Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)


Group	Salamanders
Code	AAAAA01100
Order	Caudata
Family	Ambystomatidae
Author	(Gravenhorst, 1807)
Rank	G5 (definitions)
Occurrence	P (definitions)
Scale	S (definitions)

County List:


Western UP	none
Eastern UP	none
Northern LP	none
Southern LP	Van Buren, Berrien, Allegan

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Oak (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Assorted Hardwoods (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern Hardwoods (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      (Dead Down Woody Debris and Vernal Pools)

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Habitat List:

Habitats	Regen	Sap	Pole	Sm Saw	Lg Saw	Uneven
Aspen	no	no	no	no	no	-
Paper Birch	no	no	no	no	no	-
Oak	no	no	YES	YES	YES	YES
Assorted Hardwoods	no	no	YES	YES	YES	YES
Northern Hardwoods	no	no	YES	YES	YES	YES
Spruce/Fir	no	no	no	no	no	no
Hemlock	no	no	no	no	no	no
Jack Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Red Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
White Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Conifer Plantations	no	no	no	no	no	-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Upland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Swamp Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch	no	no	no	no	no	no
Bottomland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Tamarack	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern White Cedar	no	no	no	no	no	no
Black Spruce	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Non-Forested	none
Special Features	Dead Down Woody Debris, Vernal Pools

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Literature:

Harding, J. H. and J. A. Holman. 1992. Michigan frogs, toads, and salamanders a field guide and pocket reference. Co-operative Extension Service, Michigan State University. 144 pp.

Marbled salamanders typically inhabit moist woodlands. They are rarely found above ground and spend most of their time burrowed in soil, in rodent tunnels, or beneath logs, rocks, or leaf litter.

The marbled salamander is unusual in that it breeds in the fall. Courtship and mating is similar to that of the spotted salamander, but takes place on land. (Marbled salamanders apparently drown if submerged in water). A female deposits from 75-200 eggs in a shallow depression under leaf litter, a log, or other shelter. The site is usually in a dry pond bed that later fills with water during autumn rains. The female often stays with the eggs until the nest is covered by water and the larvae hatch.

Marbled salamander eggs can remain dry for some time and still develop, but those that freeze before the pond fills will die. The larvae undoubtedly perish if a pond freezes completely during the winter. These factors may limit the northward expansion of this species.

These salamanders feed on small invertebrates, such as insects, earthworms, slugs, and snails. The larvae mainly eat aquatic invertebrates (including mosquito larvae) but also eat smaller amphibian larvae.

DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Sandy and gravelly areas of mixed deciduous woodlands, especially oak-maple and oak-hickory, trap rock slopes. During breeding season, found in low areas around ponds, swamps, and quiet streams. Inhabits somewhat drier areas than other species of Ambystoma. During summer usually found under logs and rocks. Larvae usually found in temporary water throughout the winter. Probably hibernates in deep burrows.

Special Habitat Requirements: Ponds or swamps in wooded areas for breeding.