Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)


Group	Salamanders
Code	AAAAA01130
Order	Caudata
Family	Ambystomatidae
Author	(Matthes, 1855)
Rank	G5 (definitions)
Occurrence	P (definitions)
Scale	S (definitions)

County List:


Western UP	none
Eastern UP	none
Northern LP	none
Southern LP	Hillsdale, Wayne, Washtenaw, Monroe, Livingston

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Dead Down Woody Debris
   adjacent to:
      Pond

2nd alternative:
      (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      (Dead Down Woody Debris and Vernal Pools)

view decision rule term definitions

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	no	no	no	no
Assorted Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
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	YES	YES	YES
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	Pond
Special Features	Dead Down Woody Debris, Vernal Pools

view size class definitions

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.

Moist hardwood forests with vernal ponds are the preferred habitat for this species in Michigan. They often remain in lowland areas near the breeding ponds and spend much time underground in crayfish or rodent burrows or beneath decaying logs.

Small mouth salamanders eat worms, insects, and other small invertebrates.