Ambystoma annulatum has been mostly found in the vicinity of Hot Springs Arkansas and throughout most of the forested Ozark Plateau in Missouri (Bishop 1962, Johnson 1977). Small populations of ringed salamanders have been found in south western Illinois and eastern Oklahoma as well (Petranka 1998).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Predators of ringed salamanders include owls, snakes, shrews, skunks, raccoons, opossums, and other mammals (Petranka 1998). When these salamanders are being attacked or feel threatened they will coil their bodies while tucking their heads underneath the base of their tales for protection (Petranka 1998).
Known Predators:
Adult ringed salamanders range in length from 140 to 180 mm (5 1/2 to 7 inches). The record length is 255 mm (9 1/2 inches). Ambystoma annulatum has a slender well-rounded body with a small elongated head and a long tail. They have depressed snouts that are evenly and bluntly rounded. A. annulatum has about 15 costal grooves and 5 toes on the hind feet. They also have "vomerine teeth in two short series entirely between the inner nares, each series consisting of three rows of about 7 - 11 small blunt teeth" (Bishop 1962).
This is a striking salamander that is a dark blackish brown color with light cross bands and spots that are a buff - yellow color. There is some variation in the intensity of the markings. The belly is a pale grayish white. Usually, there is a short, light colored bar between the eyes. Someimes this continues below the eyes, pointing backwards diagnally. Looking from the top, the tail and body can appear to be completely ringed, hence the name "ringed" salamander. Interestingly enough, the rings never completely go around the body. Males and females are monomorphic and no textual evidence has been found if geographic or seasonal variation within the species exists.
The larvae of ringed salamanders are an average of 48 mm in length. They have well developed legs and toes and have a dorsal fin that extends to the head. Dorsally and on the lower sides there is uniform coloration. On the sides there is a broad, definite band lacking pigmentation from the gills to two-thirds down the tail. Juveniles get their yellow coloration after metamorphosis, and form their adult patterns within two months
(Bishop 1962, Johnson 1977, Petranka 1998).
Range length: 140 to 255 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Longevity in ringed salamanders is unknown. Some other salamander species may live up to 10 years.
Ambystoma annulatum prefers damp hardwood forests that are near shallow ponds (Bishop 1962). These salamanders are usually found hidden under rocks and logs, in piles of dead leaves, or burrowing in the soil; most of the year is spent below the surface of the ground (Bishop 1962, Johnson 1977).
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; temporary pools
Ambystoma annulatum is carnivorous, eating mostly earthworms, insects, land snails, and other invertebrates (Johnson 1977). Cannibalism has been observed in this species in both the field and the laboratory (Petranka 1998). Larvae of A. annulatum eat ostracods, hemipterans, and dragonfly and damselfly nymphs (Petranka 1998).
Animal Foods: amphibians; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; mollusks; terrestrial worms; aquatic or marine worms
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore , Vermivore)
Ringed salamanders are important predators of small invertebrates in the ecosystems in which they live. Some animals may depend on the dense aggregations of salamander eggs during the breeding season.
Ringed salamanders are not economically important to humans, but are of interest to scientists and to nature-oriented tourists. It is a specialized species, unique to its Ozark habitat. Because of their docility and striking appearance, they might be useful in environmental education programs (Petranka 1998).
Positive Impacts: ecotourism
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Ringed salamanders are an increasingly rare (and probably endangered) animal, most likely because of their restricted range and specific breeding requirements (Petranka 1998). The breeding habitats for these creatures should be protected whenever possible.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Ringed salamanders may communicate mainly through chemical and tactile cues during the breeding season.
Communication Channels: tactile ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
There are no negative impacts of ringed salamanders.
Eggs are fertilized internally via spermatophores and the eggs are deposited in shallow, fishless water in the fall, mostly in October (Petranka 1998). Courtship occurs in shallow water as well (Johnson 1977).
