Salamander - Southern Long Toed

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Scientific Name: Abystoma macrodactylum sigillatum

Basic Info

Southern Long Toed Salamanders have a broken stripe along their backs that is yellow! This stripe runs from the head to the tail tip, and it is, essentially, a series of closely placed or overlapping yellow spots. Splotches may also be evident on the head. The background color of this salamander is dark brown or black. Some Southern Long Toed Salamanders may have silver or white spots on the sides of their bodies. The belly is a sooty or dark brown color. There are usually 12 or 13 costal grooves in evidence on the Southern Long Toed Salamander. True to its name, this salamander has long toes! Its body is slender, and it can grow to between four and six and a half inches (ten to 17 centimeters). The snouts of Southern Long Toed Salamanders are blunt, and males have limbs and tails that are noticeably longer than those of females.

Health

Southern Long Toed Salamanders eat insects and small worms in the wild, and captive feeding regimes should usually be close to this natural diet. Breeding Usually, Southern Long Toed Salamanders breed between January and June. Generally, breeding season is determined more by latitude than by temperature. Southern Long Toed Salamanders mate after amplexus. They lay their eggs on submerged vegetation, and they may lay the eggs in clusters or singles. The single eggs are generally found closer to the surface, while clusters may be in the deepest area of the water in a protected area such as the underside of a log. Usually, the eggs hatch in about three weeks, and the Southern Long Toed Salamanders will generally remain in the larval state until the summer after they were hatched.

Habitat

Southern Long Toed Salamanders are found in a variety of habitats, from scrubland to mountain forests. Usually, they live between sea level and 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) in elevation.

Behavior

The Southern Long Toed Salamander is one of many subspecies of Long Toed Salamanders. Southern Long Toed Salamanders can be distinguished from others by their distinctive coloration and, as their name implies, their more southerly range! Southern Long Toed Salamanders are nocturnal. During the day, they can sometimes be found under rocks, logs, or leaves. Some hide underground during the day, although almost all are found near water. At night, they hunt for small invertebrates, usually insects or worms. Usually, Southern Long Toed Salamanders remain close to the pool they were hatched in, though some may be found further away. Although Southern Long Toed Salamanders are often rare, they may be easiest to see when they are migrating toward breeding ponds.

Origin

North America

History

The Southern Long Toed Salamander usually lives in the Pacific Northwest regions of the United States. It is most often found in California and Oregon.

Common Foods

feeds primarily on insects, earthworms, small rodents, small animals.