Marbled salamander
The marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) is a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States.
Description[edit]
The marbled salamander is a stout, black and white banded salamander. It exhibits sexual dimorphism with bands of females tending to be light gray, while those of males are bright white. Males also have a larger proportion of white dorsal surface area relative to females.[2] Females have been reported to have more asymmetrical dorsal markings, while the males have more symmetrical markings.[3] Like all salamanders, they go through metamorphosis including an aquatic life stage. Juveniles have white flecks that eventually develop into bands as they reach adulthood.[4] Adults can grow to about 11 cm (4 in), small compared to other members of its genus. Like most of the mole salamanders, it is secretive, spending most of its life under logs or in burrows.
Habitat and range[edit]
Marbled salamanders are found in the eastern United States, from southern New England to northern Florida, and west to Illinois and Texas. Their habitats are damp woodlands, forests, and places with soft and wet soil. Seasonally flooded areas are essential for breeding, but the adult salamanders are terrestrial. Like many salamanders, marbled salamanders have poison glands to deter predators.[5]
The marbled salamander is the state salamander of North Carolina.[6]
Feeding[edit]
Adults feed on terrestrial invertebrates, such as worms, insects, centipedes, other arthropods,[18] and mollusks (snails, slugs). Larvae feed on small aquatic animals (zooplankton, mainly copepods and cladocerans),[19] but larger individuals will eat larger crustaceans (isopods, fairy shrimp), aquatic insects, snails, oligochaete worms,[19] and eggs and larvae of other amphibians, as well.
Marbled Salamanders are considered a keystone predator because they alter the competitive ability of their prey, allowing other species of prey to thrive.[20]
Biofluorescence[edit]
Marbled salamanders have been found to exhibit prominent biofluorescence under ultraviolet excitation along the bones in their digits and in the cloacal region of both males and females.[22] The also have mucus-like secretions that florescence green.[23] It is theorized that biofluorescence may aid in sexual selection, mimicry, camouflage, and communication.[24][25][26]