| Spotted Salamander | ||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial nomenclature | ||||||||||||||
| Ambystoma maculatum Shaw |
The Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) is a mole salamander common in the eastern United States.
It is can reach 19 cm long and has yellow spots on its back, though some specimens have no spots at all. Their primary habitat are deciduous forests with fish-free ponds or vernal pools for egg laying and larval development. They feed primarily on invertebraets like earthworms and slugs. They are primarily subterranean, though can be found beneath surface debris on cool, damp days.
The species was first described by Shaw in 1802.