Spotted Salamander (Amystoma maculatum)
Description: Spotted Salamanders are purplish gray with yellow spots. It is fairly easy to identify. These salamanders can get quite large (near 9"), but most do not make it to these sizes.
Eggs: Eggs are laid in woodland pools, in early spring. Even before the snow has melted at times.
Diet: Earthworms, woodlice, spiders and other small invertebrates.
Habitat: These creatures inhabit moist deciduous, mixed or coniferous woodlands. They are sometimes seen on roads and on the forest floor as they make their way to their breeding sites. At other times they hidein burrows, beneath flat stones, logs, and other debris. These salamanders are secretive but with a some effort one may be discovered. They belong to the family known as mole salamanders and can actually dig well, spending their time mostly underground.
Defenses: These salamanders have skin secretions that make them slimy if a predator is attacking them. These secretions are also toxic and unpalatable to most predators. Like the Blue-spotted Salamander, they use a defensive posture where they arch their tail and hind legs upwards.
Eggs: Eggs are laid in woodland pools, in early spring. Even before the snow has melted at times.
Diet: Earthworms, woodlice, spiders and other small invertebrates.
Habitat: These creatures inhabit moist deciduous, mixed or coniferous woodlands. They are sometimes seen on roads and on the forest floor as they make their way to their breeding sites. At other times they hidein burrows, beneath flat stones, logs, and other debris. These salamanders are secretive but with a some effort one may be discovered. They belong to the family known as mole salamanders and can actually dig well, spending their time mostly underground.
Defenses: These salamanders have skin secretions that make them slimy if a predator is attacking them. These secretions are also toxic and unpalatable to most predators. Like the Blue-spotted Salamander, they use a defensive posture where they arch their tail and hind legs upwards.