On March 27, our class had the biggest find of the season--a spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)! It was found by our classmates, Beau and Bahram, hiding under a log in damp soil at a site called Boesel Pond in Oxford, Ohio. The day had been slightly overcast and cool--previously, we had found some smaller species of salamander and frog. But at 8 inches, this was definitely our largest catch. This particular salamander was a male--this was determined by the presence of swollen cloacal folds. Very secretive, they generally live underground, but will come out to breed. These salamanders begin mating in March or April--as soon as the snow begins to melt. The females lay 100-200 eggs in the water, usually attached to a plant. This spotted salamander was probably born in this pond as they rarely move away from their original hatching spot. Preferring cool damp places to inhabit, this docile amphibian eats mainly small invertebrates like earthworms and insects found on the woodland floor. Since they can secrete a milky toxin from their back, we made sure to wash our hands after this catch! (Posted by Morgan Smith)
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