Amphibian Species Accountsfor Metro Atlanta

Information on each species native to Metro Atlanta, including identification characteristics — with images of adults, eggs, larvae and juveniles. Also wetland type, seasonality and frog calls.

  • Adult Insitu

Ambystoma maculatum 

Spotted Salamanders are one of the largest salamander species in metro Atlanta. They are in the family of mole salamanders (Ambystomatidae) and are underground most of the year. During their breeding migrations it is possible to see them in large numbers moving in and out of their ephemeral wetland breeding ponds. In Georgia, Spotted Salamanders breed in the winter. Historically, Spotted Salamanders probably occurred throughout the metro region but now seem to be quite rare. They are obligated to breed in ephemeral wetlands, or seasonal depressions that hold water for a few months in the winter. This type of wetland is rare in an urban setting. Additionally, Spotted Salamanders exhibit site fidelity, which means that about 90% of Spotted Salamanders return to the pond in which they were born to breed.

Spotted Salamanders are KNOWN from both Fulton and Dekalb counties.

 

Spermatophore

Spermatophore

Egg Fresh

Egg Fresh

Eggs Close

Eggs Close

Eggs Algae

Eggs Algae

Eggs Drying

Eggs Drying

Eggs Panorama

Eggs Panorama

Eggs

Eggs

Larvae Egg

Larvae Egg

Larvae In Egg

Larvae In Egg

Metamorph

Metamorph

Variations of the Spotted Salamander

Adult Dorsal
Adult Egg Deposition
Adult2
Adult

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