Marbled Salamander
Ambystoma opacum

The marbled salamander ranges in size from about 3 to 5 inches in total length. The ground color is black, and there are numerous silver-white crossbands, giving the marbled appearance for which the species is named. There is considerable variation in the crossbanding pattern, as in some individuals they are extensively connected, and in others the connection is minimal. Ambystoma opacum differs from the other ambystomatids in at least three significant ways. First, it is a fall breeder migrating to Carolina bays in advance of the significant rainfall that is required to fill the bays. Second, females lay their eggs on land (usually under a log or similar cover object), rather than directly in the water. Finally, once the eggs are laid, the female stays to guard the clutch, whereas other Ambystoma in the Southeast lay their eggs and leave. When the bays fill, water inundates the nest and triggers hatching. Females then leave their offspring behind and depart from the bay. This unusual strategy virtually ensures that the young marbled salamanders are the very first salamanders to hatch each year, which may give them a considerable advantage over potential competitors, such as the larvae of other