Jefferson Salamander ..... ( Ambystoma
jeffersonianum )
 Jefferson Salamander Photograph Courtesy
of
© The Vernal Pool Association The Jefferson salamander was first discovered in the 1800's in Pennsylvania on the grounds of Jefferson College, named after President Thomas Jefferson, who was known as an avid naturalist. The Jefferson salamander was last found in 2000 in the Jefferson forest (pure coincidence) at the headwaters of the Rouge River on the Oak Ridges Moraine by Natalie Helferty, a local biologist. This population is a range extension for the species, which has never been found this far north-east before. The Jefferson salamander is a nationally 'Threatened' species with only 13 known populations in Canada, all in Ontario along the Lake Erie shoreline to the Oak Ridges Moraine. It is found as far south and west as Kentucky in the United States, being a southern 'Carolinian' species. The Jefferson salamander is found in large, mature deciduous forests with well-drained, rich soils that are within about 1 km of isolated breeding wetlands that are fish-free. It is the most sensitive of all amphibian and reptile species to development impacts, including farming, housing and roads. A population of Jefferson salamanders requires intact habitat of about 1000 acres (400 hectares) in order to survive long-term ..... NH   |
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The Jefferson Salamander is dark grey to reddish brown in
color, with bluish markings on it's sides. It's toes are longer
than normal for a salamander, and it has a rather pointed snout.
They grow to a length of 6 to 17 cm's and live underground in
tunnels, under log piles or compost heaps. They move to ponds in
early spring and lay eggs, with the young hatching after 3 weeks.
The young larvae change into adults in August. They live on
snails, worms and spiders.
Natalie Helferty; a Canadian Biologist; is credited with discovery of the Jefferson Salamander on the Oak Ridges Moraine. It is a protected species in Canada, but Natalie's efforts to protect the salamander; was defeated in Court.  |