| Scientific Name |  Click photo to enlarge. Photo by Jonathan Mays. |
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| Ambystoma talpoideum (Holbrook) - ATBI Database: Specimen Records | |||||
| Common Name | |||||
| Mole 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: 75-100 mm.
Adult characteristics: Stout bodied. Dorsum has blue to white freckles on a blue-gray to black matrix. Mainly with large heads and short tails.
Similar species
None. Ambystoma talpoideum's large head and gray color are unique among the Park's salamanders.
Photographs
| Adult | Larvae |
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| Click photos to enlarge. Photos by Jonathan Mays. |
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DISTRIBUTION
Unites States
 Click map to enlarge. |
Park
 Click map for current locations. |
NATURAL HISTORY
Habitat
Ambystoma talpoideum 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 September to March (winter).
Incubation time: Unknown
Hatching interval: from winter to
early spring.
Larval time: from 3-4 months, but
variable.
Hatching size: approximately 10 mm snout to vent length.
Metamorphosis size: 32 to 50 mm snout to vent length.
Metamorphosis interval: from May to September.
Larval characteristics: Dorsal pattern has black and yellow blotches along midline of back.
Belly pattern is a dark band on midline (poor in some specimens). Tail fin is yellow and black.
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
Mole salamanders may live 10-15 or more years.
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
National Park Service photos by Jonathan Mays.
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.
Tilley, S. G., Huheey, J. E., 2001. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains Association. Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
