Salamander larvae identification.

[kiley]

I'm planning on beginning a holey quest for the marbled salamander, }Ambystoma opacum in the state of Vermont. It would be useful if I knew how to identify the larvae and rule out the larvae of other local species such as the Spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander, and the Blue-spotted salamander. Any tips on where I could find a good larvae idenification key or the email of someone else who knows something about the subject would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[nate]

You can usually identify opacum based on larval size at a particular time of year. As they lay eggs in the fall, the larvae will already be well developed in early spring when other species such as maculatum, laterale, and jeffersonianum are still eggs. Basically, as soon as the ice melts and the spotteds begin to lay eggs, any larvae you find are going to be opacum.

 

[steve]

Nate has a great point. The only other thing I could add is about the maculatum. I found them "late", around June-July-ish. They were very tiny and mixed with viridescens larvae. When you first take them out of the pond you can't tell. If you have them in CLEAN CLEAR water, either by the pond or at home, you will notice the spotteds to have tiny little faint yellow specks (at least noticable by me in july) so they may be possibly maculatum. since eastern newts (i believe) are in your range, they will have faint black spots and typically smaller (at least here) then the spotteds. Marbleds should be gray colored and 1cm at hatching. It takes two -nine months to morph so, you have time to find them. If you go early enough, you may find the eggs with the mother and have enought to share. LOL

Steve

 

[kiley]

I just found out that Ronn Altig is working on an online Salamander Identification key for the US and Canada. He has one out for Anuran larvae already that can be found at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/tadpole/ . It's the only respectable tadpole identification key I've found so the future salamander key should at least be adequette.

 

[michael]

Hello Kiley, I would be very interested in knowing how your search goes. Just about every rnage map I've seen lists maculatums northern most range somewhere around northern MA and extreme southern VT and NH. I've done many "expeditions" into the forest around my house (Essex county in northern MA) and around Amherst MA in the Berkshiere Mts, and although I've been able to find a marbled sal. I have been begining to winder if their populations have been almost wiped out here in New England.

Please send me an email to keep me informed.
Thank You
~Michael

 

[michael]

Sorry that should read although i've found numerous spotteds I've never been able to find a marbled.

Sorry

 

[michael]

WOWSERS!!! I really messed up my own post. The range i was refering to was for Ambystoma opacum. malculatum has a range throughout New England. You have my apologies for the confusion.

No More 2 am posts for Me !!!

 

[aaron]

2am posts are the best ones.

give us a lil break from traditional/accurate posts.

~Aaron