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Spotted Salamander

Ambystoma maculatum

Amphibian · family Ambystomatidae · order Caudata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
32 states[3]
Longest recorded life
32 years[4]

The Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) is an amphibian in the family Ambystomatidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native to 32 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Spotted Salamander a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The species is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Spotted Salamander lives

NatureServe lists the Spotted Salamander as native in 32 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. These stretch from Maine and Vermont down to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas, and west to Minnesota, Missouri and Oklahoma[3]. The list shows where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see one there[3]. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine, but that follows how much people look and report[9]. National Park Service lists record it in 68 park units[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank S3MNIllinois: native, state rank S4ILMichigan: native, state rank S4MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4PANew Jersey: native, state rank S3NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S4RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S2DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4DCOklahoma: native, state rank S3OKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (32 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS2Imperiled
District of ColumbiaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS4Apparently Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS4Apparently Secure
MinnesotaS3Vulnerable
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS3Vulnerable
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaS3Vulnerable
PennsylvaniaS4Apparently Secure
Rhode IslandS4Apparently Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4Apparently Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records hardwood and mixed forest, woodland, wetlands, riparian areas, creeks and temporary pools as habitat for this species[12]. Adults live in forests near swamps and vernal pools, which are small pools that fill in wet seasons[13]. Outside the breeding period they are usually underground or under objects on the soil surface[13]. Logs, stumps and mammal burrows give them important cover, and eggs are usually attached to underwater stems or other objects in pools and ponds in or next to forest[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults are carnivores that eat various land invertebrates[14][15]. Larvae eat mostly small water invertebrates, and sometimes other amphibian larvae[14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 25 cm (10 in)[16]. A typical clutch is 125 eggs in AnAge[17]. Females reach sexual maturity at 1,095 days old[18]. The longest recorded lifespan is 32 years, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4]. NatureServe estimates the total adult population at 100,000 to more than 1,000,000 individuals[8].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 25 cm (10 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 32 years
Litter or clutch size[17] 125
Female maturity[18] 1,095 days (about 3.0 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore, Invertivore
Migration[19] local migrant

When to look for it

The Spotted Salamander is nocturnal, meaning active at night, and it hibernates or aestivates, which means it rests through cold or dry spells[20]. Adults are most active on rainy nights during the breeding period[21]. Rain and warmer weather prompt adults to travel to their breeding ponds, in winter or early spring[22]. These trips happen in March and April in the north of the range, and mostly from December to February in the south[22]. GBIF records peak in March, April and May, which shows when people look and report, not how many animals there are[23].

January: 946 recordsJanFebruary: 2,624 recordsFebMarch: 10,136 recordsMarApril: 10,122 recordsAprMay: 4,108 recordsMayJune: 1,667 recordsJunJuly: 963 recordsJulAugust: 847 recordsAugSeptember: 1,496 recordsSepOctober: 1,391 recordsOctNovember: 619 recordsNovDecember: 408 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[23].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January946
February2,624
March10,136
April10,122
May4,108
June1,667
July963
August847
September1,496
October1,391
November619
December408

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Spotted Salamander as present in 68 park units[10]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 44 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Spotted Salamander endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1].
Where does the Spotted Salamander live?
It is native to 32 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. It lives in hardwood and mixed forests near swamps and vernal pools[13].
What does the Spotted Salamander eat?
Adults eat various land invertebrates[14]. Larvae eat mostly small water invertebrates, and sometimes other amphibian larvae[14].
How big is a Spotted Salamander?
NatureServe records a typical length of 25 cm (10 in)[16].
How long does a Spotted Salamander live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 32 years[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Spotted Salamander is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Spotted Salamander: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Spotted Salamander as native in 32 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 32 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) is a amphibian in the family Ambystomatidae, order Caudata. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Spotted Salamander: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. NPSpecies park lists recording Spotted Salamander as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Spotted Salamander (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Spotted Salamander: Forest - hardwood, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - mixed, Bare rock/talus/scree, Temporary pool, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian, Creek, Pool. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Spotted Salamander. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Spotted Salamander. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 25 cm (10 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 125. AnAge
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,095 days (about 3.0 years). AnAge
  19. NatureServe migration category for Spotted Salamander: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe notes on phenology for Spotted Salamander. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Spotted Salamander. NatureServe Explorer
  23. GBIF observation records of Spotted Salamander in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.