Large members of the mole salamander family, spotted salamanders get their name from the two rows of yellow and orange spots scattered along their black backs. They are roughly 18 cm long on average, but they can grow up to 23 cm long!
Spotted salamanders are common in the forests of eastern Canada and the United States, and they like to live around ponds and vernal pools. Still, it's hard to locate the dark amphibians even with their burgeoning populations. The majority of an adult's day is spent hiding beneath logs and rocks or underground.