The Ambystoma Appreciation Thread

[Cole Grover]

As the title says, I'd like to make this thread the ultimate in Ambystoma appreciation, with the goal being to see representatives of as many species, subspecies, and regional variants as possible. Please post your (preferably) field photos of terrestrial adults, neotenes/paedomorphs, larvae, and eggs from across Canada, the US, and Mexico!

-Cole

I'll get us started:

Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum (found when it was COLD one Spring) - Yellowstone County, MT


Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum (multiple larvae found in a spring-fed cattle tank) - Sheridan County, Wyoming




Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum (the brightest of MANY flipped under rocks) - Stillwater County, Montana

[Andy Avram]

My favorite group of salamanders, and one of my favorite herp groups in general1 I look forward to the photos.

Here is my contribution:

All the following were found in Ohio.

Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)


Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)

Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)

Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri)

Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

Normal and purple Spotted Salamanders


Marbled Salamander (Ambsytoma opacum)


Hybrids from the Kelley’s Island, Ohio. Tiger, Smallmouth, Bluespot, Jefferson and Streamside genes in the population.

Same as above, with this one showing lots of Tiger genes.



All the following are not from Ohio.

Arizona Tiger Salamander (Ambsytoma mavortium nebulosus) from Gunnison, Co.

Failed to photo larvae of A.m. melanostictum in Yellowstone.


Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) from S. Illinois.


Also failed to photo Blue-spotted Salamander far north in Quebec. And that is it for me and Ambsytoma.

Andy

[Stohlgren]

Who doesn't love Ambystoma?

SC spotted


GA spotted


Crappy photo of a nearly spotless spotted from MO


Spotted egg mass


Spotted in egg


Spotted just after hatching


GA marbled



Marbled w/ eggs


Small marbled larva


Large marbled larva


Marbled metamorphs


MO eastern tiger


GA eastern tiger male


GA eastern tiger female


GA eastern tiger metamorph


6-legged eastern tiger metamorph


GA mole


MO mole


mole larva


mole paedomorph


SC Mabee's


MO smallmouth

[ZantiMissKnit]

All from Massachusetts, all but the maculatum are state listed (we have only four ambystoma species here).

I am lucky enough to have found a healthy population of A. laterale not far from home.


Blue Spotted Salamander

Last month I submitted a record to the state that documents a newly known population of A. opacum.


Marbled Salamander

The only A. jeffersonianum I have ever seen was this scrawny one:


Jefferson Salamander


We founds dozens of A. maculatum since late summer this year:


Spotted Salamander

[Kyle from Carolina]

Great idea for a post. You all have better quality pictures than me so I will avoid the spotteds and marbleds and just post multiple life stages of the local variety of tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum).
Cole, your montana mavortium are awesome. Ours aren't quite as vibrant this far north.
Stohlgren, that six-legged tiger is wild. And to think the one that I found with 6 toes was wild looking.

Typical adult:


Bright adult:


Dark adult:


metamorph (notice the almost reabsorbed gills):


larva:


eggs:

[ThatFrogGuy]

These are my favorite group of herps as well. All from Indiana (The state with the most Ambystoma!) except the obvious one.

Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) and Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) & Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr


Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr

[Ecto Hunter]

All from eastern Alabama.

A. maculatum


A. opacum




A. talpoideum


-Robb

[JAMAUGHN]

There are not a lot of Ambystoma sp. in this area of central CA- Two species, only one of which I've seen. It's a handsome salamander, though:


California Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma californiense by J. Maughn, on Flickr

JimM

[Tim Borski]

Cole, best thread idea ever.



Tim

[MattSullivan]

Until i get to see a tiger, these guys are probably my favorite ambystoma

Blue Spotted Salamander- Ambystoma laterale by MattSullivan, on Flickr

[Owen]

Some A. californiense

[Nshepard]

Ambystoma barbouri - From the only remaining population left in West Virginia.





Ambystoma jeffersonianum - From West Virginia



Ambystoma mabeei - From North Carolina



Ambystoma maculatum - Albino and normals, from West Virginia. And spermatophores.







Ambystoma opacum - From North Carolina (with eggs) and West Virginia (without).





Ambystoma talpoideum - From South Carolina.



Ambystoma texanum - From West Virginia.



Ambystoma tigrinum - From North Carolina.

[mfb]

Male tiger salamander and wood frogs:



Spotted salamander at breeding site:

[Antonsrkn]

Ambystoma are some of my favorite herps in general! I have a bunch of species I still need to see, but here are the ones I do have.

Ambystoma laterale are the easiest to find for me here in WI.

Some of them look like this:

But once in a while I'll come across and exceptional individual like this!


or this:

Another pretty one:

Ambystoma laterale in typical wisconsin habitat:


Of course its cool to observe behavior, its unusual that I get to do this since these sals are hardly ever out in the open but once in a while....
One moving around in its breeding pond:

Considering how slow and harmless they are its easy to forget that they're actually fierce little predators:



The next most encountered species here in WI is the tiger salamander. Some years I seem to find a bunch other years I miss them.
Ambystoma tigrinum
The first one I ever found and still the biggest, found under a small log near a vernal pool along with 2 blue spotted sals.


Possibly the prettiest one (still not that great)


And the 3rd Ambystoma found in WI and also my favorite is the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum. I have only seen them a few times.
In the breeding pond:








And finally outside of WI the only other ambystoma I have seen is Ambystoma opacum:
My first one was found at Snake rd. in illinois when i went there too early one year. The marbled sal and a half frozen ringneck were all I saw but it was worth it.


And the 2nd one I have seen was also at snake road:

[yoloherper]

Unfortunately the only ambystomid I've come across
Northwestern Salamander

-Elliot

[Nick Scobel]

Great idea! All of these specimens are from Michigan.


