Meet the Salamanders of Tennessee Tennesseans and tourists alike may catch one of three species of slimy salamanders or southern and eastern red-backed salamanders crawling among the forest litter. Explorers of the Blue Ridge Mountains may see one of two species of two-lined salamanders. And, if lucky, those hiking along clear, fast-flowing rivers and streams may just see a hellbender , the largest salamander in the country, gliding between the rocks. But Tennesseans may know of a more secretive salamander in their state: the Tennessee Cave Salamander. Image The Tennessee cave salamander is very rare and is found in specific, restricted limestone cave systems. In fact, these salamanders only dwell in caves where they can occupy stream and rimstone pools. One subspecies, known as the pale salamander, is found in southern Tennessee, northern Alabama and in two caves in Georgia. These salamanders are nearly white to very light pink and are the palest of the two Tennessee cave salamanders.…