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Official State Amphibian

Adoption of State Amphibian

In February 1995, a bill was introduced to name the Tennessee Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) the official state amphibian of Tennessee and the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) the official state reptile of Tennessee. These measures were supported by the Tennessee Conference on Herpetology whose "members worked hard to pass a bill naming the Tennessee Cave Salamander as our official State Amphibian, and the Eastern Box Turtle as our official State Reptile."

House Bill 1244 was approved by the Tennessee House of Representatives on March 23, 1995 by a vote of 83-3. It was approved by the Senate on May 18, 1995 by a vote of 28-2. The legislation was signed by the Speaker of the House on May 22 and the Speaker of the Senate on May 24. It was signed by Governor Don Sundquist on May 30, 1995 with an effective date of June 12, 1995.

About the Tennessee Cave Salamander

Photograph by John MacGregor, courtesy of The Center for North American Herpetology

This large (4" - 8 7/8" long), cave-dwelling salamander has three red external gills, a broad, flat head with small, lidless eyes and a tail fin. Its snout is broad and turned-up at the tip. It's color ranges from nearly white to dark brown with spots.

It is most often found in limestone caves that contain streams in central and southeast Tennessee, parts of Alabama and Georgia. Its full range is not well known.

Currently listed as threatened by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the Tennessee Cave Salamander may be considered for federal status under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Tennessee Code

The following information is excerpted from the Tennessee Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, Section 4.1.320.

TITLE 4. STATE GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
PART 3. STATE SYMBOLS.
SECTION 4.1.320. STATE AMPHIBIAN.

4-1-320. State amphibian. The unique Tennessee cave salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) is hereby designated as the official state amphibian.

    [Acts 1995, ch. 367, § 1.]

Additional Information

Tennessee Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus): Tennessee Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) entry in the National Wildlife Foundation's eNature database.

Gyrinophilus palleucus - McCrady, 1954 : Taxonomy, conservation status, distribution, and biodiveristy information about the Tennessee Cave Salamander.

Gyrinophilus palleucus gulolineatus Brandon, 1965: Taxonomy, references, geographic information, and commentary about the Tennessee Cave Salamander.

Salamanders of the United States and Canada: by James W. Petranka, Copyright 1998.

Newts and Salamanders: Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior by Frank Indiviglio, Michele Earle-Bridges, Richard D. Barlett, Copyright 1997

Source: The Tennessee Blue Book Online 2001-2002,(http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/online/bbonline.htm), February 3, 2003
Source: The Center for North American Herpetology, (http://www.cnah.org), February 3, 2003
Source: The Tennessee Herpetological Society, (http://home.mindspring.com/~froghaven/), February 3, 2003
Source: The Tennessee Code Online, Chapter 1, Part 3, State Symbols, February 3, 2003

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