Marbled Salamander Defenses
This and many other amphibians require small fishless woodland.
Marbled salamander defenses. Marbled salamanders are keystone predators in new england ponds but adaptation by the smaller spotted salamander can dramatically change the composition of the ponds. This species is sexually dimorphic males tend to have white crossbands and females tend to have gray silvery crossbands. The salamanders from ponds with the predatory marbled salamander adapted to the predator by becoming gluttonous eat and get big so you don t get eaten yourself. The body is black with light bands of varying widths running across the back.
It may also occur in open sandy woods and on rocky dry hillsides. Habitat and tank requirements. The marbled salamander is a stocky boldly banded salamander. Mark urban cc by nd.
Adults can grow to about 11 cm 4 in small compared to other members of its genus. They can live between11 14 years if properly cared for. Marbled salamanders grow to about 3 5 4 25 in 9 10 7 cm in size and are stout bodied and chubby in appearance. It is known to breed in cypress tupelo swamps and ponds in the coastal plain wilson 1995.
Marbled salamander in boone county. This secretive salamander spends most of its time under rocks logs or forest debris preferring forested areas. The tail of the salamander has the ability to be removed without hurting the salamander itself well the tail is removed and wriggles about in front of a predator the salamander can run away and seek a place to. A small stout bodied salamander this species is easily identified by its distinct black and white patterning across its entire body.
They typically grow to about 4 inches long. Marbled salamanders are black with white splotches and bands giving them a marbled appearance. They can be identified by their black dark brown body including its venter with light white silvery crossbands on the dorsum. Apparently both conifer and deciduous forests are used equally wilson 1995.
This salamander can be found in moist to mesic forests of lowland areas and to a lesser extent uplands. Like most of the mole salamanders it is secretive spending most of its life under logs or in burrows. The bands of females tend to be gray while those of males are more white. The marbled salamander is one of many amphibians found in the bottomland hardwood forests of mississippi.
Defense mechanisms like all salamanders the marbled salamander has the ability to remove its tail with an ability called autotomy.