Flatwoods Salamander

The Flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) was first described by Cope in 1868 but has remained rare in museum collections to this day. This species is a small, slender species of Ambystoma with a light gray reticulate or frosted pattern on a dark gray or black dorsum (Petranka 1998), though gulf coast populations often have a brownish gray reticulate pattern on the dorsum. The venter is typically dark gray with a light gray flecking or spotting pattern present. Adults may reach lengths of 13.5cm in total length (TL) (Palis 1996) with an average of 15 costal grooves in a range of 13-16. Larvae develop a yellow - gold vertebral stripe along the length of the body shortly after hatching. Hatchlings are identified by their uniformly dark brown dorsal patterning and their pale brown venter. Hatchlings typically measure 7.5-11.5 mm SVL and 10-19 mm TL (Anderson and Williamson 1976; Palis 1995).

Ambystoma cingulatum has a very narrow distribution occupying seasonally wet, pine flatwoods and savannas from southern South Carolina, southern Georgia, and northern Florida west to southern Alabama (Petranka 1998). Prior to European settlement Ambystoma cingulatum was found primarily in seasonally wet, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)-wiregrass (Aristida stricta) communities. Populations are discontinuous and rapidly becoming fragmented throughout the range as longleaf pine habitat is destroyed and replaced with slash pine. There may have been extirpations occurring in Alabama, and recent work suggests the extirpation of a sizable breeding population in a period of approximately 22 years (Means et al. 1996).

This species breeds in ephemeral ditches, including roadside ditches and pasture ponds, in addition to pond cypress and black gum habitat. The flatwoods salamander is a fall breeder. Adults typically migrate to breeding sites during rains from mid-October through early February (Means et al.1996). Courtship has not been observed, but it is believed that individuals court on land. Ambystoma cinglatum is one of only two species (see A. opacum) of mole salamanders that are known to court and deposit eggs in terrestrial habitat. Individuals leave the breeding site near their entry point after a period of approximately 38 days. Females deposit 1-34 clumped eggs at or near the water's edge in depressions. As in A. opacum, hatching is triggered as rains that fill the pools inundate the eggs. Females from populations in southern South Carolina and into Georgia have been shown to deposit eggs singly under logs, leaf litter, and sphagnum mats (Anderson and Williamson 1976).

Habitat fragmentation and destruction are rapidly affecting the flatwoods salamander. The longleaf pine-wiregrass communities that once dominated the Coastal Plain from North Carolina to east Texas are rapidly being destroyed for slash pine silviculture practices. It is estimated that the longleaf pine forests once comprised 60.6% of the upland landscape prior to early settlement, yet by 1990 it had dropped to 1.4% of the landscape (Ware et al. 1993). Despite earlier controversy about whether the flatwoods salamander preferred the slash pine habitat, Means et al. (1996) demonstrated that adult members of the species are primarily inhabitants of the longleaf pine-wiregrass flatwoods, and that the slash pine flatwoods only form a small portion of the adult habitat.

The flatwoods salamander is a species with a relatively restricted range and specific habitat requirements. The longleaf pine communities, which were once the dominant upland habitat type in the coastal plain from North Carolina to east Texas, have declined by more than 50% since presettlement times. Silvicultural practices have driven this habitat destruction resulting in the fragmentation of the remaining flatwoods salamander populations and potentially other species dependent on these communities. Thus, the species provides an example where reevaluating the impact economic forestry practices may have on species may be warranted.

It should be noted that A. cingulatum is one of the only terrestrial breeding salamanders that abandons its eggs in North America. (Conat & Collins, 1998) It is also interesting to consider that up to 77-84% of older larvae have damaged tails due to attacks from invertebrates. (Petranka, 1998)

The Flatwoods salamander is a small, rare ambystomid with widely distributed populations. Clearing of land, creating ditches, filling wetlands, and conservation of native longleaf pine forests to create managed tree farms, have destroyed and reduced populations. A. cingulatum is a candidate for federal concern because populations seem to be declining throughout the range (Petranka 1998). It is endangered in South Carolina, rare in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Management is complicated, involving both aquatic and terrestrial preservation (Conant 1998).

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable

Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis

Other than preservation of biodiversity and treasuring a native species to maintain ecosystem equilibrium, there is little economic importance to humans. It could however be hypothesized that salamanders keep insect populations under control

Hatchlings begin feeding immediately on invertebrates and zooplankton, which aids them in growing at a rapid pace. As A. cingulatum becomes juveniles and adults, they remain carnivorous, feeding primarily on earthworms and other insects (Petranka 1998).

South Carolina, Southern Georgia, and Northern Florida, west to southern Alabama.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

Ambystoma cingulatum occupies seasonally wet, pine flatwoods, and pine savannas in the southern United States. The Flatwoods salamander is typically found under logs near small cypress ponds. Traditionally, the Flatwoods salamander was found in sandy, seasonally wet, longleaf pine communities. But, due to European settlement these areas have been replaced by slash pine, or destroyed altogether (Petranka 1998). Adult A. cingulatum are subterranean, living mainly underground in root channels or crayfish burrows (Conant & Collins 1998).

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Length: 3 1/2- 5 1/16 in.

The Flatwoods salamander is a small highly variable ambystomid, with coloration ranging from specks, to grayish lines that resemble a frosted or lichenlike reticulated pattern. About 5% of A. cingulatum lack the frosted appearance altogether, with 2% having light annuli on their dorsum (Petranka 1998). Costal grooves average at about fifteen. The head is small compared to the shoulder and neck. Sexual dimorphism is slight to non-existent, with sexually active males being slightly shorter in length, and having a swollen cloacal region. Hatchling A. cingulatum are 7.5-11.5 mm long, and are pale brown underneath, and dark brown above (Petranka 1998). The young develop a yellow stripe that runs the length of the body. Older larvae have a paler stripe that may be retained up to one year after metamorphosis. While variations in coloration are often geographic, subspecies are not recognized (Conant & Collins 1998).

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry

The male Flatwoods salamander reaches sexual maturity at one year, but often does not breed until the following season. The females are mature and breed during their second year (Petranka 1998). Breeding populations range from 200-400 adults. Migration to breeding sites such as ephemeral habitats like ditches, burrow pits, marshy ponds, and swamps is triggered by rainy weather from mid October to early February. The adults move during the heavy rain and cease moving within five hours of the end of rainfall (Petranka 1998). The salamanders travel to the breeding sites located at or near pine flatwoods that support long leaf pine, slash pine, and wiregrass. Males and females migrate together and emigrate in December and January, after spending approximately thirty eight days at the breeding site. They return to their home range, females weighing 37% less after ovipositing. A. cingulatum is one of the only Ambystoma species, other than A. opacum, that courts terrestrially (Petranka 1998). Females lay 1-34 eggs in linear or clumped fashion beneath logs, leaf litter, sphagnum mats, bare soil, bases of bushes, and at the entrances of crayfish burrows (Conant & Collins 1998). The female abandons the eggs and leaves them where they will hatch in about two weeks, triggered by heavy rains that raise the water level. Hatching becomes staggered when it requires multiple rains to fill the pond. The larval period lasts from three to five months (Petranka 1998).

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

The frosted flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) is an endangered salamander species native to the Southeastern United States.