Marbled Salamander In The Northeast

The marbled salamander a member of the mole salamander family ambystomatidae tends to occupy drier more sandy or gravelly habitat than most of pennsylvania s salamander species.

Marbled salamander in the northeast.

Marbled salamanders grow to about 3 5 4 25 in 9 10 7 cm in size and are stout bodied and chubby in appearance. Occasionally the crossbands run together on the sides encasing a black area within a striking outline of white. They can be identified by their black dark brown body including its venter with light white silvery crossbands on the dorsum. Adults can grow to about 11 cm 4 in small compared to other members of its genus.

The bands of females tend to be gray while those of males are more white. And while most of us have seen salamanders few are aware of their extraordinary diversity. On the female these bands tend to be a bit more gray. They are also found northward in tennessee kentucky and indiana.

The marbled salamander is a stocky boldly banded salamander. Historical versus current distribution marbled salamanders ambystoma opacum range throughout much of the eastern united states from eastern texas and oklahoma northeast through illinois and indiana to southern new hampshire and central massachusetts and south to north florida. This small salamander may be the most abundant vertebrate backboned animal in the northeast and it s found all across the state. Ambystoma opacum the marbled salamander is found throughout most of the eastern united states from massachusetts west to central illinois southeastern missouri and oklahoma and eastern texas south to the gulf of mexico and the carolina coast it is absent from peninsular florida.

Climate projections for the northeast suggest that higher temperatures and a longer growing season will lead to increases in evapotranspiration evaporation and transpiration from plants 8. Despite its name its color varies. They may be inactive and underground during the hot summer months. The body is dark gray to black with bold white or silvery crossbands.

It s often gray with a red stripe down its back but it may be entirely red or entirely gray. At least 150 salamander species live north of mexico more than in any other region on the planet. These changes are expected to increase the frequency of short term. The belly is black and unmarked.

Marbled salamanders range from the northeast united states down through georgia and across the gulf states to texas. Disjunct populations occur along the southern edge of lake. They live in woodlands near vernal pools where larvae develop. This species is sexually dimorphic males tend to have white crossbands and females tend to have gray silvery crossbands.

It is lungless and breathes through its moist skin.