Marbled Salamander Breeding

Breeding season breeding starts in the late summer in the northern part of the range and extends into november in the southern part.

Marbled salamander breeding.

Fertilization is internal and each female may lay 50 200 eggs usually in small depressions under logs in leaf litter or under vegetation at the edge of the water. It migrates to a pond before autumn rains begin. Females will lay about 30 100 eggs in a depression on land usually beneath a log or leaf litter. The larvae may be raised on live brine shrimp chopped blackworms and frozen bloodworms.

Sporting white or gray bands across its body this secretive species is known to hide out beneath leaves and logs. Marbled salamanders are part of the mole salamander family which is a group of salamanders endemic to north america and the only genus in the. Although other salamander species in the mole salamander family breed in water the marbled salamander does not. Marbled salamanders emerge from their underground homes in early fall to migrate to their breeding grounds.

Like many salamanders marbled salamanders have poison glands to deter predators. There the animal begins to court and mate. This is opposite from other mole salamanders that breed during early spring. Most michigan salamanders begin breeding in the spring months with a few exceptions.

The marbled salamander is the state salamander of north carolina. Range number of offspring 50 to 100. Marbled salamanders breed once per year. Each female lays her clutch of 30 to 100 eggs in a dry depression and the embryos begin to develop.

Marbled salamanders are found in the eastern united states. The female stays with her developing eggs until rain fills the wetland and triggers. Marbled salamanders mate on land after which the female curls about her 30 100 eggs for 3 4 months in the wild captive breeding is rare until spring rains wash the eggs into temporary ponds. The larger larval marbled salamanders feed on spotted salamander larvae and wood frog tadpoles as well as zooplankton.

Seasonally flooded areas are essential for breeding but the salamanders do not normally enter the water. The marbled salamander is a relatively common resident throughout north carolina. Like other mole salamanders marbled salamanders are predators of. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity female sex.