Jefferson Salamander

Key Characteristics: Dark brown, gray or black with few bluish flecks along sides; toes long.

Adults: 10.7-21 cm. Jefferson Salamanders are large, rather slender mole salamanders. Adults are dark brown or gray above and usually paler below with a grayish vent and often with bluish flecks scattered along the limbs, sides and tail?sometimes these flecks extend onto the back. In older individuals this flecking may be completely obscured. Compared to other Ambystoma salamanders, Jefferson Salamanders have long, broad snouts and long toes. Adults have 12 costal grooves.

Blue-spotted Salamanders are typically smaller and darker with conspicuous blue spots along the sides and usually a dark vent.

Larvae: When the larvae reach greater than 4 cm in length, they are greenish gray to brown with small yellowish spots along the side and have a grayish, yellow-mottled tail fin. When newly transformed Spotted Salamanders are dark gray or brown above with greenish yellow flecks along the back and dull yellow or tan on the belly. The characteristic yellow spots develop by the time the young are 6 cm. long.

Eggs: Deposited in small, elongate clusters (20-30 eggs) attached to underwater sticks and vegetation.

Distribution: South of the broad zone of hybridization with Blue-spotted Salamanders, "pure" Jefferson Salamanders are found across southern New York and southwest into Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Habitat: Undisturbed deciduous forest, especially moist, well-drained forested uplands.

Ecology: Although they spend much of their time in burrows or under rocks, logs, and leaf litter, this species is found above ground more often than many other Ambystoma salamanders. Blue-spotted salamanders appear to be more tolerant of disturbance than are Spotted Salamanders and can be found in small forest patches and occasionaly in oldfields and suburban areas.

Vernal pools are a critical component of their habitat.

Reproduction: Jefferson Salamanders migrate to breeding ponds in late winter or early spring following rain or several days of warmer weather, often moving when snow is still present on the ground. They are usually well into breeding activities by the time Spotted Salamanders arrive at the pond.