Plant Climbing in the Northern Two-lined Salamander, Eurycea bislineata, in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

Abstract

Lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae) are often active on the surface on rainy evenings, and some species may even climb vegetation in search of prey. Here I report the first investigation of plant climbing in the Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata). Surveys were carried out along Bat Lake Creek in Algonquin Provincial Park over four rainy nights in summer 2007 for Northern Two-lined Salamanders. I compared the numbers of Northern Two-lined Salamanders foraging on the ground with those climbing on plants, and over half of the Northern Two-lined Salamanders were climbing plants. This behaviour may provide the Northern Two-lined Salamander with access to an underutilized food source, and plants may represent an additional foraging habitat for this species.