The Ambystoma andersoni is commonly known as Anderson's Salamander.  It can grow to be 90-350 mm.  It has dark spots with a brown base.  The Anderson's Salamander has to be in the water or it will dry out.  Ambystoma andersoni doesn't develop to an adult.  The salamander is in the Family Ambystomatidea and the genus Ambystoma.

Anderson's Salamander is dark colored so it blends into the mud for safety.  It normally eats bugs and other small creatures in the lake they are found.  Fish eat these salamanders. They also compete with the fish for food.  They are very fast swimmers, so they have a big advantage when searching for food.

 

These Salamanders can be found in Lake Zakapu.  This lake is in southern Mexico.  This species of salamander has recently been found in 1984 by Brandon and Krebs.  These salamanders don't change much throughout its life.
 

Scientists aren’t sure on how many of these species are left in the world.  They do know that the population of this particular species is decreasing.  The main reason is that in lake Zakapu there is very much pollution.  Without a safe environment, these salamanders will not survive.  

 

Author: Rhyan M.

Published: 02/2010

 

Sources:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pokerbrit/3400670360
http://Zipcodezoo.com/Animals/A/Ambystoma/5Fandersoni/defaultasp
http://www.edgeofexistence.org/amphibians/species_info.php?id=554

 

Photo Credit:

Henk Wallays

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3932115776_bc4d1b59ee.jpg