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What Do Gray-Bellied Salamanders Eat?

The gray-bellied salamander, or Eurycea multiplicata griseogaster, lives by pools and under rocks in the wetlands of Central and North America. Rarely longer than four inches in length, this amphibian belongs to the family of lung-less, four-toed plethodontidae -- and like all amphibians -- metamorphoses from a larvae to an adult. As a tiny, fish-like tadpole, the salamander will feed on zooplankton and the smallest water-borne insects, but it will pursue a more varied diet after maturity.

Aquatic Arthropods
- Arthropods, both terrestrial and aquatic, combine to form the largest group of animals on the planet. Over 80 percent of all life on earth are considered arthropods. Simply defined, arthropods have segmented bodies and jointed legs. Though usually tiny in size, one well known member of this family; the king crab, can reach lengths over 3.2 meters from claw to claw. Gray-bellied salamanders take full advantage of the arthropod smorgasbord, feasting on freshwater krill, copepods and plankton.
Terrestrial Arthropods
- A very familiar arthropod, the insect, is also a favorite food of all amphibians: the gray-bellied salamander included. Though insects, and their eight legged cousins, the spiders inhabit woods and not marshes, they still share characteristics with shrimp, and other crustaceans. Like their aquatic relatives, land-loving arthropods also have hard exoskeletons instead of internal bones, and because of the inflexibility of this armor-like outer layer, they need jointed body parts and legs.
Snails
- Snails, like arthropods, do not have internal skeletons. Instead of the all over armor, snails, as well as all other mollusks, hide within a hard shell. Primitive in their evolution, snails have maintained their current form for hundreds of millions of years, because their system works. Snails make their home in a wide variety of ecosystems, which is fortunate for many animals like the gray-bellied salamander, who consider the slow moving, tiny creature a tasty treat.
Oligochaetes
- Another very important food for the salamander is the aquatic worm. Belonging to the family referred to as oligochaetes, worms are found in almost every lake, pond, or pool that the salamander may call home. Oligochaetes also benefit the salamander in another, very important way. Scientists use worms in a new field of research called pollution biology, to assess ecological risks in certain habitats. Though salamander populations are not currently threatened, continued contamination of their breeding grounds may change that.

Animals & Science