Jordan's Salamander

Jordan's salamander is Plethodon jordani, a terrestrial member of the lungless salamander family Plethodontidae. It exchanges gases through its skin and the lining of its mouth instead of using lungs. [Animal Diversity Web](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Plethodon_jordani/)

It lives in cool, moist forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains, with records from Virginia through North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and northern Georgia. It is especially associated with mossy forest floors, red spruce, Fraser fir, and hardwood ridges. [Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study](https://srelherp.uga.edu/salamanders/jordans-salamander/)

Color varies across the species' Appalachian range rather than following one uniform pattern. Great Smoky Mountains populations commonly have red cheeks, while populations in parts of North Carolina can show red legs or reddish dorsal frosting. [Animal Diversity Web](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Plethodon_jordani/)

It usually emerges at night to forage on the forest floor and hides under rocks or logs during the day. Its recorded elevation range extends from about 213 to 1,951 meters, so cool, moist mountain habitat is central to its ecology. [Animal Diversity Web](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Plethodon_jordani/)