Photo: help with identifying this salamander?

[buttonfamily]

Hi I'm new to the board.... We found this little guy in our backyard yesterday while gardening. We live in Oklahoma and it has rained here.... A LOT lately, so that's probably why he was so easy to find! I've looked at lots of pics, but am unable to find out what kind he is.... anyone know??

Thanks
Lindsay

 

[madeve]

It's an ambystoma that's for sure but I'm not sure 100% which one. By looking at caudata culture I'd venture either a mole salamander or a smallmouth salamander.
This is just a guess, I'm hoping someone can make a positive ID.

 

[jbherpin]

It would be much easier if State of origin was disclosed. Locality kept ambigous, of course. It is definately an Ambystoma, agreed...If i were to venture a guess...Texanum(Smallmouth).

-jbherpin-

 

[Coastal Groovin]

Its kind of hard to count the costal grooves in the picture but I count 10 that makes its a Mole Salamander. Which from what I can gather is only found in the southeastern corner of the state.
Small-mouths have 14-15 grooves. Another suspect would be a Slimy Salamander which is more slender in build, found in extreme eastern OK but that has 16 grooves which looks to be way to many for what you have there. So I think Mole Salamander wins. Nice find

 

[Coastal Groovin]

you know after stareing at that picture the tail looks to long to be a mole Salamander. Did you count the costal grooves? I think missed a few

 

[oregon newt]

That looks like a small mouth salamander. The mole salamander's head is much larger in proportion to its body.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

I count somewhere between 13 and 16 coastal grooves upon enlargement of the picture, I place my vote as Ambystoma texanum, the Smallmouth Salamander.

 

[jbherpin]

It would be much easier if State of origin was disclosed. Locality kept ambigous, of course. It is definately an Ambystoma, agreed...If i were to venture a guess...Texanum(Smallmouth).

-jbherpin-

I'm a fool, I didn't see "Oklahoma" the first time I read it....Sorry! Is the belly gray or black? Mole's are said to have a more gray belly, while Smallmouth's are described as more black.

-jbherpin-