrog

Ranidae

Rana catesbeiana

highly adaptable and may live in almost any body of freshwater

Green Frog

Ranidae

Rana clamitans

call sounds like a plucked banjo string

Pickerel Frog

Ranidae

Rana palustris

produce skin secretions that are toxic or distasteful to many predators

Southern Leopard Frog

Ranidae

Rana sphenocephala

excellent jumpers and easily escape predators by jumping into water and swimming to the bottom

Wood Frog

Ranidae

Rana sylvatica

highly tolerant of freezing temperatures

Microhylidae

Gastrophryne carolinensis

smooth skin without ridges or warts