# Long-toed Salamander (*Ambystoma macrodactylum*) The Long-toed Salamander is a special little creature with long toes that help it swim and dig. It has a smooth body and loves to live in wet places like ponds and marshes. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Long-toed Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Long-toedSalamander.jpg&width=800) Photo: Thompsma, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Long-toedSalamander.jpg) ## Appearance The Long-toed Salamander has a dark body, often black or dark brown, covered with bright yellow to greenish-yellow irregular blotches or a broken stripe down its back. Its most notable feature is the unusually long fourth toe on its hind feet, giving it its name. Its belly is typically dark. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Ambystomatidae - **Genus:** Ambystoma ## Interesting facts - Female salamanders can lay hundreds of eggs in a single season! - They can live underwater as wiggly larvae for several months! - They mostly hunt at night, searching for yummy insects in the dark! - Underground burrows are their cozy homes for much of the year! ## Special abilities - **Toe-tally Tenacious Grip:** Long-toed Salamander has super long toes that help them climb over slippery rocks and grab onto plants. - **Amphibious Skin Power:** Long-toed Salamander can breathe partly through their moist skin, allowing them to absorb oxygen from water and air. - **Escape Artist Tail:** Long-toed Salamander can drop its tail when grabbed, distracting predators while it slips away to safety. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.008 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-15 years - **Speed:** 0.1 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 50-400 - **Metamorphosis:** 60-150 days ## Diet & Feeding Tiny predators, these salamanders slurp up small insects, worms, and other invertebrates with their sticky tongues. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat aquatic insects, while adults mostly hunt on land. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Earthworms, Slugs, Spiders, Mites, Mosquito larvae - **Foraging Methods:** Ambush, Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — a favorite meal in their moist habitat. - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — a common predator of adult salamanders. - **Eaten by:** [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) — predators of their larvae in ponds. - **Eats:** [Leopard Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard-slug) (*Limax maximus*) — an occasional snack for these amphibians. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a salamander, watch it from a distance and don't touch it. They are delicate and need to stay safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Long-toed Salamander? Compare body shape, toes, markings, tail and skin texture. Tadpoles and larvae can look nothing like the adults they turn into. Amphibian Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Long-toed Salamander? 4-12 cm ### How much does Long-toed Salamander weigh? 0.002-0.008 kg ### How long does Long-toed Salamander live? 5-15 years ### How fast can Long-toed Salamander move? 0.1 km/h ### What does Long-toed Salamander eat? Tiny predators, these salamanders slurp up small insects, worms, and other invertebrates with their sticky tongues. ### Where is Long-toed Salamander usually found? Wetlands ### How does Long-toed Salamander hunt? Ambush and Foraging ## Where to spot - [East Glacier Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-glacier-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Leach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leach-botanical-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Little Tom Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-tom-mountain) — Montana, US · Nature Reserve - [Sawtooth Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sawtooth-botanical-garden) — Idaho, US · Botanical Garden - [Centennial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Sunset State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunset-state-beach) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see Long-toed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/long-toed-salamander) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Long-toed Salamander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-toed-salamander)