They reproduce at night in breeding ponds where hundreds of them congregate. Usually the males are found at the breeding ponds first, and are distinguishable from the females by their swollen cloacas (Bishop 1962). Males will usually approach females. They start off by nudging the female's cloaca, and then swim off a short distance and deposit a few spermatophores (Petranka 1998). A male may deposit nine spermataphores in two minutes (Petranka 1998). The more males that come into the breeding area, the less specific males get when depositing spermatophores, nudging both males and females before deposition (Petranka 1998). Males deposit spermatophores on rocks, on other spermatophores, and even on other individuals. At this time females are generally passive and do not pick up seminal fluid while they are actively being courted by males (Petranka 1998). Breeding lasts a few days, after which the salamanders begin to move away from the ponds (Bishop 1962).
Mating System: polygynous
Ringed salamanders reproduce in shallow water. Breeding takes place in the fall between September and November (Bishop 1962). Cool temperatures and heavy rains stimulate breeding. Females begin ovipositing within 1 - 2 days after breeding. These salamanders are usually sexually mature 2 - 3 years after metamorphosis (Petranka 1998). Eggs are laid in clusters with an average of 10 eggs in a cluster (Bishop 1962). Usually, about 150 eggs are laid in total and are sometimes attached to vegetation but are usually laid directly on the bottom of ponds (Bishop 1962). The embryonic period of A. annulatum is fairly short. Premature pond freezing and drying are the biggest risks to the embryos and larvae (Petranka 1998). A. annulatum is an explosive breeder, and at times breeding males will try to reproduce 2 - 4 times during the breeding season (Petranka 1998).
Breeding interval: Breeding occurs once yearly.
Breeding season: Breeding occurs during the fall, between September and November.
Average number of offspring: 150.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 to 3 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 to 3 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
Aside from provisioning eggs before fertilization there is no parental care.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement
The ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) is a species of mole salamander native to hardwood and mixed hardwood-pine forested areas in and around the Ozark Plateau and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.[2] This species of salamander has slander body, small head, and long tail. They are usually found to have various dorsal color from dark gray to dark brown. Various close relatives are found such as Ringed salamander (A. annulatum), marbled salamander (A. opacum), and spotted salamander (A. maculatum). This species of salamander has cannibal behavior especially those in large body size.
It is found in damp, forested areas, usually under leaves, rotting logs, or in abandoned ground holes of other organisms, near shallow ponds. Highly fossorial (adapted to digging), adults are often found in subterranean refuges.[2] This salamander is increasingly rare and perhaps endangered. This is likely a result of its restricted range and specific breeding habit needs.[2] The world population is thought to be around 100,000 animals. Its conservation status is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.[1] This salamander can perform embryotic learning and social-facilitated learning.[3][4]
The Ringed Salamander has a slender body shape with a small head and a long tail. This species has 15 costal (along the ribs) grooves and a depressed round snout. There are two arrays of vomerine teeth—teeth along a thin bone that form the inferior and posterior part of the nasal septum and divide the nostrils. Each series contains 7 - 11 teeth. Each of their hind feet has five toes. The dorsal color of adults can range from dark gray to blackish brown decorated with white to yellowish bands and light-colored dots. Ventral sides are generally grayish-yellow.[5] Newly metamorphosed juveniles have black backs and white bellies. A row of light spots extended from their forelimbs to the tails. Soon after metamorphosis yellow bands started to appear, and complete adult colorations form within two months after metamorphosis.[6]
Ringed salamander is strictly terrestrial and has been found in hardwood and mixed hardwood-pine forests. During non-breeding seasons, adults hide under leaves, rotting logs, or abandoned holes on the ground in damp forest areas. Larvae and juveniles exist in small, fishless semi-permanent ponds.[5] Most ringed salamanders are found in the vicinity of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the Missouri portion of the Ozark Plateau.[7][8] Small populations have also been found in western Illinois and eastern Oklahoma.[2]
