For several of Ontario’s salamander species, spring means two things: migration time and/or breeding time! In March and April, many salamanders are emerging from their winter burrows and heading back to the small ponds where they were born in order to have their own offspring. It’s a tricky journey for these tiny amphibians. They deserve some props! Here are five Canadian species; if you don’t see them in spring, keep your eyes peeled on damp nights or during cooler weather—that’s when they’re more likely to emerge in summer or fall.
Yellow-spotted salamander
These neon-spotted salamanders spend most of their time solo, underground (they’re called mole salamanders). That is, until spring breeding season, when they converge near water in groups of 100 or more. Wild fact: tiny spotted salamander eggs absorb water and can swell to the size of a road hockey ball.
Mudpuppy salamander (not pictured)
The mudpuppy is Canada’s largest salamander—it can grow to 400 mm. It’s also unusual in that it’s entirely aquatic, it has permanent gills, and it has four toes on its hind feet (most other species have five toes). Not that you’re likely to get close enough to inspect its feet. Mudpuppies tend to hang out at the bottom of lakes.
Blue-spotted salamander
The blue-spotted salamander is one of the earliest-breeding species. Often, ice is still on the woodland ponds that they frequent. Like the yellow-spotted salamander, this one spends most of its time underground. It’s also almost impossible to distinguish from the endangered Jefferson salamander, pictured here; the two species often hybridize.
Four-toed salamander
No shock here: the four-toed salamander has four toes (but only on the hind feet). It also has one of the most breakable tails of all salamanders. It comes off easily if a predator bites it. But, like all salamanders that experts have studied, this one can regrow limbs.
Red-backed salamander
Okay, fine. These tiny guys typically breed in fall, not spring. And their name can be misleading: most of them are grey or black, with a dorsal stripe that can be pink, yellow, grey, brownish-orange…or sometimes red. Other individuals don’t have a stripe at all. But regardless, they’re so cute. We had to include this salamander on our list. (Another Canadian species, the northern two-lined salamander, has a yellow-to-olive stripe down its back, with two dark lines running on either side—see photo gallery.)
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