Marbled Salamander In The Northeast

They live in woodlands near vernal pools where larvae develop.

Marbled salamander in the northeast.

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. 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. Marbled salamanders grow to about 3 5 4 25 in 9 10 7 cm in size and are stout bodied and chubby in appearance.

Adults can grow to about 11 cm 4 in small compared to other members of its genus. Occasionally the crossbands run together on the sides encasing a black area within a striking outline of white. 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. These changes are expected to increase the frequency of short term.

Marbled salamanders are dependent on very specific pool hydrology for reproduction. Disjunct populations are found in eastern missouri central illinois in northwest ohio. The body is dark gray to black with bold white or silvery crossbands. 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.

This species is sexually dimorphic males tend to have white crossbands and females tend to have gray silvery crossbands. On the female these bands tend to be a bit more gray. The belly is black and unmarked. They can be identified by their black dark brown body including its venter with light white silvery crossbands on the dorsum.

It s often gray with a red stripe down its back but it may be entirely red or entirely gray. This small salamander may be the most abundant vertebrate backboned animal in the northeast and it s found all across the state. They may be inactive and underground during the hot summer months. The bands of females tend to be gray while those of males are more white.

The marbled salamander ambystoma opacum is a species of mole salamander found in the eastern united states. The marbled salamander is a stocky boldly banded salamander. They are also found northward in tennessee kentucky and indiana. And while most of us have seen salamanders few are aware of their extraordinary diversity.

Despite its name its color varies.