Ambystoma opacum
—
Marbled Salamander


This is a widespread species in the eastern U.S., but since I spend most of my time in the western U.S. I had yet to come across one. This particularly chubby individual was thoroughly nestled in rotten wood underneath a log. Maybe I should have given it a bath before taking the photos.

I did try to give this one a bath before the photos, but that just seemed to make the dirt and bark stick to it even more.
Online references:
- Ambystoma opacum account on iNaturalist
Printed references:
- Behler, J. L., King, F. W. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles & Amphibians
- Conant, R., Collins, J. T. 1998. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Third Edition, expanded
- Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, Eighth Edition
- Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada