Mole Salamander larvae pics (What species?)

caudatadude28 · Apr 9, 2010

I found a egg mass and took a few of the eggs. I only have tigrinum, maculatum, and laterale in my area. They aren't macs because the eggs mass was clear and didnt hold it's shape out of water. I think they are laterale, but would like some more opinions. The shots are taken under different kinds of lighting. Sorry about the scratches in the pics.

caudatadude28-albums-ambystoma-picture9854-ambystoma-larvae.jpg

caudatadude28-albums-ambystoma-picture9855-ambystoma-larvae.jpg

caudatadude28-albums-ambystoma-picture9856-ambystoma-larvae.jpg

Nathan · Apr 9, 2010

Geez, I've never tried to ID 'em that small. How many eggs were in the mass? A. laterale masses are supposed to be very small, fewer than a dozen ova, while tiger masses are often rather large, comparable in size and ovum count to A. maculatum masses.

John · Apr 9, 2010

I'm going to say Tiger salamanders.

caudatadude28 · Apr 9, 2010

Thanks for the replies. We will have to wait and see. THe eggs were on a piece of down log. There were 30-35 eggs. John, what characteristics say tigrinum to you? Just wondering.

Greatwtehunter · Apr 10, 2010

I'm going to say A. tigrinum as well. The mottling in all the laterale larvae I have raised has been irregular with no clear pattern. The larvae in your pics seem to have their mottling arranged in a banding pattern. Give it 2 weeks and you'll know for sure which species it is.

Neotenic_Jaymes · Apr 11, 2010

If you found the egg mass under the surface of the water about 2-3ft attached to plants or twigs then I think you found a Tiger Salamander egg mass. If the eggs were delicate and separated easily from each other then its a good chance they it was a Tiger Salamander egg mass. Usually A. maculatums lay solid jelly egg masses that are very difficult to separate, not to mention the cloudy color of the egg mass. I know in your area you have A. laterale so there is a small chance it could be a Blue Spotted Salamander egg mass, but I'm leaning towards Tiger Salamander.

caudatadude28 · Apr 11, 2010

It was in about a foot of water attatched to the underside of large piece of bark(2'x4'). I am 100% positive they arent mac eggs. The eggs were attatched to the wood, not clustered together but they were in a egg membrane-if that makes sense. It was very difficult to remove the eggs from the wood.

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Mole Salamander larvae pics (What species?)

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