About Ambystoma texanum (Matthes, 1855)
The small-mouth salamander, scientifically named Ambystoma texanum (Matthes, 1855), reaches an adult length between 4.5 and 7.0 inches. Its base color is usually black or dark brown, marked with light grey or silvery flecking, or grey blotching. It has a noticeably small head compared to its body, paired with a long tail. On average, males are smaller than females. This species has black bellies that often bear tiny flecks, and has between 14 and 15 costal grooves. Small-mouth salamanders inhabit moist pine woodlands, deciduous forest bottomlands, tallgrass prairies, farming areas, areas near temporary ponds, and areas along streams. Their native range extends from western West Virginia south to the Gulf of Mexico, and west to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
