Fun Spotted Salamander Facts For Kids

The spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum is an amphibian that lives for about 20 years. It is found in the regions of the eastern United States as well as over some areas in North America. They have strong legs and are generally found living on leaf litter on forest floors. They have yellow or orange spots on their backs and tails. Their predators include snakes, birds, and some larger fish. Their breeding happens in early spring, and they spend their winters hibernating. In some regions, spotted salamanders are also known as yellow spotted lizards. This yellow spotted lizard lays between 100-300 eggs between the months of March and April, which is their peak breeding period, in ponds or vernal pools. The eggs hatch within a month or two of laying after which the larvae is born. The larvae are usually olive-green in color and are born with gills. Within a period of two to four months, the larvae turns into a baby salamander.

The term salamander or salamander comprises of over 500 different types of salamanders/amphibians. The yellow spotted salamander is one of the most popular types of salamander. Read on for some of the most interesting facts on spotted salamander, after which you can also enjoy our articles on anaconda snake and kingsnake.

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What type of animal is a spotted salamander?

A spotted salamander is a type of salamander. There are about 500 types of amphibians who are classified as salamanders. They are primary found in Eastern-North America where their breeding season lasts from March to April. They have yellow or orange spots on their backs and tails.

What class of animal does a spotted salamander belong to?

Spotted salamanders are a type of amphibians, with slimy skin. They can live in both land and water. This is why they are also found in vernal pools along forest floors. Salamanders lay around 100-300 eggs at one time, usually hatching within a month or two.

How many spotted salamanders are there in the world?

Although the population of spotted salamanders is declining a little, it is still considered to be stable. So even when the population numbers are unknown, they are still considered to be a species of least concern as they are easily found around Eastern-North America.

Where does a spotted salamander live?

Spotted salamanders can be now found in houses because of their domestication. But in the wild, they are found in rather damp areas, including ponds, vernal pools, forests. Spotted salamanders are found in regions of Eastern Canada, Midwestern, and Eastern United States.

What is a spotted salamander's habitat?

You can find them in many damp areas and other stagnant water sources.

Who do spotted salamanders live with?

Spotted salamanders are solitary beings and prefer to live alone than with a group.

How long does a spotted salamander live?

The average life span of a spotted salamander is about 20 years. This can be affected based on their habitat and the care that is taken of them.

How do they reproduce?

During their breeding season, the male tries to attract the female salamander. The female salamander is bigger than the male. The female salamanders lay their eggs during the months of March and April. When the spotted salamander eggs hatch, they can give birth to a litter of about 100-300 young salamander larvae (baby salamanders), which go on to become juvenile salamander and then adults.

What is their conservation status?

There are a lot of yellow-spotted salamanders, and therefore their conservation status is of the least concern.

What do spotted salamanders look like?

Yellow-spotted salamanders generally look dark brown or black with yellow or orange spots on their bodies.

How cute are they?

Spotted salamanders look like other amphibians. They might be slimy looking and might not look cute to everyone. Those who like creatures like yellow-spotted lizards or toads will find yellow-spotted salamanders cute as well.

How do they communicate?

Spotted salamanders are not very vocal at all. Rather, they try to communicate their feelings and the state they are in using chemicals and touch. When they feel like a predator is near, they secrete slimy fluids. However, when they don’t feel good, they secrete bad-tasting fluids. In addition to this, some also try to look threatening by having bright-colored skins.

How big is a spotted salamander?

A spotted salamander is of the size of about two frogs lengthwise. On average, it can lay between the lengths of 4.75-6.75 in.

How fast can a spotted salamander run?

A spotted salamander is usually slow. However, when there is a case of emergency, or when it sees a predator, it can run pretty fast to try to save itself. However, in normal circumstances, they tend to crawl or walk on the forest floors.

How much does a spotted salamander weigh?

A yellow-spotted salamander weighs about 13 g.

What are their male and female names of the species?

They are just called male and female adult yellow-spotted salamanders.

What would you call a baby spotted salamander?

Baby salamanders can be called anything based on the life stage that they are in. First, they are an egg. Then, they form spotted salamander larvae. Later, they become juvenile spotted salamander.

What do they eat?

Spotted salamanders are carnivorous and feed on insects, some invertebrates found in the forests, snails, earthworms, spiders, some aquatic crustaceans, centipedes, including other such animals. They largely feed on the aquatic invertebrates in the larvae form. They are also hunted by skunks, snakes, turtles, and raccoons.

Are they slimy?

Being an amphibian, a spotted salamander can have slimy skin. But it gets majorly slimy when it secretes a slimy substance which is done usually when they are afraid of a predator.

Would they make a good pet?

Spotted salamanders make great pets, they are very easy to take care of. In addition to this, they are of no harm to humans and can be quite quiet and simple beings if you properly take care of them. This is one of the reasons why people who can't afford to maintain much and don’t have a lot of money choose to keep spotted salamanders as their pets.

Did you know...

Spotted salamanders remain largely active in the night only. In the daytime, they remain silent and hidden in leaf litter, rocks, algae.

How do you care for a spotted salamander?

Spotted salamanders can be great pets. In addition to it, they are also very inexpensive to take care of. You can use any normal cage or aquarium to store it. Ensure it is a little damp and not entirely dry. You can use any substrate, moss or algae, or anything else for the base of the cage. You should ensure that there are no rough edges in the cage that can tear through or harm the spotted salamander’s skin.

Do spotted salamanders hibernate?

Spotted salamanders are often found hibernating in burrows or underground crevices in the wintertime. Then they are not seen till the next breeding season in March-April or the early spring.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles including monitor lizard, or sand lizard.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our spotted salamander coloring pages.

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