Ambystoma opacum

Cool fall weather does more than bring out bright leaf colors; it also stimulates marbled salamanders to migrate to breeding sites. These amphibians' distinctive black and silvery-white coloring makes them easy to identify. They live mostly in wooded areas and travel to temporary ponds around September. After courtship, the female lays her eggs in a ground depression, and stays with them until November and December rains flood the nest site and the eggs hatch. These salamanders sometimes blunder into window wells, swimming pools, and garages while traveling to and from breeding sites.

Cool Links:

Marbled Salamander - photos, range map and natural history info, from the USGS.

A Breeding Congress - article and photos from a researcher at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Also see the Marbled Salamander (PDF) fact sheet from the Outreach department.

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