Yellow-spotted Salamander

Description:

The spotted salamander is about 5.9–9.8 in long. They are stout, like most mole salamanders, and have a wide snout. The spotted salamander's main color is black, but can sometimes be a blueish black, dark grey, dark green, or even dark brown. There are two rows of yellowish orange spots that run from the top of the head (near the eyes) to the tip of the tail. These rows are uneven. Interestingly, the spotted salamander's spots near the top of the head are more orange, while the spots on the rest of its body are more yellow. The underside of the spotted salamander is slate gray and pink. has several methods of defense, including hiding in burrows or leaf litter, autotomy of the tail, and a toxic milky liquid they excrete when perturbed. This secretion comes from large poison glands around the back and neck. If a predator of the spotted salamander manages to dismember a part of a leg, tail, or even parts of the brain/head, then it can grow back a new one, although this takes a massive amount of energy. The spotted salamander, like other salamanders show great regenerative abilities, even being able to regenerate limbs and parts of organs. During the majority of the year, Spotted Salamanders live in the shelter of leaves or burrows in deciduous forests. However, when the temperature rises and there is a higher moisture level, the salamanders make their abrupt migration towards their annual breeding pond. In just one night, hundreds to thousands of salamanders may make the trip to their ponds for mating. Mates usually breed in ponds when it's raining in the spring. Females usually lay about 100 eggs that cling to the underwater plants. The eggs are round, clear, jelly-like clumps that are usually 2.5–4 inches long. Adults only stay in the water for a few days, then the eggs hatch in 1 to 2 months. As larvae they are usually light brown or greenish-yellow. They have small dark spots and are born with external gills. In 2–4 months the larvae lose their gills, and become juvenile salamanders that leave the water. Spotted salamanders have been known to live up to 32 years and normally return to the same vernal pool every year. These vernal pools are seasonal and will usually dry up during the late spring and stay dry until winter. The spotted salamander's diet includes crickets, worms, insects, spiders, slugs, and millipedes. They are nocturnal and come out at night to hunt for food.

Habitat:

Mixed woodlands with slow moving streams, swamps, or vernal pools. Adults spend their time underground or under logs, boards, or stones.

Notes:

I had one as a pet for 4 years, raised from a larva. In captivity they will learn to beg for food like Tiger Salamanders and recognize the face of the person who feeds them, but other than that they stay burrowed most of their lives.