Ambystoma maculatum

Overview

Missouri’s conservation account describes a slate-black salamander with two irregular rows of rounded yellow spots, sometimes orange on the head. Adults shelter in damp hardwood forest and emerge at night to forage. Warm rains stimulate migrations to shallow fishless breeding ponds. The account allows variation in spot number and even nearly unspotted individuals, so a painted pattern should not become a fixed diagnostic count.

Graham, McKie-Krisberg and Sanders measured movement of photosynthetically fixed carbon from egg-associated algae to embryos at six developmental time points. Transfer peaked during the late tailbud stage and declined later; it was not detected shortly before hatching. The study used Pennsylvania egg masses under controlled laboratory conditions. This concerns a stage-dependent association in developing eggs, not a claim that the spotted adult obtains its food through photosynthesis or that all sampled embryos received equal carbon.

Origins & earliest records

Living species; developmental stages do not establish its evolutionary first appearance.

Evidence & interpretation

Retained scientific and institutional passages.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Spotted Salamander

   Missouri Department of Conservation

2. 02

   Photosynthetic carbon from algal symbionts peaks during the latter stages of embryonic development in the salamander Ambystoma maculatum

   Erin R. Graham, Zaid M. McKie-Krisberg and Robert W. Sanders

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Institutional field account; retained indexed witnessSpotted SalamanderResearch access: 2026-10-12
2. Primary experimental studyPhotosynthetic carbon from algal symbionts peaks during the latter stages of embryonic development in the salamander Ambystoma maculatumResearch access: 2026-10-12

Image credits

Modern AI interpretation of spotted salamander form.

Modern AI interpretation of an adult spotted salamander; spot pattern and forest setting are imagined.