4a 



Desmognathus fusca, (Rafinefque). 

 Brown Triton. 



Figure 5, PI. 1. 



7Vi<wnts /ite'ctts, Rafin., 1820, 108, March; Salamandra quadrimaculata, 

 Holbrook, 1842, 54-, 49, pi. 12 ; Desmognathus fuscus, Baird, 1849, 2, 

 285; Cope, 1869, 1, 115; Cope, 1889, 51, 194, with figures; Boulenger, 

 1882, JS, 77. 



Body rather heavily built and somewhat depressed. The distance from 

 the snout to the axilla in distance from snout to groin three times, or 

 nearly so. There are usually 14, rarely 13 or 15, costal grooves. A dor- 

 sal furrow commencing at the nape and ending over the vent. 



Head flat and the snout rounded. The gular fold prominent, rising on 

 the sides of the neck and the turning forward towards the eyes. Another 

 fold, starting on the under jaw, crosses the corner of the mouth and rises 

 on the side of the head. This furrow is crossed by one which starts be- 

 hind the eye and runs back to the gular. fold. The eyes are very promi- 

 nent. Tongue moderate in size, free at sides and behind, little free in 

 front. Vomero-palatine teeth not strongly developed, sometimes en- 

 tirely missing. When present Ihey form only a short series on each side. 

 Parasphenoidal teeth in two patches which diverge backwardly. Lower 

 mandible somewhat undulate, especially in the males; toothed to near 

 the angle of the mouth. Width of head in distance to the groin about 

 five times. The limbs are feebly developed, the fore and the hind limbs, 

 when stretched along the side, not meeting by about four interspaces. 

 Fingers 4, toes 5, joined at the bases by a narrow membrane. Tail about 

 as long as the remainder of the animal, tapering gradually to a sharp 

 point ; its section at the base circular becoming flattened further back on 

 the upper edge into a narrow fin. 



The color of this species is quite variable. The adults of full size are 

 usually dark above, with the belly paler, and with mottlings of brown. 

 Along with the brown of the upper surface are shades of gray and pink ; 

 the young, and sometimes the half-grown, with ochreous spots along each 

 side of the back, and these bordered more or less with black. In some 

 specimens the whole middle line of the back is yellow or somewhat orange, 

 brightest along the outer border, and divided along the middle line by a 

 row of black spots. Such specimens resemble Plethodon cinereus erythro- 

 notus. These bright colors are sometimes retained by the full-growu 

 specimens. 



A variety of this species, auriculata, which has not been recognized in 

 Indiana, is distinguished by having a series of small red spots along the 

 sides, and often a red spot from the eye to the corner of the mouth. Has 

 been taken near Cincinnati, Ohio. 



