Sites

Ambystoma laterale: Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._laterale$narrative.h

The blue-spotted salamander lives in deciduous and coniferous forests. They are most abundant in moist woodlands with sandy soil. They differ from other salamanders in that they are found above ground throughout the warmer months (Harding 1997). During the day they stay undercover out of the direct sunlight. They spend the summer and fall in damp forests, searching for food at night.

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Ambystoma cingulatum (Flatwoods Salamander): Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._cingulatum$narrative

Courtship occurs after arriving at the breeding sites, although it has never been witnessed. Other than migration and emigration to and from the sites, the Flatwoods salamander is a solitary species. They live underground and are only triggered to emerge by heavy rain. A. cingulatum has a defense posture where they roll their tails. Because a majority of these salamanders have tail damage due to attacks by invertebrates, it is likely that this is a life saving response.

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Ambystoma jeffersonianum (Jefferson salamander): Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._jeffersonianum$narra

.One of the most interesting aspects of salamander behavior collectively is their stubbornness to move from an area. Salamanders are generally not very active and in its entire lifetime may not travel more than a mile. It is estimated that approximately fifty percent of all salamanders die during hibernation because they will remain in areas that are too cold for them rather than moving to a more suitable place.

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Ambystoma texanum (Small-Mouthed Salamander): Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._texanum$narrative.ht

Members of the family Ambystomatidae are commonly called the mole salamanders because of their secretive underground lifestyle (Indiviglio 1997). When not breeding, A. texanum individuals tend to be hidden under rotting logs, rocks or leaf litter. They also make use of burrows dug by other animals including crayfish and small mammal burrows. An evening rain occasionally provokes them to endeavor above ground.

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Ambystoma californiense (California Tiger Salamander): Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._californiense$narrat

Ambystoma californiense likes a Mediterranean climate of cool wet winters and hot dry summers. They inhabit annual grasslands and open woodlands of foothills and valleys. Ground squirrel burrows are necessary for the survival af A. californiense.

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Ambystoma gracile: Media - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._gracile$media.html

Photos.

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Ambystoma annulatum (Ringed Salamander): Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._annulatum$narrative.

Ambystoma annulatum prefers damp hardwood forests that are near shallow ponds (Bishop 1962). These salamanders are usually found hidden under rocks and logs, in piles of dead leaves, or burrowing in the soil; most of the year is spent below the surface of the ground.

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Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger Salamander): Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._tigrinum$narrative.h

Adult Tiger Salamanders live underground for most of the year and usually dig their own burrows, unlike other species that use burrows of other animals. They have been found over 60 cm below the surface (Harding 1997). This allows them to escape the temperature extremes on the surface and may explain why they have such a wide array of habitat types.

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Ambystoma tremblayi: Media - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._tremblayi$media.html

Photos.

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Ambystoma opacum (Marbled Salamander): Narrative - English
URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ambystoma/a._opacum$narrative.htm

Ambystoma opacum is, for the most part, a solitary species, spending most of the time under leaf litter or underground (up to one meter). It is thought that species will defend burrows they inhabit against others of the same species. Occasionally, adults will share burrows with each other. Adults do however, tend to be more aggressive towards each other when food is scarce.

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