| Spotted salamanders eat worms, insects and other invertebrates. These secretive amphibians spend most of their time buried in the soil or leaf litter, under logs, rocks or in animal burrows. They are found in woodlands. |
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Most often seen during early spring when they congregate at woodland ponds to breed. They lay their egg masses in ponds, attached to underwater sticks or plant stems. The larvae hatch in a month or two, depending on temperature and resemble tadpoles, except they have feathery gills branching out from their heads. They will transform and leave the water at 2-4 months of age. They are sensitive to increases in water acidity and disappear because of loss of habitat. As adults they are eaten by skunks, turtles, chipmunks, squirrels, opossums and snakes. While in the egg and larvae stage, they are eaten by fish, turtles, birds, frogs and crayfish. |
