Extremely long toes and a relatively pointed snout are what set the Jefferson Salamander apart from other salamanders. Their general coloration is a shade of dark gray or brown to black on their dorsal surface. The belly is clearly lighter than the sides. Small bluish spots may be seen such as in this photo, but many individuals are usually devoid of any spots. The Jefferson Salamander is known to hybridize with the Blue-Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma laterale in the parts of their ranges that overlap making identification in these areas difficult (compare distribution maps). Within hydrid zones check the vent - this is surrounded by black in the Blue-spotted and gray in the Jefferson.