Fauna
Amphibian · GBIF taxon 2431962

Jefferson Salamander

Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Jefferson salamanders spend the vast majority of their adult lives hidden underground in small mammal burrows and deep leaf litter of mature deciduous forests. On the first warm, rainy nights of early spring, adults emerge en masse to migrate to fishless vernal pools, where females deposit gelatinous egg clusters on submerged twigs. Across much of their northeastern range, this species hybridizes with the blue-spotted salamander to form extensive lineages of predominantly female, polyploid unisexual clones.

NocturnalAmphibianWoodland
Jefferson Salamander reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Dan MacNeal, some rights reserved (CC BY) / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Earthworms
  • Beetles
  • Spiders
Predators
  • Garter Snakes
  • Raccoons
  • Owls
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, deforestation, road mortality during spring breeding migrations, and the drainage or acidification of vernal pools.
HabitatsMature upland deciduous and mixed forests containing undisturbed leaf litter, rotten logs, and nearby fishless vernal pools.
Life span10–15 years
Classification
  1. FamilyAmbystomatidae
  2. SpeciesAmbystoma jeffersonianum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless to humans; safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Slender, dark grey-brown body with long toes and faint bluish flecking along the lower sides.
Support conservation
Do not disturb leaf litter or logs, and help individuals cross roads only in the direction they are traveling.
Responsible observation
  • Breeding Season: Look for adults crossing quiet woodland roads on rainy spring nights when temperatures exceed 5°C (40°F).
  • Observation Etiquette: Avoid handling individuals, as salts, lotions, and oils on human skin can harm amphibian skin.
Related species
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