Photo: Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum). Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We are pleased to announce the winner of our most recent Monday Nature Mystery, Blair Lear!
Congratulations to Blair for identifying this Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum).
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum). Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the spotted salamander, also known as the yellow-spotted salamander, is a member of the mole salamander family which are endemic to North America. These salamanders get their family name from their burrowing behaviors, as they spend the majority of their life underground. You will only see them in the water are during their juvenile stage and when they return to breed.
Monday, March 3 will be our last Monday Nature Mystery, so if you’ve never played, now is your chance! We started Monday Nature Mystery back in 2020 during the pandemic, and we hope you enjoyed playing along and learning about our local wildlife and plants as much as we did. Thanks to all who participated!
Here is this week’s mystery:
Who is this?
Be sure to post your guess on our Facebook page under the latest Monday Nature Mystery post, and make sure you receive our emails to find out the winner and mystery answer each week. Good Luck!
Please check our guidelines here.
Monday Nature Mystery: Who is this? Photo: Judy Gallagher