description Eastern Tiger Salamander Overview
The Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is a large mole salamander native to North America, capable of reaching lengths of up to 33 centimeters. It is characterized by its dark body covered in irregular yellow, olive, or brown blotches, which provide camouflage in its woodland and grassland habitats. As an adult, it is primarily terrestrial and fossorial, living in underground burrows, but it migrates to ponds for breeding. This species is recognized as the official state amphibian of both Kansas and Illinois.
help Eastern Tiger Salamander FAQ
Is the Eastern Tiger Salamander really the official amphibian of Kansas?
Kansas designated the barred tiger salamander as its official state amphibian in 1994. That animal is generally classified as Ambystoma mavortium, while the Eastern Tiger Salamander is Ambystoma tigrinum.
Where does the Eastern Tiger Salamander spend most of its life?
Adults spend most of their lives underground in burrows within forests, grasslands, and other upland habitat. They generally emerge during wet weather and return to ponds or temporary wetlands to breed.
How can you distinguish an Eastern Tiger Salamander from a Spotted Salamander?
Eastern Tiger Salamanders have irregular yellow or olive blotches on a dark, heavy body. Spotted Salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum, usually have two more orderly rows of round yellow or orange spots.
Can an Eastern Tiger Salamander remain aquatic as an adult?
Some tiger salamanders retain larval characteristics and remain aquatic, a condition known as neoteny. Most Eastern Tiger Salamanders transform into land-dwelling adults and return to water primarily for reproduction.
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