Getting to Know the Long Toed Salamander
The long toed salamander is a terrific little amphibian that is in large supply in the northwestern area of the United States and southwestern parts of Canada. They have terrific coloring that often tempts children into conducting a salamander hunt! We are going to take a closer look at the life of a long toed salamander from birth through adulthood.
The long toed salamander can grow up to three inches in length and is easily spotted by its sleek black body with bright green splotches of color running down its head and back. It also has long toes—four on both of the front limbs and five on both of the back. They are absent of claws. It has a great survival skill in which it stores protein in its skin so that it can hibernate during the colder months. In addition, it can also regenerate body parts. Yep, that’s right! This salamander—and many other in the species—can regenerate his legs, arms, tail, and even his eyes and part of his heart. This handy skill is one that medical professionals are looking in to in an attempt to find out the salamander’s secret to regeneration.
The life of a long toed salamander starts out with gestation in a jelly-like coating which forms the egg. The female salamander lays the eggs under water and can lay over 100 eggs in one go! Sometime between two to six weeks the salamander will hatch from his egg and immediately begin swimming the waters for tiny creatures to eat, such as crustaceans and tadpoles. He is born with gills, which will begin to go away after about four months of life. During this time he will become capable of breathing air and start exploring areas outside of the water. For the most part, the adult life is spent burrowing in the ground, similar to a mole, which is how this species landed a spot in the “mole salamander” category.
This species of salamander is particularly susceptible to pollutants in the dirt and air. Why? –Because they regularly absorb moisture and air in through their skin. If the salamander were to dig through dirt that was riddled with pesticides or other pollutants, it could become seriously ill. Another threat to the salamander is an increase in the amount of forest being plowed down. As the wooded areas in the northwestern area of the United States and the southwestern area of Canada are shrinking, the salamander population has begun to alter its migration to compensate. This species of salamander is currently rated as a “least concern” case when it comes to its liability of becoming extinct, but with this increase in forestry in their natural habitat, their numbers could begin to show a decrease.
Although it is possible to keep a long toed salamander as a pet, the initial setup can seem a little overwhelming. The aquarium that you choose would need to have a lid that prevents the salamander from escaping. The inside of the tank should contain peat moss, sand, or a similar substance; however if you do use peat moss you will have to keep an eye on it and change it out often so that it doesn’t mold. As salamanders require moist environments, there will also need to be an open water container inside the aquarium that he can access freely. It is also recommended that you find a heat source to regulate the temperature of the aquarium. This can be done by inserting a heating pad underneath the aquarium (NOT in the aquarium itself) or by placing a lamp with a 50-watt light bulb over the aquarium. You can feed your long toed salamander small crickets and the occasional mealworm; however many people make the mistake of trying to feed their salamander large crickets or earthworms that are simply too big for this species of salamander to feed on.