ANIMAL ESTATE client 1.10: EASTERN TIGER SALAMANDER
FROM ANIMAL ESTATES 1.0: NEW YORK
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ambystoma tigrinum
ANIMAL PROFILE: The Eastern Tiger Salamander is one of the largest terrestrial salamanders in the United States. The biggest specimen recorded was 13 inches long. The average size ranges between seven and eight inches. It is stocky with sturdy limbs and a long tail. The body color is dark brown, almost black, and irregularly marked with yellow to olive colored blotches. The only other salamander with which it might be confused is the smaller spotted salamander ( Ambystoma maculatum ). The spotted, however, has two rows of regular, yellow-to-orange spots running parallel down its back, as distinct from the irregularly distributed spots of the tiger salamander.
The tiger salamander spends most of its life underground, as do other members of the group referred to as "mole salamanders." On Long Island, it emerges from its burrow in February or March to migrate at night, usually during rain, to the breeding ponds. After a brief courtship which consists of the male pushing his nose against the female's body, eggs are laid in a mass and attached to twigs and weed stems under water. The female may deposit one or more egg masses containing 25-50 eggs per mass. Hatching occurs after approximately four weeks and the larvae remain in the ponds until late July or early August. After this time, the larvae transform into air breathing sub-adults measuring between four and five inches, and leave the ponds at night during wet weather to begin their underground existence. It takes four to five years for the salamanders to reach sexual maturity and they may live for 12-15 years. The tiger salamander eats invertebrates and small vertebrates. (from US Department of Environmental Conservation )
RANGE: This mole salamander is the largest land dwelling salamander in North America. It also has the greatest range of any other North American salamander, spreading in range from southeastern Alaska east to the southern part of Labrador, and south throughout all of the United States down to the southern edge of the Mexican Plateau (Indiviglio 1997).
HABITAT: Fully metamorphosed adults lead a terrestrial existence and, depending upon where in the country they are found, some may inhabit forests, grasslands, or marshy areas (Petranka 1998). Tiger salamanders are less dependent on the forest than most other Ambystomids. One general requirement seems to be soil in which they are able to burrow or in which the burrow of other species of other animals might be utilized (Petranka1998). While they are well suited for terrestrial existence in terms of their skin consistency and thickness, they do need to be able to burrow underground in order to seek the proper humidity levels. Another requirement is that they live close enough for permanent access to ponds and othe small waters for their breeding. During dry periods, large numbers of tiger salamanders have been found lying in piles beneath suitable cover or underground (Indiviglio 1997).
COMMUNITY:
HOME CONSTRUCTION: One general requirement seems to be soil in which they are able to burrow or in which the burrow of other species of other animals might be utilized (Petranka1998).
BUILDING MATERIALS: Soil, semi-decayed twigs, grass stems, and leaves
BUILDING MOTIVATION: While they are well suited for terrestrial existence in terms of their skin consistency and thickness, they do need to be able to burrow underground in order to seek the proper humidity levels. The laying of eggs occurs a night, usually 24-48 hours after the courtship and insemination. They lay the eggs and attach them with twigs, grass stems and leaves that have decayed on the bottom floor of the pond. Each mass can obtain up to 100 eggs (Harding 1997). When large enough, the masses can resemble that of a spotted salamander but the mass of a tiger salamander is less firm and is very fragile if handled .
THREATS: Tiger salamanders are eaten by badgers, snakes, bobcats, and owls. Larvae are eaten by aquatic insects, the larvae of other salamanders, and snakes.
INTERESTING FACTS: Adult Tiger Salamanders live underground for most of the year and usually dig their own burrows, unlike other species that use burrows of other animals. They have been found over 60 cm below the surface (Harding 1997). This allows them to escape the temperature extremes on the surface and may explain why they have such a wide array of habitat types.
MAKING A TIGER SALAMANDER HOME:
REFERENCES:
Wentz, A. 2001. "Ambystoma tigrinum" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 09, 2007 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ambystoma_tigrinum.html .
Harding, J. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region . Ann Arbor, Mi: The University of Michigan Press.
Indiviglio, F. 1997. Newts and Salamanders . New York: Barron's Educational Series.
Petranka, J. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada . Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: