My favorite salamander the Spotted Salamander
Scientific name: Ambystoma maculatum
Some Info taken from National Audubon Society Field Guide 
Upon first look it's just a pile of salamanders, But if you look closer the one in the bottom of the shot seems to have brighter spots that the others. This got me to thinking is it a boy, cause some species put on bright colors to attract a mate. However it is hard to tell from this photo, but the brighter one is also bigger, especially in the abdominal area, so female?
What they look like
Stoutly built, black, blue-black, dark gray, or dark brown above, with 2 irregular rows of round yellow or orange spots beginning on the head and extending to the tail tip
The belly is slate gray with costal grooves, usually 12.
What they look likeStoutly built, black, blue-black, dark gray, or dark brown above, with 2 irregular rows of round yellow or orange spots beginning on the head and extending to the tail tip
The belly is slate gray with costal grooves, usually 12.This salamander ranges from south central Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to Georgia and Eastern Texas. It lives in hardwood forests around pools and flooded areas. It spends most of it's time underground, and is rarely seen except during breeding season which is March (Ohio) to April in the north and December to February in the south. Rain and warming temperatures spark the mating season. During Mating the salamanders flock to breeding ponds were females lay 1 or more compact clear or milky egg masses 2 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter which turn green with beneficial algae, each containing about 100 eggs. they are adhered to submerged branches. Larvae hatch in 1-2 months and are 1/2 an inch long. By 2 1/2 months they are 2 to 4 inches long. These salamanders secrete a milky substance that tastes bad when handled. They may live from 10 to 20 years.
From what I have read spotted salamanders hold true to general sexing tips for salamanders. Girls are usually larger, especially in the abdominal area and males have a more developed cloaca area during mating season. This looks to be a male.
A female.
From what I have read spotted salamanders hold true to general sexing tips for salamanders. Girls are usually larger, especially in the abdominal area and males have a more developed cloaca area during mating season. This looks to be a male.
A female.So in closing it looks like the brighter lager salamander in the first picture is in fact a female and the other three are males.
Hope you enjoyed your crash course in spotted salamanders.
Hope you enjoyed your crash course in spotted salamanders.
3 comments:
This is so cool! Did you find these in your backyard or something? Thanks for this post - perfect idea for a homeschool unit study! ;)
just driving the country back roads after a spring rain brings them out crawling all over the road. all ya gotta do is stop and pick them up. We have a nice swampy woods on our farm so we turn them loose their to do their thing. It is so fun and educational.
That is really cool to see, but you wouldn't even be able to pay me to touch it.
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