Spotted Salamander
Ambystoma maculatum
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAmphibia (Amfibis)
- OrderCaudata (Caudats)
- FamilyAmbystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)
- GenusAmbystoma (Mole Salamanders)
- SpeciesAmbystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamander)
The spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), also known commonly as the yellow-spotted salamander, is a species of mole salamander in the family Ambystomatidae. The species is native to the eastern United States and Canada. It is the state amphibian of Ohio and South Carolina. The species ranges from Nova Scotia, to Lake Superior, to southern Georgia and Texas. Its embryos have been found to have symbiotic algae, Chlorococcum amblystomatis, living in and around them, the only known example of vertebrate cells hosting an endosymbiont microbe (unless mitochondria are considered). Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Salamander sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Marbled Salamander
Ambystoma opacum
Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander
Eurycea wilderae
Red-cheeked Salamander
Plethodon jordani
Spring Salamander
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Seal Salamander
Desmognathus monticola
Imitator Salamander
Desmognathus imitator
Southern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon serratus
Red Salamander
Pseudotriton ruber
Pygmy Salamander
Desmognathus wrighti
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
Cherokee Mountain Dusky Salamander
Desmognathus adatsihi
Northern Slimy Salamander
Plethodon glutinosus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Spotted Salamander in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
About 6% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Salamander sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Spotted Salamander in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Spotted Salamander in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.