Ringed salamander is endemic to the Ozark plateau and the Ouachita Mountains of southern Missouri, Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma. This is a much more restricted range of distribution compared to other species in the same genus, such as A. maculatum and A. opacum.[9][10]
While drying of ponds during late summer has significant impacts on spring breeding species such as spotted salamanders, it does not affect ringed salamanders much. However, a reduction of rain and numbers of filling ponds during September and October can cause a great decrease in ringed salamander's breeding efforts and egg depositions.[10] Although average canopy cover and leaf litter depth do not significantly relate to ringed salamander's occupancy, continuous forests are highly associated with its breeding wetlands.[11] Clear-cut timber harvest also has a negative effect on ringed salamander distribution. Forest sites after a clear-cut harvest have more open canopies, which results in higher ground temperatures. In order to survive, ringed salamanders either retreat underground into burrows or move to other places. Thus, juveniles and adults with small body sizes are more vulnerable as they have lower dispersal abilities.[12][13]
There are two major areas of focus for maximizing the proliferation of ringed salamanders, which concentrate on minimizing the local extinction of both juveniles and adults and maintaining metapopulation dynamics respectively. Protecting permanent fishless ponds is crucial for the survival of metamorphosing juveniles. Maintaining terrestrial habitat around the breeding ponds is important for reproducing adults. A study has shown that a core terrestrial habitat with a radius of 200-500m from the pond edge must be established to provide enough space for the survival of breeding adults, especially during their first reproduction. Connectivity between ponds is critical for keeping sufficient gene flows among multiple populations. A suitable habitat should have breeding ponds no more than 300m from each other, and rescue-recolonization management is recommended.[10][11]
Ringed salamander (A. annulatum), marbled salamander (A. opacum), and spotted salamander (A. maculatum) are sympatric close relatives, and they are all terrestrial. They all belong to a famous genus of salamanders called mole salamanders (Ambystoma). Spotted salamanders and marbled salamanders have much larger distributions and are more well-studied than ringed salamanders. Similar to ringed salamanders, marbled salamanders also breed in fall, while the other species spotted salamander breeds in spring.[10]
Molecular evidence from nuclear microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA analysis shows that populations of ringed salamanders in the Central Interior Highlands ecoregion are separated into two.[14] One population lives on the Ozark plateau in the north, while the other population lives in the Ouachita Mountain in the south.[15] The separation first occurred during the Cretaceous to mid-Miocene and was further bisected by the development of the Arkansas River system during the Pleistocene. Genetic differentiation is also largely influenced by human-induced habitat fragmentation since European settlement.[14]
Common preys for ringed salamander larvae include microcrustaceans, dipteran larvae, larval chironimids, and many larval and adult insects such as beetles, snails, earthworms, and eggs of other salamanders and frogs.[16][6] Ringed salamanders usually serve as the top predator in their breeding ponds.[11] This is likely due to the fall breeding timing of ringed salamanders, which allows them to prey on individuals of other spring breeding species that are still in their early life stages such as spotted salamanders, marbled salamanders, red-spotted newts, and many other anuran species, thus decreases their abundances.[10][17]
Although larvae of all sizes eat other prey species, those with larger body sizes can be cannibalistic. Cannibalism can be beneficial as conspecific preys are large, might contain growth-promoting hormones, and lack toxic substances in heterospecific preys. However, there is also a risk of pathogen and endoparasite transmissions. The cannibals differ from their conspecific prey by having twice longer mean body lengths and slightly broader heads. The long breeding season leads to increasing larvae size variation, which contributes to the possibility of cannibalism. Larvae hatched later in the season have smaller sizes, so early spawn breeders may gain a selective advantage by producing large offspring with higher fitness, but this advantage may be offset by more unpredictable pond conditions. The cannibalism of ringed salamanders is an opportunistic behavior that is more likely to occur in conditions of high larvae density, the coexistence of larvae of various sizes, or insufficient alternate food choice. Larvae that commit cannibalism have been shown to have wider mouths and a larger size than their noncannibal counterparts. This adds to the evidence that cannibalism is an opportunistic enterprise based no having an advantageous size.[18] Ringed salamander larvae have intermediate-level cannibalism compared to other species in the same genus. Spotted salamanders only show cannibalism in extreme conditions, while tiger salamanders (A. tigrinum) have really high tendencies of cannibalism.[16]
