Species of the Month

These species have been featured in our FYI newsletter as "species of the month."

Brook Lampreys
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata)
Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis fontinalis)
Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)
Smooth Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

The spotted salamander is a rarely seen amphibian, found in and around mixed forest habitats with shallow wetlands. Adults range in length from 11 to 25 cm. Adult spotted salamanders are stout-bodied, dark grey to black above, with bright yellow spots running down the head, back and tail, and smaller yellow spots often along the limbs. The belly and lower sides are grey. Terrestrial juveniles have a grey-olive to brown background colour and small green to yellow flecks or spots. Aquatic larvae are generally a mottled green-brown with gills and a tail fin.

An adult spotted salamander.

In late March or early April, spotted salamanders emerge from hibernation and move through fields, across roads, and even through snow covered woodlots, to seek out appropriate aquatic breeding sites. In some areas, dozens or even hundreds of these salamanders will congregate in wetlands.

Reproduction involves the male releasing a spermatophore (gelatinous sperm deposit) and attaching it to underwater debris, such as branches. The female seeks out the spermatophore, collecting it into her cloaca. Within 24 hours to a few days, the female attaches her fertilized eggs to submerged branches or leaves.

Below: The gelatinous egg mass (L) is composed of many small, clear eggs, each with a spherical black embryo. As the embryos develop (R), they become elongate and noticeably larger.

Upon hatching in 20 to 60 days, spotted salamander larvae are translucent, with large eyes, a tail fin, gills and front limbs. As the larvae grow, the gills become smaller, rear limbs develop and the colouration becomes mottled (photo right).

After two to 10 months, the larvae move from water to dry land. The now terrestrial juveniles have absorbed their gills and taken on a typical adult form (photo below).

Above: This aquatic larva has gills, a tail fin and both front and rear legs.

Within a few days to a few weeks, the typical dark body colouration and bright yellow spots of an adult begin to appear (photo left). At two to five years of age, spotted salamanders reach reproductive maturity.

Left: A newly emerged juvenile.

Spotted salamanders are rarely observed outside of the breeding season, preferring a subterranean existence within their forest habitats. They depend on moist woodlands and ephemeral pools or other wetland habitats for feeding, hibernation and development of young. Their diet includes invertebrates such as worms, insects, slugs, millipedes and spiders.

The most striking of our Thames watershed salamanders, this species suffers from habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution of wetland habitats, and road mortality. We can help these amphibians by increasing forest cover, preserving or creating wetland sites, and limiting our use of chemicals near natural areas.

A brilliantly coloured juvenile salamander.

For more information on this species, or other watershed reptiles and amphibians, contact: , Species at Risk Biologist

TOP