Ambystoma mabeei, a small relatively uncommon salamander of the sub-genus Linguaelapsus, is limited in distribution to the coastal plain of North and South Carolina.  First described in 1928, few specimens have been collected and details of its biology have remained essentially unknown. (PDF contains 3 pages

Hardy, Jerry D. Jr.

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NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE 
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND Ref. No. 69-20 
15 January 1969 
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory 
Solornons , Maryland 20688 
A Summary of Recent Studies on the  Salamander, Ambystoma mabeei* 
d Je r ry  D. Hardy, Jr. 
Ambystoma mabeei, a small,  r e l a t i ve ly  uncommon salamander of the  sub- 
genus Linguaelapsus, is limited i n  d i s t r i bu t ion  t o  the  coasta l  p la in  of 
North and South Carolina. Since its descr ipt ion i n  1928, few specimens have 
been collected and d e t a i l s  of i ts  biology have remained e s sen t i a l l y  unknown. 
In  1963, a large population of Ambystoma mabeei was discovered on 
the Laurinberg-Maxton A i r  Base i n  Scotland County, North Carolina. This 
population has been under intensive study since t h a t  time, a s  have a l s o  
populations on Roanoke Island,  North Carolina and a t  Charleston, South Caro- 
lina. The present b r i e f  summary emphasizes only the  highl ights  of these 
studies. Subsequent publications w i l l  include precise  comments on ecology, 
gametogenes is, fecundity, embryonic development, growth, feeding hab i t s ,  
sex and s i ze  d i s t r ibu t ions  , and behavior. 
Breeding begins i n  mid-January and continues u n t i l  l a t e  March. The 
breeding ponds vary i n  s i z e  from a lake several  acres i n  a rea  t o  extremely 
transient water-fi l led depressions. Ambystoma mabeei breeds i n  associat ion 
with - A. tigrinum, A. -, A. talpoideum, Siren intermedia, and Manculus 
quadridigitatus. Fie ld  observations suggest t h a t  courtship probably occurs 
only during heavy, warm, l a t e  winter o r  ea r ly  spring ra ins .  The eggs (Fig. 
1) vary from 5.1 t o  5.9 mm i n  diameter and a r e  deposited s ingly or  i n  loosely 
connected s t r i ngs  2 t o  6 eggs long. They a re  attached t o  leaves, twigs, roo ts ,  
* Work on t h i s  project  was supported i n  par t  by a grant from the American 
Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. 
2 
or bottom debris. Hatching occurs i n  9 t o  14 days a t  an average t o t a l  rI length of 8.5 nrm. The larvae (Fig. 2) are typical ly  brown and yellow I' above, l igh t  below. There is a great  deal of dark mottling i n  the f ins  
1 and a character is t ic  l i gh t ,  unbroken mid-dorsal s t r ipe .  The exact la rva l  I c period is unknown, but m 1963 transformation occurred i n  the f i e l d  between 
May 15th and May 30th. The recently transformed young m y  move considerable 
distances from the breeding ponds,, Mass movements of adults occur during 
! extremely heavy winter and spring rains with both r ipe  and spent individuals 
: participating. Outside the breeding season the adults may e i ther  move from 
the ponds t o  the surrounding forest  or  remain i n  the dry pond bottoms, 
Figure 1. A typical  egg of Ambystoma mabeei i n  early cleavage. 
Figure 2 (following page). A. A larvae just a f t e r  hatching, 9.0 rmn TL. 
B,C. A larvae of 15.0 mm TI,, balancers s t i l l  evident,fore-limb buds well 
advanced. 2. A larvae of 33.5 mm TL, f i n  heavily pigmented, hind legs not 
L 
yet fu l ly  formed. - E. Alarvae of 51.0 mm TL just  pr ior  t o  transformation. 



A summary of recent studies on the Salamander, Ambystoma mabeei

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A summary of recent studies on the Salamander, Ambystoma mabeei

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