which includes Nova Scotia. In the hybridization zone, look for a lighter 
     
     belly with gray around the vent to distinguish the Blue-spotted and Jefferson. 
     
    

    
     Normally this species ranges in size between 4 to 5 1/2 inches (9.5 to 
     
     14.2 cm). If you run across a specimen larger than this without distinct 
     
     spots but having light flecking report it to a museum or the Island Naturalist 
     
     editor. These variations would suggest you have a Jefferson Salamander or a 
     
     hybrid, either of which would be important to have documented on Prince Edward 
     
     Island. Please colour photograph or collect the specimen. 
     
    

    
     This salamander eats invertebrates including insects and earthworms. It 
     
     breeds in woodland ponds, ditches, and other bodies of fresh water where it 
     
     can congregate in quite large numbers in spring. The male of this species 
     
     deposits a spermatophore which is taken up by the female. It lays its eggs, 
     
     often under leaves or bottom litter, either singly or in small clusters (Cook, 
     
     1967 reported up to six in a cluster) in shallow water. Depending on the 
     
     temperature, the eggs hatch within a few days to a week to form a larvae with 
     
     front legs. The back legs develop quickly as growth is promoted by its 
     
     voracious appetite. They consume a variety of aquatic invertebrates as well as 
     
     larvae small enough for them to swallow. Transformation usually occurs in 
     
     July or August and the young adults quickly disperse 
     
    

    
     The Blue-spotted Salamander is normally found in moist habitats such as 
     
     woodlands, especially in woodlands with well rotten deadfalls touching the 
     
     ground. On rainy nights in early spring it may be found crossing roads or 
     
     wandering. In dryer conditions and during daylights hours, the Blue-spotted 
     
     Salamander is normally found under boards, log piles, and larger rocks where 
     
     the moisture and food foraging conditions are often similar to those found 
     
     under rotten logs which they prefer. Its numbers in various covertypes of 
     
     Island forest are not known and are currently being investigated. You can 
     
     assist by reporting your sightings to the editor of the Island Naturalist. 
     
    
   
   
    
     SPOTTED SALAHBNDBR 
     
    
   
   
    
     This species is also a member 
     
     of the mole salamanders and therefore 
     
     has four toes on the front feet and 
     
     five of the rear feet. The adults of 
     
     this species are usually 
     
     distinguished by the irregular row of 
     
     yellow to orange spots running from 
     
     their eye to the tail tip on each 
     
     side of their bluish, black, or 
     
     slate-coloured back. However,  5323772972361" 
     
     unspotted individuals are known to 
     
     occur. The bellies of adults of this 
     
     species are slate grey. 
     
    

    
     As with the Blue-spotted Salamanders, the Spotted Salamander is 
     
     primarily a woodland species. It too congregates at woodland ponds and other 
     
     appropriate fresh water breeding sites to breed, often after warm rains. In 
     
     early spring, the adults migrate in large numbers to the breeding ponds where 
     
     the male, after courtship, lays a spermatophore. The female takes up the 
     
     spermatophore and subsequently lays a mass of up to 200 eggs, each in two 
     
     jelly coats. This mass of eggs takes on water and, within one hour, may be 
     
     swollen up to 4 inches (10 cm.) across. The eggs hatch within 2 to 4 weeks 
     
     into 1/2 inch long larvae which subsequently feed aggressively. They may grow 
     
     to a size of about three inches (7.6 cm.) in three months after which they 
     
     transform into adults. The adults may reach a length of 9 3/4 inches (24.8 
     
     cm.) in some areas of its range but the largest recorded by Cook (1967) on 
     
     Prince Edward Island was 6 7/8 inches (17.4 cm). 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
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