# Mole Salamanders (*Ambystoma*) Mole salamanders are special little creatures that live underground! They have smooth skin and can be different colors, like black, blue, or yellow. They love to dig and find cool places to hide. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Mole Salamanders](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/SpottedSalamander.jpg&width=800) Photo: Camazine at English Wikipedia ) (Scott Camazine web.mac.com/camazine), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SpottedSalamander.jpg) ## Appearance The Mole Salamanders are robust amphibians with stout bodies, large heads, and smooth, moist skin. Many species are dark, often black or brown, adorned with distinct bright spots, bars, or blotches, making them visually different from slender newts or dry-skinned lizards. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Ambystomatidae - **Genus:** Ambystoma ## Interesting facts - Certain mole salamanders can even stay in their aquatic larval stage, never fully leaving the water! - Some mole salamander species can absorb water and oxygen directly through their moist skin! - They often spend almost their entire lives hidden underground, only emerging for breeding! - When startled, some species will arch their backs and stand tall on their legs to look bigger! ## Special abilities - **Super Regeneration:** Mole Salamanders can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their brain because of specialized stem cells that help them recover from injuries. - **Master Burrower:** Mole Salamanders can dig extensive tunnels underground using their strong forelimbs to hide from predators, find food, and escape harsh weather. - **Toxic Skin Defense:** Mole Salamanders has glands in its skin that produce mild toxic substances that help deter hungry predators from eating them. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 0.2 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 50-200 - **Metamorphosis:** 60-120 days ## Diet & Feeding These salamanders are hunters, feasting on small invertebrates they find on land and water. - **Age differences:** Larvae primarily consume aquatic invertebrates, while adults switch to a terrestrial diet. - **Primary Foods:** earthworms, slugs, snails, insect larvae, small crustaceans, spiders - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** common earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source in their underground tunnels. - **Eaten by:** [raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons often dig up salamanders for a meal. - **Eaten by:** common garter snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Garter snakes are common predators in their habitat. ## Traits - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [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, as they can be sensitive. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mole Salamanders? 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 Mole Salamanders? 10-30 cm ### How much does Mole Salamanders weigh? 0.005-0.1 kg ### How long does Mole Salamanders live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Mole Salamanders move? 0.2 km/h ### What does Mole Salamanders eat? These salamanders are hunters, feasting on small invertebrates they find on land and water. ### Where is Mole Salamanders usually found? Forests ### How does Mole Salamanders hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Rosemark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosemark) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood ## 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: [Mole Salamanders: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mole-salamanders)