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Blue-spotted Salamander
Ambystoma laterale
Status
No status assigned in Minnesota.
Description
This is a medium sized Minnesota species
that ranges from 4-51/2 inches in length (Conant and Collins,
1991). They have a shiny black dorsal color that may vary
from dark blue-black to a lighter gray-black. They are conspicously
marked with light blue flecks on the sides and tail. The speckling
varies among specimens. They have four toes on the front feet
and five toes on the hind feet. Costal grooves number 12.
Newly transformed larvae have yellow spots that turn blue
at their terrestrial lifestyle. Juvenile blue-spots are usually
more intensively spotted and may have many spots on their
backs. Occasionally, melanistic specimens are found. I have
seen these in Hennepin County, MN.
Subspecies
No subspecies are recognized, but hybrids
with other species have been well documented. We have found
such a hybrid with the Jefferson's salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)
in Cass County, MN (Hall, pers com).
Range
The blue-spotted salamander is found
in northeastern and north-central Minnesota. Records are absent
from the southern third of the state except for an isolated
record from Mower County. in extreme southern Minnesota.
Habitat
The blue-spot is a forest dweller. Moist
soil with small ponds are important habitat elements. They
are very secretive and although they do not seem to have burrowing
abilities similar to tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum)
(Parmelee, 1990) they effectively take shelter under fallen,
rotten logs, in leaf litter, moss, and other debris providing
the soil is damp.
Habits
Blue-spotted Salamanders spend much time
beneath moist cover and therefore may be inconspicuous even
though they are present in large numbers. They move about
during rains, but because they live in more closed woodland
type habitats, they are far less taken crossing roads at this
time than the tiger salamander. They are early spring breeders
and can be found in ponds from late April to early May. Courting
consists of the male lying atop the female and rubbing his
snout on her back and head. They may make quite a commotion-breaking
the water's surface- from time to time. Fertilization is internal,
for the male will eventually drop one to three spermatophores
which the female will pick up with her cloacal lips. Eggs
are laid singly or in small clusters of about a dozen attached
to plants or submersed logs. The larvae grow in the pond until
transformation in late summer. Adults and juveniles overwinter
under logs and rocks at the ponds' edge (Vogt, 1981). This
salamander may slowly wave it's tail back and forth when it
feels threatened. A sticky foul-tasting substance is released
from the back and tail.
Food
The Blue-spotted salamander eats earthworms,
insects of various types, spiders, and snails.
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