THB BHPHIBIANS OP PRINCE BDHBRD ISLAND by J. Dan McAskill 
     
     SALAHBNDBRS 
     
    
   
   
    
     Salamanders, amphibians in the order Caudata, are animals which look 
     
     like a lizard but have smooth or warty skin and have no claws. Lizards have 
     
     both scales and claws. The former, by necessity, occupy wet habitats or 
     
     utilize behaviors such as night foraging or foraging within and under logs to 
     
     retain moisture. 0n Prince Edward Island, four species of the 380 plus 
     
     species of salamanders are known to live, namely, Blue-spotted Salamander 
     
     (Ambystoma laterale Hallowell), Spotted Salamander (A. maculatum Shaw), 
     
     Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens Rafinesque), and 
     
     Redback Salamander (Plethodon cinereus cinereus Green). These species can be 
     
     distinguished using the following key and descriptions. Information on the 
     
     habitats used by each requires your assistance. Please complete and send in 
     
     copies of the enclosed reporting form (page 15). If you require more copies, 
     
     contact me and they will be mailed promptly. 
     
    
   
   
    
     characteristic Species 
     
     1. Having a bluish—black background Go to number 2 
     
     1. Having a reddish background Go to number 3 
     
     2. Having bluish or blue-white spots 
     
     and flecks Blue-spotted Salamander 
     
     2. Having yellow to orange spots Spotted Salamander 
     
     3. Having a belly mottled with roughly 
     
     equal parts of black and white or yellow Redback Salamander 
     
     3. Having red spots in all forms: Red-spotted Newt 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Red Eft, its land form, is bright orange-red 
     
     to dull red or orange. Efts, recently transformed 
     
     from the larval stage may be dull reddish brown to 
     
     yellowish brown. 
     
    

    
     The adult stage is aquatic and usually it is 
     
     olive-green with a yellow belly spotted with black. 
     
     The adult male in breeding condition has a well 
     
     developed fin on its tail and black horny growths on 
     
     its back legs and toes. 
     
    
   
   
    
     BLUE-SPOTTED SALAHBNDBR 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Blue—spotted Salamander is a member of the mole salamanders which 
     
     spend spend most of their lives underground or in leaf litter. This group of 
     
     species have four toes on the front feet and five on the back. As the name 
     
     implies, the Blue-spotted Salamander's back and sides have blue or bluish 
     
     white spots and flecks on a bluish-black background. Its belly is normally 
     
     black as the Island lies north of the hybridization zone with the Jefferson 
     
     Salamander (A. jeffersonianum) ' 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     bl'wvopo??e¢9 5326772872367" - 4 '-