Hobbies And Interests
Smallmouth Salamanders
Besides its small head and mouth, this salamander has a long tail and grows to an average length of 4.3-5.5 inches. It is dark brown to black with grey patches on its back with a black belly. Smallmouth salamander adults prefer burrows in the forest floors near wetlands where they breed. They can be found in farmlands, prairie grasslands, deciduous and wet pine forests. Rainy nights may stimulate the salamanders to surface and migrate to the breeding areas. During mating season in early spring, they can be found under logs and other larger covered areas with others of their kind. These salamanders prey on insects and other invertebrates. Adults do not appear to be territorial but do tend to stay in the same areas for long periods of time.
Distribution and Status of the Smallmouth Salamander
The smallmouth salamander is found in the central United States from Tennessee west to Texas, north to Nebraska and east to the Great Lakes region in Michigan. There is also a small protected population on Pelee Island, Ontario. They are listed as endangered by the State of Michigan and are protected under the state's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (Level 1, 1997). One of the main threats to these populations is the loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion but these salamanders are also vulnerable to acid rain, environmental pollutants, ultraviolet radiation and invasive species.
Salamanders as Bioindicators
Salamanders and other amphibians are important indicators of environmental quality due to their permeable skin. Toxins in the water, soil and air are easily absorbed through their skin and can kill these creatures quickly. Their eggs are also extremely vulnerable due to the lack of a protective shell and can fall victim to pollutants in the water. By keeping track of increasing or decreasing amphibian populations, scientists have a better understanding of the environmental health of a habitat.
Salamander Regeneration
When a mature salamander or newt loses all or part of a limb it has the remarkable ability to regrow that missing part fairly quickly. This capability is common in the invertebrate world but the urodele amphibians are the only adult vertebrates that are able to regenerate lost limbs. For example, tadpoles have the capacity to regrow limbs but lose the capability when they become adult frogs, although it can be induced under laboratory conditions. Scientists have been studying this phenomenon for years in the hope of aiding humans and other mammals with various medical issues.