Amble Up to Anderson's Salamander
Anderson's salamander (Ambystoma andersoni) is a species of salamander found only in Lake Zacapu in the Central Mexican Plateau. The lake is freshwater, and dominated by wetland around the perimeter. Anderson's salamander is typically found along the deep mud at the bottom of the lake, among the densest vegetation.
A. andersoni is a neotonic salamander, which means that it retains its larval features into adulthood. These features include bright red external gills, which allow the adults to remain fully aquatic, and a prominent fin along its back. Adults are typically brown with black leopard-like spots. They are typically 10 to 14 cm (3.9 to 5.5 in) long, and weigh up to 300 g (0.66 lbs).
Thanks to their cryptic coloring, Anderson's salamanders are able to feed on a variety of prey; particularly snails and small crustaceans, but also small aquatic invertebrates. They themselves are predated upon by large fish.
Adult Anderson's salamanders breed in the spring and summer. Females lay clutches of large eggs, which hatch into larval salamanders after 9-20 days of incubation. The larvae take about one year to become fully mature.
Conservation status: Due to its extremely small range, A. andersoni is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Its primary threat is pollution and over-harvesting for human consumption.
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Zoo Leipzig
