The ocoee salamander (Desmognathus ocoee) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. This salamander has a variety of colors and patterns, and got its name from Tennessee state wildflower. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater springs and wet rocks in mountainous areas of the Southeastern United States. It was first described by Nicholls in 1949. They are territorial and feed on small invertabrates. It is widely distributed in the Midwest and is listed as "Least Concern" by IUCN. Description The ocoee salamander (Desmognathus ocoee) is a small mountain dusky salamander that exhibits a wide range of colors and patterns. The species got its name from the Tennessee state wildflower and symbol Passiflora incarnata (passionflower), which is termed “ocoee” in the Cherokee tribe. The Ocoee River and the Ocoee salamander were thus named after the Cherokee word for passionflower. Some individuals have distinct red, yellow, or orange patches on their legs and cheeks. Populations in central Tennessee, northwestern Georgia, and northeastern Alabama usually have a dark brown or black color, and faded larval spots. Compared to other Desmognathus species, Desmognathus ocoee have smaller bodies (around 7–11 cm), shorter and narrower heads, longer limbs, and no vomerine teeth in adult males. Juveniles have pairs of alternating pale spots on their middorsal line. As they move on to adulthood, these spots might fuse. Habitat and distribution Habitat The ocoee salamander is found in two separate populations. The more numerous is in the Blue Ridge Mountains and at lower levels in the gorges of the rivers Hiwassee, Ocoee, Tugaloo and Tallulah. The less numerous population is in the Appalachian Plateau in northeastern Alabama. It is found over a greater range of altitudes than other members of the genus Desmognathus. At lower levels it is an aquatic species but at higher altitudes it is mostly terrestrial. It is found close to fast flowing mountain streams, in seepage areas, on moist forest floors and on wet rocks. In cove valleys in the Appalachian Mountains it prefers hardwood forests with trees that are more than eighty-five years old. Semi-aquatic salamanders like the ocoee contribute considerably to the terrestrial vertebrate biomass. They depend on water for reproduction, but their short larval period allows them to take advantage of wetted habitats such as small streams and wet rock faces. Despite this, they are the most terrestrial of the stream-breeding Desmognathus salamanders. Under moist