Dusky Salamander

Dusky Salamander

Desmognathus fuscus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Shenandoah National Park
71 Verified records at Shenandoah National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

Desmognathus fuscus is a species of amphibian in the family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders). The species is commonly called the dusky salamander or northern dusky salamander to distinguish it from populations in the southern United States which form several distinct species, the southern dusky salamanders (D. auriculatus, D. valentinei). The northern dusky salamander is the most widespread representative of its genus in Canada. It can be found in eastern North America from extreme eastern Canada in New Brunswick south to South Carolina. The size of the species' total population is unknown, but is assumed to easily exceed 100,000. The species' habitat differs somewhat geographically; dusky salamanders in the northern part of the range prefer rocky woodland streams, seepages, and springs, while those in the south favor floodplains, sloughs, and muddy places along upland streams. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Dusky Salamander sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 71 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
<5
Feb
5–10
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Dusky Salamander in Shenandoah National Park?

About 15% of wildlife watchers report a Dusky Salamander sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 71 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Dusky Salamander in Shenandoah National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Dusky Salamander in Shenandoah National Park in our monthly data.

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