About Desmognathus conanti Rossman, 1958
Desmognathus conanti is a moderately stout, medium-sized salamander. At sexual maturity, its body length ranges from 35 to 40 mm, and it has a moderately keeled tail. This species has a bright color pattern, with a colored stripe located behind each eye. It has several pairs of golden spots on its back; these are larval spots that are often retained into adulthood, and may sometimes fuse together to form a light dorsal stripe in mature individuals. Its belly is light in color with dark flecks. Desmognathus conanti closely resembles two related species, D. fuscus and D. santeetlah, so geographic range is the most reliable way to distinguish it from these species. Desmognathus conanti has a broad distribution across the southeastern and south-central United States. Its range extends from southern Illinois south to the Florida panhandle, and west to Louisiana and southern Arkansas. It is a semiaquatic species that typically lives in cool, forested seeps, streams, or along streamsides.
