Ozark Zigzag Salamander

Ozark zigzag salamanders are part of a large salamander family that share one thing in common: they have no lungs. Instead, they breathe through their skin and mouths. These unique amphibians are less tolerant of high temperatures than other cave-dwelling salamanders and need cool caves as a refuge during warm summers. Like many of its other lungless family members, the Ozark zigzag salamander is only found in one small area of the Southeast, where climate change is gradually altering the ecosystem. Many salamander species share this predicament, where a single rapid climatic change could leave the entire population without time to adapt—or without a place to go.

Scientific name: Plethodon angusticlavius
Region: Midwest