A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Ambystoma maculatum
Mates usually breed in vernal pools during spring rains. Females usually lay about 100 eggs that cling to the underwater plants. The eggs are round, clear, jelly-like clumps that are usually 6.4–10.2 cm (2.5–4 in) long. A jelly coating prevents the eggs from drying out but inhibits the oxygen diffusion needed for embryo development. The symbiotic Oophila amblystomatis alga photosynthesizes and produces oxygen in the jelly. The developing salamander thus metabolizes the oxygen, producing carbon dioxide (which then the alga consumes).
pond in woods
Spotted on Mar 29, 2015
Submitted on Apr 3, 2015
2 Comments
Glad you found it interesting, jeslowery! I'm still learning about them, too. For example, it is interesting that a predator of these eggs is the larva of the marbled salamander, which lays its eggs in the autumn!
Interesting spotting! I've always wanted to improve my amphibian knowledge which is just awful. Spottings like this are really useful for learners to see.