Adaptation Picture of head and neck of salamander

Environmental: The Cave Salamander adapts to its environment by moving when its location gets too cold. The cave salamander is exothermic, commonly refered to as "cold blooded". (Hutchinson 1958)

Salamanders have adapted the ability to have a range of homeostatic temperatures from 20șC to 15șC, this range allows for some flexibility in climate, which is great for them, because weather can be unpredictable.(Hutchinson 1958)

Salamanders require moist environments and will not be successful in dry climates.  For this organism specifically moisture  shifts in caves through the summer months, makes salamanders move their place on the cave usually from the cave wall to the floor.  Often to combat the drying,  salamanders move deeper into the cave, and or into deeper crevices where the sun is less powerful. Since they are cold blooded salamanders often wait until sunset to leave their cave because it is easier to control body temperature with out direct sunlight. (Hutchinson 1958)

pH is also another important environmental factor that salamanders deal with. Eurycea lucifuga tends to dwell in locations where the pH is more basic. This is why they are often found in lime stone caves. (Hutchinson 1958)

Form and FunctionThis salamander walks on four limbs, and has thin skin like many other salamanders to engage in  gas exchange.  Its tail allows it to keep balance when it is walking in areas where it may be fighting against gravity. Such as cave walls.(Hutchinson 1958)Next step in learning about this organism is to learn about its nutrition