The cave salamander inhabits the twilight area of caves just inside the entrance where there is some light but it is too dark for plants to grow. With a short lunge and an extremely quick tongue flick—its tongue fully extends in just 5.5 milliseconds!—the cave salamander catches small invertebrates to eat.
Cave Salamander
Eurycea lucifuga
Fact File
Where to see them: Reptile House
Length: 4 to 6 in
Habitat: Caves, springs, and creeks
Diet: Spiders, earthworms, snails, insects, and other small invertebrates
Risk Status: Species@Risk (Ohio Endangered Species List—Endangered)
Scaling Walls: A prehensile tail that accounts for up to 65% of the salamander’s total length enables it to easily climb rocks and walls.
