Salamander larvae!

I managed to catch a few of these little guys at Dixie Plantation. A large patch of low grass in the water was packed with them, and basically any time I ran a dip net through there I was able to catch one. They were also in other areas in that same body of water. They were all about 6 cm in overall length, and all had large external gills. After some debate, it was determined that these salamanders were larvae that were growing close to metamorphosis. They didn't appear completely paedomorphic, as their tails had lost the fin quality and were more rounded. They were definitely Mole Salamanders (Ambystoma) because of the lack of a nasolabial groove, but we weren't able to figure out a specific species. Ryan the salamander guru narrowed it down to the marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum, or the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum. This was due to white flecks on the belly. If anyone has more ideas about them let me know!

-Hill Felton, SC

Image taken on trip to Dixie Plantation