View Full Version : Blue spotted salamander
ITHURTZ
11-22-2008, 11:28 AM
IV posted it everywhere so why not here to
Before
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/4532/1006852mk1.jpg
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4601/entiretankxi3.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5303/1006957tf4.jpg
After
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8168/1008552cl6.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5088/1008555rf4.jpg
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/9529/1008553sv6.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5318/1008558hb9.jpg
austinpetemo
11-22-2008, 12:00 PM
how pretty. i want to see the underside though. it looks like a fbn with blue instead of red
dirtydawg10
11-22-2008, 12:22 PM
Cool!
ITHURTZ
11-22-2008, 12:29 PM
Iv never really thought about taking a underside shot. Come to think of it I havent seen him under belly either. He is back hiding underground so I dont think he will like it if I dig him up again.
calivivarium1
11-22-2008, 3:25 PM
I don't think I've ever seen one of hose before, nice
DAVIDFBT
11-22-2008, 7:03 PM
What a cool looking salamander! What kind of plant is that on the top right of the last picture?
ITHURTZ
11-22-2008, 7:14 PM
What a cool looking salamander! What kind of plant is that on the top right of the last picture?
Selaginella - Plana
Virtuoso2K12
11-24-2008, 9:16 PM
any update on the pics?:)
ITHURTZ
11-25-2008, 10:23 AM
haha of what? It still looks the same!
Virtuoso2K12
11-25-2008, 4:40 PM
his blue belly :)
ITHURTZ
11-25-2008, 6:29 PM
ah, well I dont wanna dig around and find him again, Im sure that will make him mad. When I see him again I will try to remember to take a pic of his belly
tricksterpup
11-30-2008, 11:36 AM
These guys are nothing like Fire bellys at all. They are in the same family with Tiger and spotted Salamanders and are called Mole Salamanders.
The scientific name for them is Ambystoma laterale.
Here is something I pulled up from Herpnet.net. (http://www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-Herpetology/salamanders/BlueSpottedSalamander.html)
Habitat
The blue-spot is a forest dweller. Moist soil with small ponds are important habitat elements. They are very secretive and although they do not seem to have burrowing abilities similar to tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) (Parmelee, 1990) they effectively take shelter under fallen, rotten logs, in leaf litter, moss, and other debris providing the soil is damp.
Habits
Blue-spotted Salamanders spend much time beneath moist cover and therefore may be inconspicuous even though they are present in large numbers. They move about during rains, but because they live in more closed woodland type habitats, they are far less taken crossing roads at this time than the tiger salamander. They are early spring breeders and can be found in ponds from late April to early May. Courting consists of the male lying atop the female and rubbing his snout on her back and head. They may make quite a commotion-breaking the water's surface- from time to time. Fertilization is internal, for the male will eventually drop one to three spermatophores which the female will pick up with her cloacal lips. Eggs are laid singly or in small clusters of about a dozen attached to plants or submersed logs. The larvae grow in the pond until transformation in late summer. Adults and juveniles overwinter under logs and rocks at the ponds' edge (Vogt, 1981). This salamander may slowly wave it's tail back and forth when it feels threatened. A sticky foul-tasting substance is released from the back and tail.