1+0 



BREED ING HAB ITS OF AMPHIB lA 



Breeding occurs in early spring and the exact time i.s dictated by the temperature. 

 The site is any pond, permanent or temporary, and the eggs are layed singly at the rate of 

 about h per minute and are attached to each other and to a twig. Never more than 500 eggs 

 are layed, and the four Jelly capsules often take on a greenish color due to the growth of 

 a unicellular plant. Mating occurs Just before laying, and incubation takes about 6 weeks 

 in nature and about 2 weeks at laboratory temperatures. The larval period lasts from 56 

 to 125 days, depending upon whether the pond dries up, and at metamorphosis the larva is 

 about 1-7/8 inches long. Sexual maturity is achieved in about 21 months. 



AKBLYSTCMA OPACUM , the marbled salamander. This 1+ inch salamander Is found in the East 

 and Middle West, but not north of a line from Boston to Chicago. It is quite abundant on 

 Long Island and at Bear Mountain, but is difficult to find except during the breeding sea- 

 son during the latter part of September and October. This is a black salamander with con- 

 spicuous light colored bands across the back. These bands are wider on the sides of the 

 body than on the back. The light colored markings of the male are white and of the female 

 tend to be gray. The male has the characteristically protruding vent. 



Plethodon cinereus, the red-backed 

 salsunander, found on July 16th. 



Atnblystoma opacum, thie marbled sala- 

 mander found on October 26tl) in North 

 Carolina. (After Bishop) 



BROODING OF EGGS BY FEMALE SALAMANDERS 

 (Courtesy C. H. Pope l^kk: Chicago Mus. Nat. Hist.) 



Breeding occurs in the Fall following an elaborate courtship at the breeding grounds 

 which are on the edge of dry pond beds. Spermatophores are picked up by the female and 

 she proceeds to deposit singly from 100 t* 250 eggs in a nest which is nothing more than 

 a depression under moss or a log. The duration of the pre-hatching stage depends entire- 

 ly upon the rainfall and may not occur until Spring. The adults can drown but the larvae 

 require the Fall rains to hatch. The eggs withstand desiccation but shrink as they dry. 

 They hatch at about 70°F. and mature about 15 months later. 



AMBLYSTOMA PITNCTATUM, the spotted salamander formerly known as A. maculatum. This is the 

 most common of the large American salamanders and is found in the Eastern United States. 

 There are two irregular rows of bright orange spots along the back. The background color 

 is bluish black. The males have dark bellies and protruding vents. 



Breeding occurs Immediately after the Spring thaws, and there is a brief courtship 

 on the part of the male before it drops up to ko spermatophores, in shallow water. The 

 water temperature may be as low ae 15°C. The females pick up the spermatophores with 

 their cloacal lips and proceed to lay from 100 to 200 eggs in semi-solid clumps of Jelly 

 about 6 inches below the surface, often attached to a stick or stem. The Jelly is some- 

 times opaque, but the embryos are normal. The Jelly masses lie freely in the water. 