Ringed salamander is an autumn breeding species. Males and females both reach their reproductive maturity at 1 year old, but most individuals return for breeding at 2–3 years old. Migration to breeding ponds usually started at night after or during rain in mid-September, and individuals tend to stick with specific ponds every year.[10] Annual cycle of air and soil temperatures ensures that adults enter reproductive conditions in time, but autumn rainfall is the major factor that triggers breeding migration, and the precipitation threshold must be at least 1.27 cm. A huge variation of breeding population size exists across ponds and years, which is positively correlated with the amount of rainfall during migration season.[10] Males start to migrate to breeding ponds as early as August, which is earlier than females with the earliest record in September. The end date of migration is in early November, which is similar for both sexes.[9][10]
After mating, egg laying begins on the night of courtship or the next day and is completed within two days. The female extends her rear legs laterally and arches their backs to get the cloacae onto a substrate. She stays motionless after climbing onto a suitable object until muscular contractions start. The contraction spread posteriorly from a point 2.5 from the front to the rear legs, depositing eggs from the cloaca one at a time in a row. Shapes of egg masses can be strings, clumps, or large clusters, which largely depend on what are the available supporting materials, such as sticks, for oviposition. Adults leave the pond right after breeding but could remain active above-ground for several days before getting back to their resting places.[9]
Larvae start to present in ponds in September and October. Based on eggs hatched in the laboratory environment, the average total length of larvae just hatched is 11.5mm. Unlike spring breeding species, ringed salamander larvae overwinter under the ice in their birth ponds. The larval period ranges from 7 to 9 months,[10][11] which is similar to that of marbled salamanders. Larvae mortality can be caused by freezing, drying, low pH, predation including cannibalism, and disease. Premetamorphic mortality can be as high as 99.9% and peaks during the first two months post-hatching and during metamorphic periods.[19]
Juveniles generally emerge in April the following spring. The average survival rate of juveniles from eggs to metamorphosis is only 0.2%, which is really low and doesn't vary much among ponds or years. The mean snout-vent length of metamorphosing juveniles is 39.2mm, which is about 50% of that of breeding adults, but the largest juvenile can be 76% of the adult size. Juveniles that metamorphosed in early spring are usually larger than those that metamorphose later in the summer. A larger body size corresponds to a high probability of surviving, a younger age at first reproduction, and a longer lifespan. This is the opposite trend compared to spotted salamanders, of which juveniles metamorphose later are larger, and have higher fitness.[10]
The limb regeneration time of larval salamanders shortens with development, and postmetamorphic adult larval salamanders exhibit little or no limb regeneration.[20] Through experiments looking at regeneration times for larval salamanders at different age (40 days), axolotl (30+ days), newt (44 days) and adult salamanders (155 to 370 days), it was found that the limb regeneration time of each stage has a huge difference. Based on two criteria: each stage is similar to the sequences of previous stages of newt, while these stages must be easily identifiable by examining the external morphology of living organisms, the results revealed 11 well-defined regeneration phases.[21] There is a saying that environmental conditions cause salamanders to lose the ability to express their intrinsic ability. Regeneration was observed in the following conditions for the adult salamanders: A. annulatum, 324 to 370 dpa; A. maculatum, 255 to 300 dpa; A. texanum, 215 to 250 dpa; and A. tigranum , 155 to 180 dpa.[20]
