Marbled Salamanders

Marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) exhibit sexual dimorphism—the bands on females are usually gray, while those of males are bright white. Herpetologists believe the gray bands on the females help camouflage them when they stay with their eggs, wrapping their bodies around them to form a bowl that collects water so that the eggs can grow and hatch. Why have the males evolved to be brighter? Herpetologists think that may warn predators that they produce noxious secretions in their tails; it advertises don’t eat me! Scientists also theorize that another form of camouflage is exhibited by this species: biofluorescence. The salamanders emit visible light when exposed to UV rays.