The Cave Salamander is characterized by a slender body, 14 or fewer vertical grooves on each side of the body between the front and hind limbs, and a bright color. The body, head, limbs, and tail of this species are bright orange-yellow and covered with irregularly scattered black dots. The belly is white or yellow. Adult males differ from females by the presence of raised margins around the cloacal opening at breeding time. Females have slightly larger average snout-vent lengths than males. The snout of males is noticeably swollen near the nasolabial grooves, and the cirri are much more developed than in the females.
Adults normally 100-152 mm (4-6 inches) in total length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a male (KU 23193) from Cherokee County with a snout-vent length of 69 mm and total length of 166 mm (6½ inches), collected by Claude W. Hibbard, E.W. Jameson, Jr., and Hobart M. Smith on 21 October 1945. The maximum length throughout the range is 181 mm (71⁄8 inches) (Powell et al. 2016).
This taxon is known from the Ozark Plateau of extreme southeastern Cherokee County, principally east of the Spring River and south of Short Creek. A specimen from Douglas County exists (FMNH 103284) and is undoubtedly an error.
Currently, the following areas are designated critical for Cave Salamanders:
All caves and associated spring flows within that portion of Cherokee County lying south and east of a line beginning at the Kansas-Missouri border junction with U.S. Highway 66 at Sec. 13, T34S, R25E, then extending westerly and southerly along U.S. 66 to the Kansas-Oklahoma border at Sec. 14, T35S, R24E.
Cave Salamanders inhabit the twilight zone of limestone caves, crevices in limestone rocks around springs, and beneath rocks and logs in moist forested areas near caves. This creature has been discovered under stones in the twilight zone of a cave in Cherokee County during October (Smith, 1946). Minckley (1959) collected a specimen in May in the twilight zone of a cave in the same county. Rundquist and Collins (1977) observed 15-20 adults of this salamander in Schermerhorn Cave in Cherokee County during March. Irwin (1980) found four sub-adult examples of this species beneath leaf litter in the twilight zone of the same cave. Collins (1982) reported an adult Cave Salamander in the splash zone beneath a dripping, moss-covered, limestone rock overhang at the head of a small stream in Cherokee County on 16 March. Collins (1982) observed nine of these amphibians in the twilight zone of Schermerhorn Cave on the night of 19 March and another example in a small roadside spring east of the cave on the same night. Loraine (1983) observed sixty-five Cave Salamanders at four sites during his spring survey of known localities for this amphibian in Kansas and concluded that its "optimal habitat consists of moist limestone caves and permanent cold springs." Beard (1986) and Young (1986), while exploring Schermerhorn Cave, observed four adult examples of this salamander; one was found in a cave passage 731.5 meters (2,400 feet) from the entrance. Taggart (1992) observed 33 Cave Salamanders in this same cavern on 4 July, all within 91.4 meters (300 feet) of the entrance, and also found 21 examples on 13 August.
Breeding may occur twice a year, probably from October to May, but nothing is known of courtship in this species in Kansas. A female may lay 50- 90 eggs, which are attached to the undersides of submerged rocks in cave streams. The gilled, stream-type larvae metamorphose at a length of 57.2-63.5 mm (2¼- 2½ inches).
Primarily found among the crevices and rocks in the twilight zone of limestone caves. They may also be found deeper within caves, as well as under rocks, logs, and plant debris near caves and springs. Adults and juveniles are nocturnal and forage for invertebrates on humid nights. The eggs are attached to rocks in caves and underground spring pools during the fall and winter, and the hatchlings are washed out into springs and streams where they grow until they transform into miniature adults.
The diet of Cave Salamanders consists entirely of small insects (Collins, 1993).
First reported in Kansas by Smith (1946) based on a series of three specimens (KU 23193-5) captured on 21 October 1921 at "Park, E of Baxter Springs" by Claude W. Hibbard, Horr, and Hobart M. Smith. Collins and Moriarty (1995) corrected the locality to "1.25 mi S Galena" and collectors to "E. W. Jameson, Jr....Later the same day Claude W. Hibbard and I returned..." as given by Smith (1946). All specimens were found in the twilight zone of the cave, and it is interesting to note that at this time the cave was sealed off with cement. They also reported observing E. longicauda, (collected 10 [KU 23191; 23196-204] and in considerable greater abundance than E. lucifuga.
The Cave Salamander is more specific in its habitat requirements than the Longtail Salamander. As its name implies, this taxon is usually found in association with caves and moist rock faces. However, on humid nights individuals can be found out among the leaf litter.
Like the Long-tailed Salamander, this species has doubtfully seen little change in its distribution or relative abundance over the last 50 years. However, in that it is not as widespread and is known from fewer localities than the Long-tailed Salamander, it is also more sensitive to deleterious environmental effects.
Loraine (1983) surveyed selected sites south of Shoal Creek in Cherokee County and reported several new localities for this species. A survey of all caves and rock faces in the Kansas Ozark Plateau would help to define the extent of this taxon's range in the state.
Layher (2002) recommended the down-listing of this species to SINC status at such a time it is known from 20 localities and when 16 of those localities are protected in some manner. He further recommended that upon confirmation of the species' continued existence at those sites five years later, it should be dropped from the SINC list.
Listed as a Kansas Endangered species in 1978. A recovery plan has been completed (Layher, 2002).
As defined by Kansas Administrative Regulations, critical habitats include those areas documented as currently supporting self-sustaining population(s) of any threatened or endangered species of wildlife as well as those areas determined by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism to be essential for the conservation of any threatened or endangered species of wildlife.
Currently, the following areas are designated critical for Cave Salamanders:
All caves and associated spring flows within that portion of Cherokee County lying south and east of a line beginning at the Kansas-Missouri border junction with U.S. Highway 66 at Sec. 13, T34S, R25E, then extending westerly and southerly along U.S. 66 to the Kansas-Oklahoma border at Sec. 14, T35S, R24E.
Loraine (1983) recommended that all human activity be restricted at Schermerhorn Cave and its spring and that the concrete barrier blocking access to the cave interior be removed to allow these salamanders (and other animals) to move freely between the interior of the cave and its twilight zone.
Based on a captive specimen, Snider and Bowler (1992) reported a maximum longevity for this salamander of nine years, two months, and fifteen days.
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