Unidentified larvae help!

[cwbrider16]

Hey all,
We found this little guy in a stream and not sure what it is. My guess, based on other pics, is a two-lined salamander larvae. Found it in Rhode Island, which may be help with identification. Thanks!

 

[Kaysie]

My guess would be a Desmognathus larva. How big is it? Can you provide closer pictures?

 

[Nathan]

I would say you are correct on the two-lined ID. In your area that would be Eurycea bislineata, the Northern Two-lined Salamander.

Northern Dusky larvae are similar in size, shape, and pattern, but there are two characteristics that show this is not a dusky:

1) the snout is somewhat truncate ("squared off"); the snout of Desmognathus larvae are round when seen from above.

2) the gills are feather-shaped, with a long central shaft (rachis) and shorter filaments (fimbriae); the gills of Desmognathus larvae are antler-like with no rachis and a few branched fimbriae attached directly to the body.

The third species in your area with stream-dwelling larvae is the spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus. It has snout and gills like E. bislineata, but is more robust and lacks the light dorsal spots; instead it is plain or mottled pinkish to tan. It also has smaller eyes than either E. bislineata or D. fuscus.

 

[cwbrider16]

Thanks for the help! I guess I'll find out for sure down the road but for now I'll consider it a two-lined.

 

[Kaysie]

The lab I work in agrees with Eurycea. Guess you'll find out for sure when it morphs!