WC Larvae, A opacum?

[croxall]

I was in Ohio (near the OH/PA/WVA border) and caught a few salamander larvae with various levels of gills still present. I have tried to key them out as best as i can, but i am not sure if i have the correct id or if what i think they are is even possible at this time of year. I believe they are A. opacum. They look very similar to larvae i have found online. They were caught in a small cow pond that doesn't dry up completely, but it is surrounded by hills on all sides. I collected larvae from this pond years ago and they were later thpught to be A. maculatum (they had yellow spots after morphing, though i never really looked into their id, this just seems to fit best). I will post pics in a few days when i get home, but here's a description if it helps (hopefully): they are all between 1 and 2 inches, have tails that extend past the halfway point of their back, and have rows of light dots on their sides- one halfway between the backbone and demarkation between the side and belly, and another row on the line between the sides and belly. Their bellies are also very pale in color. If any other characteristics would help with the id, please ask. I'll get pics as soon as i have access to a decent camera. thanks in advance for an advice you can give me.

 

[Nathan]

The double-row of "porthole" markings is a typical A. opacum character. They also usually have some dark stippling on the throat, while A. maculatum usually have a plain throat. I have found larvae of both species well into August down here in TN.

A. opacum and A. maculatum are often found in the same ponds, so you may have collected either species previously. Did your metamorphs have a double row of spots, or scattered spots? A. opacum metamorphs often have scattered spots for a while, which eventully fuse to form the adult pattern. A. maculatum more quickly transition from the drab larval pattern to the typical adult pattern.

 

[croxall]

Here are some pictures of the salamanders. The last one shows on of two that have nearly lost their gills, They are much darker than the ones with their gill still present. The more mature ones look more like A. maculatum, especially with the flash. The white spots i noted earlier are all but impossible to see here. The camera I was using didn't have the best macro setting....

 

[Jennewt]

Based on the last photo, I would guess A. maculatum. I can even see some yellow spots starting to develop.

 

[croxall]

Yeah, I agree with you now. Those 2 were darker than the rest, but I think it may have been because they were older or more mature. The mention of no pigmentation on the throat of A. maculatum describes the whole group (a total of 7 individuals). Thanks for your input.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

Those are for sure A. maculatum.

A. opacum would have already morphed back in May or early June at the latest.

 

[croxall]

After looking into it more, I agree with you, Justin. The breeding habits that I read about A. opacum just doesn't fit the pond or the time that I found them. I was hoping that they would be marbleds, though. They are eating a lot and doing well so I can't really ask for more.