Spotted Dusky Salamander vs. Northern Dusky Salamander

These were one species until 1996 and share the pale line from the eye to the jaw, the heavy hind legs and the keeled tail, so those do not separate them. Three things do. Spot retention: the Spotted Dusky keeps six to eight pairs of golden, red or light tan spots down the back into adulthood, often fused into a wavy or scalloped stripe; the Northern Dusky has paired spots only when young, and adults darken and lose them. Pattern contrast: adult Spotted Duskies stay boldly patterned; adult Northern Duskies become obscurely mottled or plain. Flank to belly: on the Spotted Dusky the dark sides blend gradually into the paler belly; on the Northern Dusky the dark side pattern ends more sharply against a salt-and-pepper belly.

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

More comparisons

• Spotted Dusky Salamander vs. Southern Two-lined Salamander
• Spotted Dusky Salamander vs. Eastern Red-backed Salamander
• Spotted Dusky Salamander vs. Northern Zigzag Salamander
• Spotted Dusky Salamander vs. Four-toed Salamander
• Southern Red-backed Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Valentine's Southern Dusky Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Southern Zigzag Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Cherokee Blackbelly Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Southern Blackbelly Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Cherokee Mountain Dusky Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Imitator Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Ocoee Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Santeetlah Dusky Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Chattooga Dusky Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Pascagoula Dusky Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Red Hills Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Talladega Seal Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Apalachicola Dusky Salamander vs. Spotted Dusky Salamander
• Southern Two-lined Salamander vs. Northern Dusky Salamander
• Northern Dusky Salamander vs. Eastern Red-backed Salamander
• Northern Zigzag Salamander vs. Northern Dusky Salamander
• Four-toed Salamander vs. Northern Dusky Salamander
• Northern Ravine Salamander vs. Northern Dusky Salamander
• Northern Two-lined Salamander vs. Northern Dusky Salamander

Wildsight identifies the reptiles and amphibians of the United States. Every comparison