The Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) ) is a small salamander with a stocky body and a small head. They are typically gray to black with lighter-colored markings on their sides and measure 4-5.5 inches. The Streamside Salamander has been located in several counties in Middle Tennessee. Fortunately, the Streamside Salamander has made several seasonal streams in Hendersonville its home. The Streamside Salamander is a cryptic amphibian that is hard to locate, mainly due to its life cycle. The Streamside Salamander is most active during the winter months (December-April). Adult salamanders emerge from forested areas during winter to breed in seasonal streams. Females typically lay large egg masses under submerged rocks.
In August 2018, the Streamside Salamander was listed as State Endangered. It is our responsibility to ensure that this unique salamander species does not go extinct. The Streamside Salamander is a valuable natural resource. These salamanders eat insects and their larvae in forests, streams, and agricultural fields. The Streamside Salamander provides a food source for larger predators and acts as an indicator species for environmental stressors. You can help protect the salamander by taking simple steps to prevent pollution of our surface waters and protect its habitat:
- Respect our streams and the aquatic wildlife inhabiting those streams.
- Keep children and pets out of the streams during the breeding season.
- Don't throw grass clippings or leaf litter into the stream
- Don't remove rocks from the streams.
- Try to maintain the stream buffer.
- Reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, or opt for natural fertilizers or pesticides.
- Pick up pet waste.
- Pick up trash and debris before it enters our streams.
Keep in mind that this State Endangered species could be in that tiny creek in your backyard!