Small-mouthed Salamander

Ambystoma texanum

Reptiles & Amphibians11 to 17.8 cmIn the app

The small-mouthed salamander or Ambystoma texanum grows to a length of 4.5-7.0 inches. It has a typical black or dark brown color with flecks that are light-grey or silve…

How to identify

The small-mouthed salamander or Ambystoma texanum grows to a length of 4.5-7.0 inches. It has a typical black or dark brown color with flecks that are light-grey or silvery-colored in color and grey blotching. Its head is relatively small compared to its body and it has a long tail. The bellies of the small-mouthed salamander are black and usually with tiny flecks. Its bellies also have 14 to 15 coastal grooves.

Range

This species can be found in the central United States, ranging from the Great Lakes region in Michigan to Nebraska, east of Tennessee and south of Texas. There is a population of this species in Canada, in Pelee, Ontario.

Habitat

This species of salamander is nocturnal. Moist habitats near permanent bodies of water are its habitation. This includes pine woodlands, tallgrass prairies, deciduous forest bottomlands. It feeds on insects, slugs and earthworms. Breeding takes place during the spring season. The females lay up to 30 eggs at a time in small clumps and can lay up to a total of 700 eggs near rocks or vegetation under water.

Similar species

The blunt-headed salamander or Ambystoma amblycephalum possesses short and thick gills. The dorsal area is dark brown-gray in color with a lighter gray under-belly. The California tiger salamander or Ambystoma californiense has a stocky body with a broad, rounded snout. The adults have yellow or cream spots. This species possesses protruding eyes with black irises. The reticulated flatwoods salamander or Ambystoma bishopi has a smooth skin with the dorsal surface reticulated. The dorsum has thin grey lines that form a net-like pattern on a brownish-black background. The ventral surface has sparse white speckles.