Ringed salamanders are sexually dimorphic. Breeding females are larger than males, with the mean snout-vent length being 96.3mm and 84.2mm respectively. At each breeding pond, the adult sex ratio is consistently male-biased with a 2.05:1 ratio.[10](2) A mass courtship happens when a large number of males and some females arrived at a pond. Initially, one male approaches a female and nudges her cloaca and sides of the body with his snout. After that, he quickly deposits a spermatophore somewhere nearby. A male usually deposits one spermatophore at a time but could also lay up to four in succession. This behavior is repeated and reaches a peak that lasts for 10–15 minutes. As more and more males join, a crowd of male forms around a female, where each male begin to nose the female and other males indiscriminately, and lots of spermatophores are laid at the same spot. Multiple males tend to lay their spermatophores next to or on top of each other. There can be as many as 10 or more spermatophores within a 1.6 cm2 area. Researchers didn't observe any female participation in the courtship. Females lay fertilized eggs after the mass courtship, so they might pick one or more spermatophores after the courtship as do female A. macualtum, the sympatric relative of ringed salamander. Another possibility is females may follow a chosen male and pick up his spermatophores specifically.[9]
Ringed salamanders can learn what are predators and foods from chemical stimuli as early as embryos. This allows larvae to avoid predation and have a higher foraging efficiency right after hatching. Lab experiments have proved that embryos exposed to odors of prey species like shrimp and mussel show attraction to those stimuli post-hatching.[3] Embryotic exposures to chemical stimuli from cannibalistic larvae or predators, such as Eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) and dragonfly nymphs, resulted in increasing use of habitat refuge (vegetation cover) and decreasing activities post-hatching.[3][4] These are signs of anti-predator responses. Decreasing activity is especially effective for avoiding the detection of visual predators and reducing encountering possibilities.[4] The underlying physiological mechanism might be that the stimuli can shape the developing olfactory system in a different way to cause either olfactory imprinting or sensitization. Because of the plasticity of ringed salamander's diet, researchers think that sensitization is a more plausible explanation as it means a temporary response to a stimulus, while olfactory imprinting means showing a long-term response.[3]
Young larvae are also able to distinguish between predator and prey after observing other larvae that are known as conspecific models. Social learning is commonly thought to exist only in group-living organisms, but it can happen in non-gregarious species like ringed salamanders as well. Ringed salamander larvae can form temporary high-density groups during a short period after hatching, which provides the environment for social learning. A study on ringed salamanders has demonstrated that a larva can successfully recognize dragonfly nymph as a danger after watching the anti-predator reactions of four conspecific demonstrators.[17] This socially facilitated learning and the former embryotic learning are both beneficial in a way that it minimizes costs due to direct samplings of different foods and random encounters with predators.[3]
Fish is a predator of ringed salamanders at all life stages in ponds.[17] Aquatic insects, salamanders, snakes, and wading birds, such as, can all be potential predators of ringed salamander larvae.[17] Studies have recorded many insect predators including Odonata, Hemiptera, and Thanmophis Proximus. Bird predators include great blue herons and American bittern, snake predators include Nerodia sipedon, and turtle predators include Chelydra serpentina.[19]
Larvae's anti-predator responses gradually decrease with increasing body sizes. Large larvae are less vulnerable to gap-limited predators such as newts. They are either too big as preys or have swifter fleeing reactions with stronger muscles. Ringed salamanders that are one month before metamorphosis are completely immune to newt predation.[4]
Ringed salamanders also suffer from lots of endoparasites. The most common parasite species is ascarid nematode (Cosmocercoides variabilis). This parasite is not only commonly found in ringed salamander, but also spreads widely in the family Ambystomatidae. Rhabditid nematodes (Rhabdias ranae) are the second most common parasite that infests A. annulatum's lungs and body cavities. Other relatively rare parasites include gall bladder myxosporean (Myxidium serotinum) and tissue-dwelling spirurids that are usually en-cysted in ringed salamanders' stomach walls.[15]
The ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) is a species of mole salamander native to hardwood and mixed hardwood-pine forested areas in and around the Ozark Plateau and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. This species of salamander has slander body, small head, and long tail. They are usually found to have various dorsal color from dark gray to dark brown. Various close relatives are found such as Ringed salamander (A. annulatum), marbled salamander (A. opacum), and spotted salamander (A. maculatum). This species of salamander has cannibal behavior especially those in large body size.
