Salamanders
What are they?
Salamanders closely resemble lizards, but on closer inspection they differ in having smooth skin rather than scales. Salamanders also lack claws on the ends of their toes and - being amphibians rather than reptiles - they are strongly tied to wetland habitats and need to live in damp habitats for most of the time. They are largely nocturnal in their habits and spend the daytime hidden beneath logs and similar objects; consequently, salamanders are not frequently encountered.
Identification
Cape May has a relatively small number of salamander species and all should be straightforward to identify based on size, overall color and markings.
Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum
Length: 9-11 cm. The Ambystoma salamanders are often called Mole Salamanders as they spend most of their adult lives burrowing through the soil in search of worms and other invertebrates to eat. Their breeding season takes place in late winter and can be over in just a few nights, after which they return to subterranean habits, making them very hard to find. Marbled Salamanders are very variable in their markings but usually show patterns of whitish or gray speckles, spots or bars across the back.
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Eastern Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum
Length: 18-21 cm. The largest salamander in our region. The Ambystoma salamanders are often called Mole Salamanders as they spend most of their adult lives burrowing through the soil in search of worms and other invertebrates to eat. Their breeding season takes place in late winter and can be over in just a few nights, after which they return to subterranean habits, making them very hard to find. Eastern Tiger Salamanders are easily told by their large size and yellowish markings.
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Red-backed Salamander Plethodon cinereus
Length: 5.5-10 cm. A small and slender species that is widespread in the region and may be found in wooded areas throughout much of the year. May sometimes be found out hunting on warm, rainy nights, but otherwise needs to be looked for by searching beneath logs or suitable discarded items such as old tyres or wooden boards. May have a reddish-brown stripe down the back or be completely dark.
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