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Blue-spotted Salamander
Ambystoma laterale
At-a-Glance
• Family: Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)
• Length: 4-6 in (10-15 cm)
• Typical Foods: worms, snails, slugs, insects, centipedes, spiders, and other invertebrates
• Ohio Status: Endangered
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Description
Blue flecks on its bluish-black body is the best field mark. This produces an impression of the coloration of old-fashioned enamelware. The Jefferson’s salamander has relatively few bluish flecks and these are, for the most part, confined along the creature’s sides.
Habitat and Habits
Blue-spotted salamanders utilize wet prairies and vernal (spring-time) pools for breeding. Outside of the breeding season, they live in damp forested areas, in burrows and under rotting logs. They appear to be limited to areas of sandy soils, such as the Oak Openings Region.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Nighttime breeding migrations to vernal pools ususally occur during or after rainfall in the late winter. Courtship, mating, and egg laying all occur underwater. Eggs are attached singly or in small clusters to leaves and twigs, or are scattered along the pond bottom. The larvae hatch three to four weeks later and feed on aquatic invertebrates until metamorphosis occurs 8 to 12 weeks later. |
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