Spotted Salamander

Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum
Photo Credit: Todd Pierson

The spotted salamander is a large, stout species with a rounded head and a black body marked by bright yellow or orange spots. Adults can reach up to 9 inches in length, while larvae are greenish-gray with fewer spots and a plain underside. Found across the eastern U.S., they inhabit hardwood and mixed forests, floodplains, and other freshwater areas. Larvae feed on small invertebrates and may be cannibalistic, while adults eat a range of prey including worms, spiders, and insects. Breeding occurs in shallow, often temporary pools, where females lay up to 250 eggs that may host oxygen-producing algae.

Explore the full species profile, including their habitat, diet, and behavior on Herps of NC.