Spotted Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr


Blue-spotted Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr


Blue-spotted Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr


Eastern Tiger Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr


Eastern Tiger Salamander by Nick Scobel, on Flickr

[Saunders]

Ambystoma talpoideum

Mole Salamander by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr

Ambystoma maculatum

Spotted Salamander by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr

Here is a maculatum I found sitting right next to a Pseudacris feriarum

Spotted Salamander and Upland Chorus Frog by Saundersdrukk, on Flickr

[mike h]

Better Maculatum than never!

March in Middlesex County, MA

DSCN3770 by ZantiMissKnit, on Flickr

[justinm]

Marbled Salamanders














Silvery Salamander


Spotted Salamander






Mole Salamander




Tiger Salamander


Blue Spotted Salamander




Smallmouth Salamander










Barred Tiger Salamander

[AndyO'Connor]

From Washington:
Long toed salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum







Northwestern salamander Ambystoma gracile (first 3 shots from Oregon, last from WA)




Difference in egg masses a couple of minutes old and a couple hours old.

[Andy Avram]

This thread is amazing so far! Loving the western Ambystoma, especially those Northwesterns.

Also, Justin, Silvery Salamanders are a triploid represented by JJL (Jefferson, Jefferson, Laterale), yours appears to have some strong Smallmouth influence going on.

Without further genetic work I don't think that one can be assigned anything other than part of the Texanum-complex.

Silvery Salamander

[Cole Grover]

This. Thread. Is. Awesome! Seriously sweet animals, guys. Keep 'em coming!

-Cole

[troy hibbitts]

Tiger, Powder River Co, MT (metamorph)


Tiger, Washington Co, UT


Tiger, Cochise Co, AZ (metamorph) (scan from slide)


Tiger, Lubbock Co, TX (scan from slide)


Tiger larva, Smith Co, TX (scan from slide)


Smallmouth, Lamar Co, TX (scan from slide)


Smallmouth, Smith Co, TX (scan from slide)


Moles, Leon Co, FL



Marbled, Vernon Pa, LA


Marbled, Jasper Co, TX


Marbled, San Augustine Co, TX


Marbled, McCreary Co, KY


Marbled, Tyler Co, TX


Spotted, Grant Pa, LA


Spotted, San Augustine Co, TX


Ringed, McCurtain Co, OK (scan from slide)

[Matt Buckingham]

Great thread. I love going through photos of Ambystoma.

Ambystoma mavortium mavortium from West Texas


Barred Tiger Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Barred Tiger Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Ambystoma maculatum from East Texas


Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Spotted Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Ambystoma opacum from East Texas


Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Marbled Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Ambystoma talpoideum from East Texas


Mole Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Mole Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Mole Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

Ambystoma texanum from southeast Texas


Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr


Smallmouth Salamander by Matt Buckingham, on Flickr

[John Williams]

Great stuff.

Troy- you didn't raise the Smith County tiger by any chance did you? Interested to see what the east Texas specimens look like.

Matt pretty much covered the Texas Ambystoma, but here's a pretty texanum


And one feeding on an earthworm


Some Mole salamanders


And a south Texas tiger

[troy hibbitts]

John . . . I did raise it up, it transformed, and then promptly died . . . so no pix of an adult from east Texas. I also have a S TX tiger photo around somewhere (slide) . . . but it looks like yours.

Troy

[cbernz]

Herpers aren't the only non-salamanders that appreciate Ambystoma:

This was found during an amphibian crossing survey in NJ. I was too busy to take better photos.

[Matt S.]

Great idea for a post and some fantastic photogrophy so far. My picture doesn't compare but I don't think this species has been posted yet. Stohlgren, the pics of the spotted egg and larva are amazing.

Reticulated flatwoods (Ambystoma bishopi) from Florida

Reticulated Flatwoods by smittyca21, on Flickr

[Barry R]

Ambystoma opacum, Southern IL.


Ambystoma texanum, Southern IL.


Ambystoma talpoideum, Southern IL.


Ambystoma maculatum, Southern IN.


Ambystoma opacum, Ky.


Ambystoma barbouri, Southern IN.

[Cole Grover]

This is a killer thread - not many things top Ambystoma when it comes to being cool. Can we keep it going?

Here's another A. mavortium from Stillwater County, Montana - this one a little (ok, a LOT) less colorful.

[TravisK]

Gummy Porn overload!

[Soopaman]

Some East Texas opacum from Tuesday.











And a Houston area texanum

[Stohlgren]

Some recent shots:

A. opacum




A. cingulatum in situ

[Soopaman]

Couple more texanum shots from a couple hours ago:

[NatureStills]

I can contribute a few here!

Here are 3 stages of development for Tarahumaran Salamander (Ambystoma rosaceum) from the Sierra de la Madera, Sonora









One of many larvae swimming around a tinaja



And a beautiful but invasive Western Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium mavortium) photographed in Willcox, Arizona.

[dery]

Spotted sallie
http://www.naherp.com/photo.php?v_id=212851

marble sallie
http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=126958

[kricket]

Just found my first marbled sal larvae of the season (not pictured)! Just lots of marbleds and spotteds around where I live. Have to go out to the mountains to get to the Jeffersons. Sorry, not very artistic photos, but usually don't have time while I'm doing field work to beautifully pose the herps I find.


Spotted salamander egg mass (Ambystoma maculatum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Spotted salamander larvae hatching (Ambystoma maculatum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Marbled salamander metamorph (Ambystoma opacum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Marbled salamander metamorph (Ambystoma opacum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Marbled salamander metamorph (Ambystoma opacum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Jefferson salamander larvae (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr


Jefferson salamander larva (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by happylittleclouds, on Flickr