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Unfortunately, voting for the State Amphibian has closed, but we would love your support to establish the Blue Spotted Salamander as the State Salamander of Massachusetts!
Unfortunately, voting for the State Amphibian has closed, but we would love your support to establish the Blue Spotted Salamander as the State Salamander of Massachusetts!
States have loads of symbols. Our state, Massachusetts, has a state bird (the Black-capped Chickadee), a state berry (the cranberry), and even a state cookie (the Toll House chocolate chip).
Did you know that 28 other States in the US have State Amphibians? We want to make Massachusetts the 29th, and we need your help!
Amphibians are key indicators of the health of an ecosystem. They eat insects (especially mosquito larvae) and other pests, but their special skin makes them vulnerable to toxins and drought. Scientists watch amphibian populations to monitor ecosystems and raise the alarm if the populations are not thriving. 40% of all amphibian species worldwide are threatened by extinction! We need your help to stay aware and protect these species in any way you can. Massachusetts has about 20 amphibians hopping and crawling about our streams, ponds, wetlands, forests, meadows and backyards: salamanders, newts, frogs and toads, several threatened or endangered themselves.
Meet the Candidates!
Meet the Candidates!
1. Blue Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)
This adorable salamander is a Species of Special Concern in MA, and no other State has chosen it as their State Amphibian! It lives in Vernal Pools and is a key species for identifying Vernal Pools. Voting for the blue spotted salamander will help raise awareness of the importance of protecting endangered species in our state.
Status: Special Concern
Habitat Needs: Forests, sandy soil and moist wetlands, vernal pools
Reason for Endangerment: Loss of wetlands and destruction of forests in which they live.
Importance: They eat mosquitoes, slugs and other pests. The tadpoles are especially helpful by eating mosquito larvae and other harmful insects.
2. Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii)
This nocturnal toad is quite secretive, spending the cold winter months burrowed 8 feet underground.
A close relative, the New Mexico Spadefoot Toad, is the State Amphibian of...you guessed it...New Mexico.
Status: Threatened
Habitat Needs: Dry habitats with loose, sandy soils, coastal oak woodlands, sparse shrub growth, vernal pools for breeding
Reason for Endangerment: Habitat loss
Importance: These nocturnal creatures eat insects--especially termites--worms and other invertebrates.
3. Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)
This bright red, common newt is found in forests near ponds, lakes and streams. It's very common throughout the Eastern US. It is also the State Amphibian of our neighbor to the north, New Hampshire. Will the color attract you to vote for this little guy?
Status: Common
Habitat Needs: Wet forests, streams, lakes or ponds with muddy bottoms
Importance: Their skin is slightly toxic to protect these imporant little carnivores from their own predators. They help keep ecosystems healthy by eating many invertebrates.
Credit: Photo by Stephanie Maze-Hsu
https://www.nwf.org/educational-resources/wildlife-guide/amphibians/wood-frog
4. Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
This lovely little frog can be very noisy in the spring!
It's already the State Amphibian of New York--do we need another rivalry?
Status: Common
Habitat Needs: They live in woodlands and go to Vernal Pools to lay their eggs. They take shelter in leaf litter during the winters.
Importance: Another obligate species for Vernal Pools, their presence reminds us to protect our fragile wetland environments. They are also the only frogs that can be found north of the Arctic Circle!
5. Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
These cute little black and white salamanders are important parts of their ecosystems, but are Threatened here in MA. However, they are already listed as the State Salamander of North Carolina....will MA be next for them?
Status: Threatened
Habitat Needs: Forests and woodlands. Breeding habitats include vernal pools, woodland ponds, shrub swamps, and forested swamps, which have to be fishless and either within or next to a forest.
Reason for Endangerment: Habitat loss and degradation, road mortality, and emerging infectious disease
Importance: A predator that regulates insect and other invertebrate populations in forest habitats
Credit: Photo by Stephanie Maze-Hsu
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Amphibians/Tree-Frogs
Credit: Photo by Stephanie Maze-Hsu
6. Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
This frog is the only Massachusetts amphibian that changes color to camouflage in the trees! It has a very distinctive croak that means summer is on the way. Will you select this fascinating creature as the State Amphibian? Several of its tree frog cousins are the State Amphibian for other states.
Status: Common
Habitat Needs: Gray Treefrogs, not surprisingly, live in trees and forested areas near water. During the hot, summer months they live in moist areas like logs and hollow trees. During the winter, they hibernate under roots and brush.
Importance: Many species depend on the Gray Treefrog as prey and it is a vital part of the food chain. They also have toxic skin that will irritate skin when touched.
7. Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus )
Mudpuppies are one of the few salamanders to be able to make noise! They are also large, often growing to about a foot long! Their name is adorable, and they are sure unique looking.
While no states have claimed the Mudpuppy for their State Amphibian, they may not have enough range in MA to claim that honor for us since they only live in the Connecticut River in the western reaches of the state.
Status: Common
Habitat Needs: They live on the bottoms of lakes, ponds and streams and never leave the water.
Importance: These little nocturnal carnivores eat worms, crayfish and other small creatures.
8. Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Nothing says spring in Massachusetts back yards like the call of the Spring Peeper! These tiny, noisy little tree frogs sing us to sleep when the nights are warm enough to open the windows.
It's not a State Amphibian anywhere...yet...
Status: Common
Habitat Needs: Moist wooded areas and fields. They hibernate during the winter in mud and under logs.
Importance: They eat many types of insects and serve as a vital part of the food chain all over the US. They lay hundreds of eggs at a time which feed many different species.
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