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Red-spotted Newt - Notophthalmus viridescens
Description: 2 3/8 - 5 1/8" (6 - 13 cm). Yellow or brown dorsum with bright orange spots. Belly is yellow to cream with many pepper-like black spots. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This species is common at BNL
and can be quite abundant locally. Found throughout most parts of
our area. Many individuals remain completely aquatic in this part of
it’s range, although red efts do sometimes occur if ponds dry up.
Prefers slow moving, vegetated pools with sufficient sunlight. Mates
from March to May. Males tails’ enlarge and take on a black color
during this time. 200-400 eggs laid individually on submerged
vegetation. These hatch from May to August at 3/8 " (1cm) and
transform in late summer.
Eastern Tiger Salamander - Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum
Description: 5 7/8 - 9 ¾" (15 - 35 cm). This is our largest salamander. Highly irregular splotches olive to yellow color on black dorsum. Olive/yellow dorsum. Very plump, with 12-13 costal grooves. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area:
The spotted salamander
(A. maculatum), however, adult tiger salamanders are
significantly larger as are metamorphs.
Lifestyle: This species is listed as "Endangered" by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It is fairly common at BNL but is uncommon or extirpated throught many of the other parts of L.I. Fossorial. Live in heavily forested areas with moist to dry soils in scattered populations throughout our area. Seldom seen, except during breeding. They live under logs and rocks and also underground in rodent and self made burrows. This is the largest salamander in the eastern U.S. Breeding occurs January to April. Gelatinous egg masses are attached to submerged vegetation. Larvae hatch during summer at about ½". They transform into adults when they reach about 4-7". Females lay 205-328 eggs deposited in 5-8 egg masses. Average mass is 41 eggs. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
Marbled Salamander - Ambystoma opacum
Description: 3 ½ - 4 ½ " (9-11.7 cm). This salamander appears to have silvery/white bands across an otherwise black dorsum. These bands can vary from complete to incomplete. Black belly. 11-13 costal grooves. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: Common in certain areas of BNL uncommon through most of L.I. Fossorial. Lives under logs and rocks. Found in our Pine Barrens and deciduous forests. Prefers dry areas, although sometimes found in moist areas. Mates from Late August to October. Mating and eggs laid on land. Female lays 69-150 eggs with an average of around 98, and stays with them to protect them for some time. Young emerge from eggs as early as September when the eggs are flooded by water and are just under an inch in size. Transform 4-6 months later. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.
Redback Salamander - Plethodon cinereus
Description: 2 3/8 - 4 ¾" (6 - 12 cm). "Red-backed" phase has red stripe extending down top of dorsum from base of head to tip of tail. Sides black to gray, belly black with white splotches. "Lead back" phase (shown below) completely black to slate gray with same belly as redback. Only the lead backed phase has been seen at BNL. 18-20 costal grooves. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area: May resemble four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium
scutatum), but has five toes on hind legs and gray belly.
Lifestyle: Very common and found throughout BNL. Found in terrestrial woodlands and can tolerate disturbed areas. Usually found under forest debris. This species is completely terrestrial, including breeding (the only amphibian in our range that does not need water to lay eggs in). Breeds October through April. Eggs laid in cluster of 3-14 in June and July. Eggs laid and develop on land. Larvae hatch at about 1". May be nocturnally active on forest floor when feeding. The lead back phase is the typical phase found at BNL.
Four Toed Salamander - Hemidactylium scutatum
Description: 2 - 3 ¾" (5.1 - 9.5 cm). Belly is enamel-white with black speckles while dorsum is red/brown and sides gray. This species has four toes on hind legs, and often has a constricted area by the base of the tail. 13-14 costal grooves. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area:
The lead phase of the redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
may look similar, but has five toes and enamel-white belly. Rarely
seen at BNL. It is unknown how common this species is at BNL because
it has a very sensitive lifestyle.
Lifestyle: Uncommon at BNL, although its secretive lifestyle may hide biologists from learning its true abundance. Occurs in moist woodlands and shallow, vegetated wetlands. At BNL occurs in associations with red maple/sphagnum moss bogs and is almost always found under moss. Breeds late winter to early spring. Lays 18-40 eggs in nest cavity near water. Nests may be communal with more that 40 eggs. Larvae hatch late spring at ½" and enter water. Transform late summer. Females will stay with and protect their eggs for some time. Great care should be taken if handling this species because the tail is prone to breaking off at the constriction. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Jeremy Feinberg.