Indiana Salamander

[annmarie]

Since my parents moved to Indiana, we have had salamanders living in our sprinkler system, and under wet leaves. In their backyard is wetland reserve and forrest, very small. I was wondering if anyone could give a proper ID to the species that lives in our sprinkler system. (Strangely enough our neighbors used to have newts living in their subpump, this is all news over 5 years old)

Thanks!
AnnMarie

 

[albert]

Looks like a blue-spotted salamander to me, but it could also be a Jefferson salamander or smallmouth salamander. I hope that helps you a little.

 

[dane]

it's either blue spotted or jefferson, I dont beleive its a smallmouth

 

[william]

it could be a hybrid also between a blue spotted/jefferson.

 

[thomas]

could be a Blue, Jefferson, Tremblys, or a Silvery , I guess a Blue but just a guess

 

[Jan]

Where in Indiana? Species in Indiana that are similar in appearance to the pix and found in general geographical ranges include:
Jefferson's - Southern IN
Blue-spotted - Northern and Central IN
Slimy - Southern and Central IN
Small mouth - Statewide except extreme Northern IN
Jefferson's/Blue-spotted hybrids - Central

 

[joan]

Thomas, Tremblay's and Silvery are no longer accepted species. These are hybrids of Jefferson and Blue spotted salamanders.

I won't hazard a guess unless I know about how long it was Although I will say it's definately an ambystomatid, not a slimy.

 

[annmarie]

this particular specimen was about 8-10 cm. It was found in North West Indiana, about a half hour drive to Chicago(when there is not construction. Not too far south of Hammond but more north that Crown Point. I have seen other specimens in the area, much smaller specimens with more blue spots and larger ones with less blue spots. My father was also talking about doing a survey in our swamp, see whats there, it is so full of cattails and other swamp flora. Let's see what we find.Next time i visit i will take more pictures of the differnt guys in our yard.

Anyways, when my parents first moved in and I was still at home, about 5 years ago, most houses in our neighborhood were not completed and these salamanders were everywhere, i even found one mumified in our garage once...

(Message edited by mantighoul on October 09, 2006)

 

[dane]

boy, im glad I live in wisconsin were there are only blue spotted and not all those others that look almost exactly like them

 

[Jan]

AnnMarie - sounds like you have found blue-spotted. Growing up in NW Indiana (many moons ago) and living next to a huge swampy and forested area myself - I used to find blue-spotted, Eastern Tigers, Spotted sals and even a few Northern Slimys. Do let us know the results of your swamp survey

.

 

[nivar]

I grew up in Portage, back in the day it was easy to find tigers I never found too many blue-spotted maybe just a handful

 

[annmarie]

Nivar, when i was in highschool i played soccer for Portage. My sister also had softball games out there. I remeber a few of the feilds out there had some swampy and muddy areas I would explore and find all sorts of crayfish, insect larva, and the occasional amphibian. It sure was more exiting that to sit through my sisters softball game, Id take some of the kids who had siblings on my sisters team out for expeditions at times, it was nice teaching them about nature and whatnot.

 

[Jan]

Small world - the swamp I referenced was on the north end of County Line Road which separates Portage from Lake Station (or East Gary as it was known 35-40 years ago when I spent a lot of time exploring the swamp

).

 

[wendell]

I agree that they are Blue Spotteds. I live in North Central Indiana, near Frankfort, and we have mostly hybrids I'm finding out. Some are a cross with the Blue Spotteds, Jeffersons and Small mouths. Tigers may be in the mix as well. But where your at, its most likely Blue spotteds. Here are some of the hybrids I found last month that look like blue spotteds.

 

[nivar]

no kidding, very small world

 

[jacob]

AnnMarie, the salamander in your photo is probalby Ambysoma jeffersonianum. It has the coloured spots more on its limbs and lower body correct? It also has 12 costal grooves, so it is either a lightly spotted Ambystoma laterale or a dark bodied Jefferson salamander.

 

[annmarie]

Thanks Jacob. Are you a Herpatologist? Seriously, you seem to be "educated" especially in the field of Caudata from what I have gathered thus far. When it warms up in the spring I will be taking more pics of them, I know where they hide.