It is found in damp, forested areas, usually under leaves, rotting logs, or in abandoned ground holes of other organisms, near shallow ponds. Highly fossorial (adapted to digging), adults are often found in subterranean refuges. This salamander is increasingly rare and perhaps endangered. This is likely a result of its restricted range and specific breeding habit needs. The world population is thought to be around 100,000 animals. Its conservation status is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. This salamander can perform embryotic learning and social-facilitated learning.
Ambystoma annulatum Ambystoma generoko animalia da. Anfibioen barruko Ambystomatidae familian sailkatuta dago, Caudata ordenan.
Ambystoma annulatum Ambystoma generoko animalia da. Anfibioen barruko Ambystomatidae familian sailkatuta dago, Caudata ordenan.
Ambystoma annulatum est une espèce d'urodèles de la famille des Ambystomatidae[1].
Cette espèce est endémique du centre-Est des États-Unis[1]. Elle se rencontre dans les monts Ozarks et les Montagnes Ouachita :
Ambystoma andersoni mesure de 140 à 180 mm sans la queue[2].
Ambystoma annulatum est une espèce d'urodèles de la famille des Ambystomatidae.
De geringde salamander[2] (Ambystoma annulatum) is een salamander uit de familie molsalamanders (Ambystomatidae). De soort werd voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door Edward Drinker Cope in 1886. Oorspronkelijk werd de wetenschappelijke naam Amblystoma annulatum gebruikt.[3]
Deze soort komt voor in delen van Noord-Amerika en leeft endemisch in de Verenigde Staten.[4] De salamander komt voor in het Ozark Plateau en Ouachita Mountains van zuidelijk Missouri, oostelijk Oklahoma en westelijk Arkansas.
De geringde salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) is een salamander uit de familie molsalamanders (Ambystomatidae). De soort werd voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door Edward Drinker Cope in 1886. Oorspronkelijk werd de wetenschappelijke naam Amblystoma annulatum gebruikt.
Ambystoma annulatum é uma espécie de anfíbio caudado pertencente à família Ambystomatidae. Endêmica de zonas de madeira de lei e áreas mistas de florestas de pinheiros e de madeira de lei em e ao redor do Ozark Plateau e das Montanhas Ouachita de Arkansas, Oklahoma e Missouri.[2]
Ambystoma annulatum é uma espécie de anfíbio caudado pertencente à família Ambystomatidae. Endêmica de zonas de madeira de lei e áreas mistas de florestas de pinheiros e de madeira de lei em e ao redor do Ozark Plateau e das Montanhas Ouachita de Arkansas, Oklahoma e Missouri.
Tvärbandad mullvadssalamander (Ambystoma annulatum) är ett stjärtgroddjur i familjen Ambystomatidae som finns i ett begränsat område i USA.[1]
Salamandern är svartbrun med ljusa, kontrasterande tvärband i gult eller beige på ryggen, medan buken år gråvit. Kroppen är rundad men slank med ett litet, avlångt huvud. Längden ligger vanligtvis mellan 14 och 18 cm; största uppmätta längd är 25,5 cm.[2] Larverna är olivgröna till svarta på ryggsidan, gråvita på buken, med ett brett, opigmenterat band på varje sida.[3]
Den tvärbandade mullvadssalamandern finns i Ozark- och Ouachitabergen på gränsområdet till Missouri, Oklahoma och Arkansas i USA.[1]
Arten lever i fuktiga lövskogar i närheten av grunda vattensamlingar den kan använda för lek. Den håller sig vanligtvis dold i förnan, under stenar och trädstammar eller nergrävda under jord. Den lever på olika ryggradslösa djur, som insekter, daggmaskar och snäckor.[2] Larverna lever främst av små kräftdjur och mygglarver; större larver kan också ta skinnbaggar, snäckor och sländlarver. Kannibalism förekommer bland larverna.[3]
Den tvärbandade mullvadssalamandern leker i stillastående, grunda vattensamlingar som är fria från fisk. Leken sker under hösten, och vanligen under kyliga, regniga nätter. Salamandrarna samlas vid parningsvattnen i stort antal, och hanarna börjar uppvakta honorna genom nafsanden, varpå de avsätter spermatoforer som honorna tar upp.[2] Varje hona lägger omkring 200 till 300 ägg per säsong, som kläcks efter 2 till 3 veckor.[2] Larverna övervintrar i vatten, och förvandlas vanligen efter 6 till 8,5 månader.[3] De blir könsmogna efter 2 till 3 år.[2]
Den tvärbandade mullvadssalamandern betraktas som livskraftig ("LC"), och populationen är i allmänhet stabil. Den hotas dock lokalt av utdikningar, skogsavverkning och andra habitatförluter, samt inplantering av ädelfisk.[1]
Tvärbandad mullvadssalamander (Ambystoma annulatum) är ett stjärtgroddjur i familjen Ambystomatidae som finns i ett begränsat område i USA.
