AMPHIBUNS 



Marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum. — The general 



color of the marbled salamander is slaty-gray turning to bluish 

 beneath the body. Its large spots and blotches form about 

 fourteen irregular grayish-white bars (Fig. 291), never yellow 

 like those of the spotted and the tiger salamanders nor in 

 small flecks like those on Jefferson's salamander. 



Habits, habitat. — 'Although they go to the ponds to breed 

 they are likely to hide under stones on dry hillsides or to 

 burrow into earth, often in sandy places. 



Breeding habits. — Dr. A. H. Wright found clusters of A, 

 opacum eggs in autumn under logs and driftwood, in moist 

 soil but not in the water. Their outer coats were tough and 

 very unlike other Ambystoma eggs. 



Size, — Length of adult about 5 inches. 



Range. — Only occasionally common; eastern and central 

 regions of North America; coastal Massachusetts to Texas; 

 up Mississippi Valley to Illinois. 



Fig. 292. — Adult Jefferson's salamander, Amby- 

 stoma jeffersonianum. 



Jefferson's salamander, Ambystoma jeffersoniantmi. — ■ 



Jefferson's salamanders are uniformly dark brown all over 

 but they may have small blue white flecks along their sides 



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