Wednesday, April 16th
April's meeting will focus on how to safely handle and present your reptile to the public. Please feel free to bring your own animal to show off.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
Annual Banquet
PLEASE NOTE: The annual banquet and recognition dinner will be rescheduled due to conflicts. The new date will likely be a Saturday in May, please contact a board member for more information.
Spotted Salamander
(Ambystoma maculatum)
Photo Courtesy of Bethel Ademowore
Click for larger image
The Spotted Salamander is a heavy bodied salamander which reaches lengths of 6 - 10 inches. They range in color from black, blue-black, dark gray or dark brown. They have two rows of round yellow or orange spots from head to tail. The underside is usually slate gray. They are sometimes confused with the eastern tiger salamander. The eastern tiger salamander is larger and has irregular spots instead of the uniform pattern the spotted salamander has.
The heavy rains of spring prompt these salamanders to migrate to breeding ponds in March and April where females lay a clear or milky egg mass of over two inches in diameter. Occasionally more than one mass is laid. Each mass can contain more than 100 eggs an will often turn green due to a beneficial algae. The eggs hatch about one to two months later with 1/2 inch larvae. The larvae generally transform two to four months later and measure 2.5 inches.
The Spotted Salamander spends most of its adult life underground and adults are rarely encountered. Habitat destruction and acid rain have wiped out some local populations though clean-up efforts are helping.
Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.
Help reptiles in need by donating to our Adoption Fund! Your donations will help feed and house reptiles waiting for adoption.