Mud salamander

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A mud salamander

The mud salamander or midland mud salamander (Pseudotriton montanus diastictus) is a red salamander with black spots that inhabits swamps, bogs, and streams. It is often confused with the red salamander, but the mud salamander is distinguished by its dark eyes and short snout. It is indigenous to the eastern United States, but is currently an endangered species. Some states have programs to locate mud salamanders to try to keep the species alive.

Description

The mud salamander is an endangered species that is native to the southeast United States. It is known for its reddish-brown color, brown eyes, stocky girth, and short tail. It also has between 30 and 40 distinct round black spots on its back by the time it reaches adulthood.[1] Younger mud salamanders are typically colored bright red, orangish-brown, or crimson,[2] with unmarked stomachs and separated spots, while older mud salamanders’ colors darken with age and take on more of a brown coloring. They also acquire more spots, larger spots, and spotted stomachs.[3] They can reach lengths of 3-8 in (7.6 to 20 cm) in adulthood, and are typically stocky.[4] Red salamanders and mud salamanders are very difficult to distinguish from each other. The main differences are in their eyes and snouts. While the mud salamander has dark brown eyes and a short snout, the red salamander has bright yellow eyes and a long snout.[5]

Reproduction

Mud salamanders breed during the warmer months of the year. Egg deposition commonly occurs during autumn or winter. The females produce at most once per year (usually once per two years), while males may breed several times a year. “When a mate is found, the male performs a tail undulation display. The female then straddles his tail, allowing glands on the male's tail to lubricate her. The male is then able to deposit his sperm into the female”.[6] Females reach reproductive maturity at around four to five years, while males reach reproductive maturity at around two to two and a half years. “A female may stay with her eggs to aid the incubation process. Incubation typically lasts three or more months, with embryos hatching in the winter. Clutches range in size between 65 and 200”.[7]

Habitat

The mud salamander inhabits swamps in low elevations, bogs, springs, and streams that not only provide a muddy bottom, but also clean and clear water. The mud salamander, a burrowing species, seeks shelter in burrows beneath leaf litter, logs, stones, or bark. The mud salamander may also build tunnels in creek banks, as well. These amphibians spend most of their lives in close proximity to water, but also burrow into the soil of the surrounding area.[8]

Diet

From the time a mud salamander is hatched until adulthood, its diet is quite varied. In the larval stage, the small creatures tend to feed on equal-sized or smaller, aquatic invertebrates to get the nutrition they require.[9] The salamander larvae are also said to consume other salamander larvae.[10] As an adult, though, the salamander's diet increases in variety, but it still eats smaller prey. Though not much is known about an adult salamander’s eating habits,[11] it is known that they are likely to feed on earthworms, beetles, spiders, and also even smaller kinds of salamanders.[12] Mud salamanders also can eat insects as small as mites.[11] What the mud salamander tends to eat however, mainly lies in the habitat in which they live.

Conservation status

Because of the mud salamander's extreme rarity in Virginia, it was put on the threatened species list in 1979. The Virginia Herpetological Society regards this species to be secure globally, but in danger in Virginia because of its extreme rarity there.[13] Many surveys and searches were run in the 1980s to locate the populations of the mud salamander in western Virginia. Although efforts were great, few sightings of this species were made. Because little information about the species is known, it is difficult to find possible threats, but threats to other types of salamanders probably affect mud salamanders. The impacts of these threats will in no doubt wipe out the small population of this species in Virginia.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Midland Mud Salamander". Retrieved 10/28/12. 
  2. ↑ "Eastern Mud Salamander". PA Herps. Retrieved 10/28/12. 
  3. ↑ "Species Information: Eastern Mud Salamander". Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Retrieved 10/28/12. 
  4. ↑ "Wildlife Field Guide for New Jersey's Endangered and Threatened Species". Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Retrieved 10/28/12. 
  5. ↑ "Mud Salamander - North Carolina". Herps of NC. Retrieved 10/28/12. 
  6. ↑ "Mud Salamander Pseudotriton montanus". Retrieved 26 October 2012. 
  7. ↑ [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pseudotriton_montanus.html. "Pseudotriton montanus Mud Salamander"]. Retrieved 26 October 2012. 
  8. ↑ "Eastern Mud Salamander, Pseudotriton montanus montanus". Retrieved 10/27/12. 
  9. ↑ Henderson, Brian. "New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide". Retrieved 26 October 2012. 
  10. ↑ Folt, Brian P. "Gulf Coast Mud Salamander in Alabama". Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Eastern Mud Salamander". Retrieved 26 October 2012. 
  12. ↑ Henderson, Brian. "New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide". Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
  13. ↑ (Office of Natural Lands Management 1992).
  14. ↑ "Virginia Herpetological Society". Retrieved 11/8/12. 
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