The spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, is a common mole salamander found in the eastern United States and Canada. They live in a shelter of leaves or burrows in deciduous forests. It is the state amphibian of Ohio and South Carolina. Physically, they are stout, have wide snouts, and can vary in color- black, blueish-black, dark green, and dark brown. They have two uneven rows of yellow-orange spots that start from the top of the head and end at the tip of the tail. As larvae they mostly consume zooplankton, but as they grow, they consume isopods and amphipods.
The Spotted Salamander has an overall length between 5.91”-9.84” (15-25 cm), body width of .59”-.98” (1.5-2.5 cm), body height of .71”-1.18” (1.8-3 cm), and weight between .4-.6 oz (11-17 g). The typical lifespan of the Spotted Salamander is between 20-30 years.
The spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, is a common mole salamander found in the eastern United States and Canada. They live in a shelter of leaves or burrows in deciduous forests. It is the state amphibian of Ohio and South Carolina. Physically, they are stout, have wide snouts, and can vary in color- black, blueish-black, dark green, and dark brown. They have two uneven rows of yellow-orange spots that start from the top of the head and end at the tip of the tail. As larvae they mostly consume zooplankton, but as they grow, they consume isopods and amphipods.
The Spotted Salamander has an overall length between 5.91”-9.84” (15-25 cm), body width of .59”-.98” (1.5-2.5 cm), body height of .71”-1.18” (1.8-3 cm), and weight between .4-.6 oz (11-17 g). The typical lifespan of the Spotted Salamander is between 20-30 years.
