Salamander project

= Overview   =

The Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) is a mole salamander that lives around Western Massachusetts and extends to the southern parts of the United States. It likes to crawl under leaf litter and burrow underground so you'll hardly ever see it unless it's breeding time. During breeding time between August and October, the Marbled Salamander will come on land and try to find a mate. After mating, the females will find a spot in a dry pond bed and lay their eggs and attend to the nest until the winter rains wash the eggs into a pond and they hatch into their larval state. Why do the females stay with the eggs? How did this behavior evolve? How are parental behaviors regulated? These are all questions I'm looking at.

Want to Help?
I'll need some field assistants in Spring after the first rains hit (around March-April) and next Fall (August-October). Anytime you can give would be appreciated! Contact me, Dan Taub, at DTaub1230@gmail.com for more information.