Burrowing ability and behavior of salamanders of the genus Ambystoma
- 1 March 1983
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Journal of Zoology
- Vol. 61 (3), 616-620
- https://doi.org/10.1139/z83-082
Abstract
The burrowing ability and behavior of five species of fossorial salamanders of the genus Ambystoma were examined in the laboratory. Individual salamanders were subjected to three experimental treatments to test the hypothesis that salamanders do not actively dig their own burrows but alternatively enlarge cracks, crevices, and invertebrate or small mammal burrows for occupancy. One species, A. tigrinum, actively dug burrows under all experimental treatments while A. talpoideum actively dug 50% of the time. The other species (A. opacum, A. annulatum, A. maculatum) burrowed passively by using their snout and body to enlarge holes or cracks provided. Individual salamanders not able to burrow (actively or passively) underground incurred significant water loss (25–39%) and several died after a 24-h test period. Digging ability was not clearly related to snout–vent length, head width, or forelimb diameter. These data suggest that the digging ability of ambystomatid salamanders may be a behavioral adaptation and is not simply related to morphology.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Terrestrial activity and summer home range of the mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1981
- The Distribution of the Red‐Backed Salamander, Plethodon C. Cinereus, within the SoilEcology, 1961
- Burrowing Ability and Behavioral Responses to Desiccation of the Salamander, Plethodon CinereusEcology, 1960