{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "spotted-salamander",
  "name": "Spotted Salamander",
  "scientificName": "Ambystoma maculatum",
  "category": "Amphibian",
  "summary": "The spotted salamander is a stout, secretive mole salamander of eastern North America, instantly recognized by two rows of bright yellow spots on its dark body. It spends most of its life hidden underground and migrates to woodland pools on rainy spring nights to breed. Spotted salamanders are long-lived and can survive 20 years or more.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Amphibia",
    "order": "Urodela",
    "family": "Ambystomatidae",
    "genus": "Ambystoma"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.013,
    "lengthM": 0.2,
    "topSpeedKmh": 3,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Ambystoma maculatum"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (worms, insects, small invertebrates)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Moist deciduous forest with vernal pools"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "20+ years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "15–25 cm (6–10 in) body length"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "Around 13 g (0.5 oz)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Moist deciduous forests with vernal pools across the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.",
    "continents": [
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Ambystoma maculatum.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Ambystoma%20maculatum&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Ambystoma maculatum. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ambystoma_maculatum/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Spotted Salamander.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_salamander"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/spotted-salamander/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/spotted-salamander/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}