Marbled Salamander Biome

These salamanders are occasionally can be found around dry hillsides but never far from a moist environment.

Marbled salamander biome.

Marbled salamanders grow to about 3 5 4 25 in 9 10 7 cm in size and are stout bodied and chubby in appearance. A small stout bodied salamander this species is easily identified by its distinct black and white patterning across its entire body. The body is black with light bands of varying widths running across the back. Adults can grow to about 11 cm 4 in small compared to other members of its genus.

Petranka 1998 unlike most other mole salamanders this species does not breed in water. The bands of females tend to be gray while those of males are more white. The marbled salamander is one of many amphibians found in the bottomland hardwood forests of mississippi. Marbled salamanders prefer to reside in damp woodlands that are close to floodplain pools and ponds.

Like the mole which gives rise to the common. Female guards the eggs until pool is flooded. However because marbled salamanders are the only fall breeder larvae encountered in vernal pool habitats in winter or early spring february april prior to other salamanders breeding are likely to. Background marbled salamanders are distributed across the eastern us from new hampshire to northern florida and west to lake michigan in the north and texas in the south 1 the species generally inhabits deciduous forest and prairie and is absent from much of the appalachian mountains 1 2 in massachusetts it is present at relatively low abundances partially due to being at the extreme.

Like most of the mole salamanders it is secretive spending most of its life under logs or in burrows. Deciduous and mixed forests adjacent to vernal pools. Petranka 1998 unlike most other mole salamanders this species does not breed in water. Eggs are laid in the fall under coarse woody debris while the pools are dry.

This species is sexually dimorphic males tend to have white crossbands and females tend to have gray silvery crossbands. Adult marbled salamanders live in damp woodlands often close to ponds or streams. Adult marbled salamanders live in damp woodlands often close to ponds or streams. Marbled salamander locales including breeding ponds and terrestrial habitats should be protected from development habitat degradation and the reduction of water quality.

Adult marbled salamanders breed only in. Habitat photo for marbled salamander courtesy of rebecca chalmers. What kind of habitat do they need. Overall they are more tolerant of dry habitat than many other salamanders due to their burrowing ability.

In addition mosquito control efforts including insecticide spraying should be restricted in the areas these salamanders occur. The marbled salamander is a stocky boldly banded salamander. These salamanders are occasionally can be found around dry hillsides but never far from a moist environment.