Checklist of Amphibian Species and Identification Guide
Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum
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| The Spotted Salamander is one of the larger members of the mole salamander family reaching lengths of nearly 8 inches or more. The dorsal background color is black, dark brown or dark gray with a slate gray belly. Young individuals sometimes have a dark brown background color. The background color is broken up by the presence of yellow spots arranged in two irregular rows running along the sides from the head to the tail. The first pair of spots (from the head) are usually orange. They are most likely to be confused with the Eastern Tiger Salamander, but the yellow spots on this species are more irregular in both form and placement. Spotted Salamanders prefer hardwood forests and breed in semipermanent ponds without fish. |
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| More photos of the Spotted Salamander showing variation in color pattern.     |
 Spotted Salamanders lay up to 200 eggs in a single mass in early spring/late winter, ususally after the first warm rain. |
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