Some individuals are entirely black or entirely white, however.
There are 12 costal grooves and the belly is black. Marbled salamanders inhabit forests, though they spend most of their time in burrows in the soil. They are more likely to be found close to the surface than our other ambystomids, in leaf litter, or under bark and logs. They can sometimes be observed foraging at night. During September or early October, these salamanders migrate to a dry or semi-dry vernal pool.