Загальна довжина становить 14—18 см. Голова товста. Очі невеликі. Тулуб кремезний. Кінцівки добре розвинені. Хвіст довгий та широкий. Особливістю цієї амбістоми є її забарвлення: по загальному чорному забарвленню проходять своєрідні світлі кільця. Що тягнуться від кінчика носа до кінчика хвоста. Звідси й походить назва цієї амфібії. Такі кільця спочатку жовті на хвості стають білуватими або кремовими.
Полюбляє лісову місцину, тримається поблизу дрібних водойм. Живиться земляними хробаками, різних комахами і равликами.
Період розмноження триває з середини вересня до листопада, залежно від середовища проживання. У цієї амбістоми внутрішнє запліднення. На другу добу після парування самка відкладає 5—40 яєць на дно водойми. Метаморфоз відбувається в лютому наступного року.
Поширена у штатах Арканзас, Міссурі і Оклахома (США).
Ambystoma annulatum (Cope, 1886)
СинонимыКольчатая амбистома[2] (лат. Ambystoma annulatum) — вид земноводных из семейства амбистомовых. Обитает в лиственных и смешанных сосновых лесных массивах, на плато Озарк и в горах Уошито в Арканзасе, Оклахоме и Миссури[3]. Большинство особей находятся в непосредственной близости от Хот-Спрингс, Арканзас, и миссурийской части плато Озарк[4][5]. Небольшие популяции были обнаружены в западном Иллинойсе и восточной Оклахоме[3].
Кольчатая амбистома обитает во влажных лесистых местах, обычно под опавшими листьями, гниющими бревнами или в заброшенных норах других животных, возле мелких водоёмов. Это роющее животное часто обосновывается в подземных убежищах. Амбистома встречается всё реже и, возможно, находится в опасности, скорее вследствие ограниченного ареала и количества мест, подходящих для размножения[3]. Общая численность популяции неизвестна, но, вероятно, превышает 100 000 животных особей. Согласно МСОП природоохранный статус таксона оценивается как вид под наименьшей угрозой[1].
Кольчатая амбистома (лат. Ambystoma annulatum) — вид земноводных из семейства амбистомовых. Обитает в лиственных и смешанных сосновых лесных массивах, на плато Озарк и в горах Уошито в Арканзасе, Оклахоме и Миссури. Большинство особей находятся в непосредственной близости от Хот-Спрингс, Арканзас, и миссурийской части плато Озарк. Небольшие популяции были обнаружены в западном Иллинойсе и восточной Оклахоме.
Кольчатая амбистома обитает во влажных лесистых местах, обычно под опавшими листьями, гниющими бревнами или в заброшенных норах других животных, возле мелких водоёмов. Это роющее животное часто обосновывается в подземных убежищах. Амбистома встречается всё реже и, возможно, находится в опасности, скорее вследствие ограниченного ареала и количества мест, подходящих для размножения. Общая численность популяции неизвестна, но, вероятно, превышает 100 000 животных особей. Согласно МСОП природоохранный статус таксона оценивается как вид под наименьшей угрозой.