Spotted Salamander
Ambystoma maculatum
Adult length 6 to 9 inches. Brown to black elongated body with two rows of dorsal spots running body length, varying in color from yellow to orange.
How to identify
Adult length 6 to 9 inches. Brown to black elongated body with two rows of dorsal spots running body length, varying in color from yellow to orange.
Range
Eastern Canada & Eastern to Midwestern United States. Range includes Quebec to Louisiana, Texas to Nova Scotia.
Habitat
Fossorial. Wooded areas such as forests, forested wetlands, and swamps.
Variations
Coloration varies from dark shades of brown & black to light grey. Number of spots varies in individuals, sometimes up to 50.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Genus
Ambystoma
Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".
Origin
Sources
- Tschudi, "1838" 1839. Classif. Batr., Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Neuchatel, p. 92 ↗
Ambystoma. Tschudi, "1838" 1839 - Classif. Batr., Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Neuchatel, p. 92
Species epithet
maculatum
Latin for spotted.
Origin
Sources
- (Shaw, 1802). Gen. Zool., Vol. 3, Pt. 1, p. 304 ↗
Ambystoma maculatum. (Shaw, 1802) - Gen. Zool., Vol. 3, Pt. 1, p. 304
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Size
150 to 250 mm
Range
Eastern Canada & Eastern to Midwestern United States. Range includes Quebec to Louisiana, Texas to Nova Scotia.
Habitat
Fossorial. Wooded areas such as forests, forested wetlands, and swamps.
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap