Blue-Spotted Salamander vs

Ambystoma laterale compared with Chrysosphaerella annulata

Key Differences

• Blue-Spotted Salamander is Least Concern while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blue-Spotted Salamander
Kingdom	Animalia (동물)	Chromista (크로미스타)
Phylum	Chordata (척삭동물)	Ochrophyta (대롱편모조식물)
Class	Amphibia (양서류)	Chrysophyceae (황조류)
Order	Caudata (도롱뇽목)	Ochromonadales (Ochromonadales)
Family	Ambystomatidae	Paraphysomonadaceae
Genus	Ambystoma	Chrysosphaerella
Species	Ambystoma laterale	Chrysosphaerella annulata

Conservation Status

Blue-Spotted Salamander

LC — Least Concern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blue-Spotted Salamander
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blue-Spotted Salamander

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in United States.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Blue-Spotted Salamander

The Blue-Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) is a species in the genus Ambystoma. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Chrysosphaerella annulata is a colonial freshwater chrysophyte microalga in the genus Chrysosphaerella, class Chrysophyceae. Unlike unicellular loricate chrysophytes, Chrysosphaerella species form spherical or ellipsoidal free-floating colonies in which individual cells are embedded in a common gelatinous matrix. The individual cells bear long siliceous scales with distinctive ring-like or annular structures — referenced by the species epithet annulata — projecting outward from the colony surface, giving the colony a spiny appearance under microscopy. These siliceous scales are species-specific and their morphology, as revealed through electron microscopy, is the primary character for identifying Chrysosphaerella species. C. annulata has been recorded from Norwegian and Swedish freshwater environments, consistent with the Scandinavian emphasis in chrysophyte research and the high diversity of chrysophytes in boreal freshwater systems. Chrysosphaerella colonies are planktonic, inhabiting the limnetic zone of oligotrophic to mesotrophic lakes where they may form locally conspicuous populations during favorable conditions. The species uses chlorophylls a and c with fucoxanthin for photosynthesis, contributing to primary production. Chrysosphaerella scales can accumulate in lake sediments, providing a record of past community composition and environmental conditions. C. annulata has not been assessed under IUCN criteria and is classified as Not Evaluated. Its documentation contributes to understanding the diversity of colonial chrysophyte forms in northern European freshwater ecosystems.