Breeding Migrations, Breeding Season, Clutch Size, and Oviposition of Stream-Breeding Ambystoma texanum

Abstract

In central Kentucky, adults of Ambystoma texanum become active on the ground surface in early October. Migrations to breeding streams begin in late October and continue through March. Breeding begins in late December or early January, peaks in mid-March, and ends in mid- April. Breeding occurs more or less independently of rainfall and temperature conditions. Males tend to appear on the ground surface and in breeding streams before females. The sex ratio of migrating and breeding adults was 2.2 and 1.5, respectively. The number of mature ova in gravid females was positively correlated with SVL and averaged 262 ? 61. Egg masses averaged 122 ? 97 eggs and were most numerous in shallow, rocky pools.