Focus Species Forestry - Maine Audubon

Spotted Salamander
Distribution: Eastern U.S. except the southeast coastal
plain, north to southern Ontario, Quebec, and Canada.
Maine Focus Region: Statewide
Home Range/Movement: Most spend adult life within
1,000 feet of breeding pools
Food: Feeds on earthworms, insects, spiders, and slugs and
other invertebrates found in rotting wood and subterranean
tunnels
Special Habitat Needs: Breeds in seasonal or semipermanent,
fishless pools (vernal pools)
Management:
In April or May survey for vernal pools, which usually can be identified by the presence of egg masses.
Manage forest cover and protect soils around vernal pools as described in the vernal pools management
guide (Section 5).
Comments: 6-8 in. long and dark brown to blue-black with bright yellow spots, the spotted salamander is easily
identified. It is most often seen as it migrates to vernal pools during the spring breeding season from mid March to
late April on warm, rainy nights. Oval, generally fist-sized or smaller masses of up to 200 eggs surrounded by a
thick gelatinous envelope are attached to fallen branches. Egg masses may be milky white or clear, but often turn
greenish with algae. Eggs hatch in 1-2 months. Transformation from aquatic larvae to terrestrial juveniles with
lungs takes place 2.5-3 months later. Adults spend most of their life in the forest floor but often emerge on moist
nights to search for prey. Habitat loss from development near pools is the greatest threat to spotted salamanders. Its
close relative the blue-spotted salamander has similar habits.
Habitat Use
Aspen-Birch
Forest Ecosystems
Northern
Hardwoods Oak-Pine Hemlock Spruce-Fir
N. White
Cedar
R S I M R S I M L R S I M L I M L R S I M L I M L
Special-value
Habitats
Riparian/
Wetland Vernal
Forest Pool
R Regeneration and seedlings Mx Mixed conifer-deciduous Focus habitat
S Saplings and small poles U Understory present Other habitat
I Intermediate-aged forest C Cavity tree or snag Little/no use
M Mature forest
L Late-successional forest
References: Boone and Krohn 1998, Calhoun 2003, Calhoun and deMaynadier 2003, DeGraaf and Yamasaki
2001, Smith 1999
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Focus Species Forestry