Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)

A while back on our class trip to Francis Marion National Forrest we caught a lot of mole salamanders (Ambystoma talpoideum). They were caught in traps that Dr. Welch and Keith placed in a swampy wetland area. We found many in the larval stage and a few adults! It was earlier in the year, so the water temperature was still quite cold at the time. Mole salamanders are found in a large portion of the United States throughout the entire south east region and extending slightly out of that region. The adults we found were approximately 3 to 4 inches in length and very active! One can identify the genus of this species by the costal grooves and lack of nasal labial grooves. The species can then be defined by the size of the head relative to the body. Their color can vary but generally they are dark brown to black. This population was very dark in appearance, almost black. Mole Salamanders are primarily nocturnal and prefer moist habitats. They breed in the winter and larval hatch in the early spring, likely why we found so many in the larval stage! It was a fun first trip to the Francis Marion!
Jeremy Frank