Marbled Salamander In The Northeast

Disjunct populations are found in eastern missouri central illinois in northwest ohio.

Marbled salamander in the northeast.

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. 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. 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.

They may be inactive and underground during the hot summer months. 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. They live in woodlands near vernal pools where larvae develop. The bands of females tend to be gray while those of males are more white.

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. These changes are expected to increase the frequency of short term. The marbled salamander ambystoma opacum is a species of mole salamander found in the eastern united states.

Despite its name its color varies. It is lungless and breathes through its moist skin. It s often gray with a red stripe down its back but it may be entirely red or entirely gray. Marbled salamanders are dependent on very specific pool hydrology for reproduction.

This species is sexually dimorphic males tend to have white crossbands and females tend to have gray silvery crossbands. The belly is black and unmarked. At least 150 salamander species live north of mexico more than in any other region on the planet. 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.

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. The marbled salamander is a stocky boldly banded salamander. The body is dark gray to black with bold white or silvery crossbands.

They can be identified by their black dark brown body including its venter with light white silvery crossbands on the dorsum.