| Scientific Name |  Click photo to enlarge. Photo by Donald W. Linzey. |
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| Ambystoma maculatum Shaw - ATBI Database: Specimen Records | |||||
| Common Name | |||||
| Spotted salamander | |||||
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | |
| Animalia | Chordata | Amphibia | Caudata | Ambystomatidae | |
| Animals | Chordates | Amphibians | Salamanders | Mole salamanders | |
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
Type: Nonpermanently aquatic salamander.Elevation Range: Below 700 m.
Adult Total Length: 125-200 mm.
Adult characteristics: Stout bodied. Large spots ranging from yellow to red on a dark gray to black matrix. Spots extend from head to tail. Light to dark gray bellies.
Similar species
None.
Photographs
| Lateral | Head | Female | Eggs |
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| Click photo to enlarge. Photo by Jonathan Mays. |
Click photo to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Bill Peterman. |
Click photo to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Bill Peterman. |
Click photo to enlarge. Photo by Jonathan Mays. |
DISTRIBUTION
Unites States
 Click map to enlarge. |
Ambystoma maculatum inhabits most of the Eastern U.S. |
Park
 Click map for current locations. |
NATURAL HISTORY
Habitat
Ambystoma maculatum breeds in ponds. Breeding ponds are limited within the Park, being concentrated in Cades Cove and nearby Big Spring Cove (the four Finley-Cane sinkhole ponds), the Cane Creek drainage, and at scattered localities between Sugarlands and Cades Cove along Little River (at the Sinks and ditches along the road to Tremont). These locations are on the Tennessee side of the Park. Although beaver ponds are found in Bone Valley and Big Cove in North Carolina, and small scattered ditches and wetlands occur in Cataloochee Valley, no pond salamanders are known to breed in them.
The life cycle of semi-aquatic salamanders takes place in and near water, as well as, above and below ground. Surface activity is only a small part of their life cycle. Most species probably have a small ground surface home range beneath debris and litter. They spend a significant part of their lives underground. Species occasionally become arboreal during the night or under rainy conditions; often finding shelter under loose bark. As young juveniles, they may remain nearly entirely underground. As adults, they may spend long intervals on the surface feeding and guarding territory.
Cold, heat, and drought generally keep salamanders under cover, conversely heavy rains and high humidity tend to bring them to the surface. They often leave cover when the soil is moist or at night, when they forage.
Reproduction
Egg deposition interval: from January to late March (mountains-late February to early
March).
Incubation time: four to seven weeks.
Hatching interval: from April through
May.
Larval time: from two to four months.
Hatching size: 12-17 mm total length.
Metamorphosis size: 29-32 mm snout
to vent length; 43-60 mm total length (to 75 mm total length if overwinter).
Metamorphosis interval: from mid-June to August.
Larval characteristics: Dorsal pattern is dull olive green, with no conspicuous markings. Belly
pattern is white or light. Tail fin is lightly mottled or finely stippled; dark at tip.
Ambystoma maculatum breeding occurs in two to three bouts following rain. Mole salamander (Ambystoma), breeding sites are usually standing water (ponds, ditches) free of fishes. All semi-aquatic salamanders deposit their eggs in water. Adults may migrate at the same time to breeding sites, despite being constrained to one or a few nights during the breeding season. Males and females may not stay at breeding sites for equal amounts of time, even if the breeding season is extended.
Larvae
Pond larvae have stout bodies, long filamentous gills, and a wide dorsal fin which extends onto the body. They use the extra surface area of the body and fin as swimming aids.
| Larvae | |
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| Click illustrations to enlarge. Illustrations by J. B. Grant. |
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Longevity
Ambystoma maculatum may live up to 20 years.
Terrestrial Ecology
A number of snail species have been collected from both gut contents and fecal matter from a variety of salamanders, including Ambystoma maculatum (Dourson and Dourson, 2006).
ASSOCIATIED SPECIES
Predators
The diet of the Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus), consists of mostly insects, with an occasional salamander, which it forages for by hopping on the ground, then stopping to search for prey (Sobun and Shriner, 2003).
Parasites
Unknown
Competitors
N/A
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Special Protection Status
Rangewide
N/A
In Park
Picking, digging, or otherwise damaging plants is prohibited in the Park. Collection is allowed only by special permit for research or educational purposes.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Illustrations
Jacqualine Grant, 2001.Maps
United States: ARMI National Atlas for Amphibians Distributions. 2004. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/armiatlas/index.cfm. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD 20708-4039.
Park: Discover Life in America - All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. 2007. The ATBI Database. http://tremont22.campus.utk.edu/ATBI_start.cfm, Discover Life in America, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738.
Photographs
Donald W. Linzey. National Park Service photos by Jonathan Mays. Photo courtesy of Bill Peterman.Text
Charles Wilder, 2007.Web page
REFERENCES
Dodd, C. Kenneth. 2003. Monitoring Amphibians in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. U.S. Geological Survey circular; 1258.
Dodd, C. Kenneth. 2004. The Amphibians of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dourson, D., Dourson, J., 2006. Land Snails of the Great Smoky Mountains (Eastern Region).
Tilley, S. G., Huheey, J. E., 2001. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains Association. Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
