Special Adaptations of the Blue-Spotted Salamander

Habitat

• The blue-spotted salamander generally prefers to be in areas that are moist, near wetlands or ponds. However, they have adapted to live in drier areas near human populations because of habitat loss. The blue-spotted salamander also has a special adaptation in its chromosomes that allows it to interbreed with other salamander species if too few mates are available in its local habitat.

Reproduction

• The blue-spotted salamander has adapted to laying its eggs in vernal pools, which are temporary wetlands that form in the spring after snow melts. By laying their eggs in vernal ponds instead of permanent wetlands or other bodies of water, they can escape from predators such as frogs and fish that live naturally in these permanent aquatic habitats.

Defense

• The blue-spotted salamander has special adaptations to defend itself in the wild. It has a smelly secretion that it can produce to discourage predators from touching it, picking it up or trying to eat it. The blue-spotted salamander can also drop its tail to distract a predator. The wriggling, dropped tail will distract a predator while the salamander gets away, and it can grow a new tail.

Metamorphosis

• The blue-spotted salamander's eggs hatch into small larvae, which are similar to frog tadpoles. The larvae will eventually grow legs and a tail, turning into adult salamanders. These larvae have adapted to grow faster if there is lots of food around, and slower if there is little food to conserve their energy.