The arboreal salamander is 6.5–10 cm in length, with plain purplish-brown coloring, usually spotted dorsally with gold or yellow, although it may also be unspotted. This species is an excellent climber and difficult to capture. It is nocturnal, spending daylight hours and dry periods in the cavities of oak trees, often with many other individuals of its species. A large adult can inflict a painful bite.
Fun Fact Arboreal salamanders are lungless, and breathe through their skin. This requires them to live in damp environments on land and to move about on the ground only during times of high humidity.