Unisexual Mole Salamander Complex

About the Unisexual Mole Salamander Complex

Unisexual mole salamanders are a species complex of all-female ambystomid salamanders in the genus Ambystoma. They are widely distributed in deciduous and mixed forests across the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America. These salamanders implement a unique system of reproduction which allows them to reproduce asexually, or to incorporate genetic material from closely-related species of salamanders, resulting in a diverse array of genotypes and phenotypes within the complex.

The physical morphology of unisexual salamanders is highly variable within and between populations, being dependent on their individual genotypes. Generally, they are robust, gray to blue-black in color, and have an average snout-vent length (SVL) of around 80 mm (3.1 in) with a laterally-compressed tail nearly as long as their body. They are larger than blue-spotted salamander (A. laterale) females, and close in size to Jefferson salamander (A. jeffersonianum) and small-mouthed salamander (A. texanum) females. Unisexuals with a high percentage of A. laterale DNA tend to be black with various amounts of blue flecking, and have a relatively narrow head and short limbs. Individuals with... Wikipedia →