Quick Tiger Salamander facts
1. Tiger salamanders spend much of adult life underground in mammal…Tiger salamanders spend much of adult life underground in mammal burrows or self-dug shelters.
2. They emerge mainly at night or during wet weatherThey emerge mainly at night or during wet weather.
3. Adults have dark bodies marked with yellow spotsAdults have dark bodies marked with yellow spots, bars or blotches.
4. Breeding migrations carry adults to ponds soon after snowmelt or seasonal rainsBreeding migrations carry adults to ponds soon after snowmelt or seasonal rains.
5. Females attach clusters of eggs to submerged vegetationFemales attach clusters of eggs to submerged vegetation.
6. Larvae are aquatic predators with feathery external gillsLarvae are aquatic predators with feathery external gills.
7. Some larvae become cannibal morphs with broader heads and enlarged…Some larvae become cannibal morphs with broader heads and enlarged teeth when conditions favor eating other salamanders.
8. Adults eat worms, insects, slugs, small rodents and almost any…Adults eat worms, insects, slugs, small rodents and almost any prey they can overpower.
9. Tiger Salamander is an ectothermic vertebrateTiger Salamander is an ectothermic vertebrate, so environmental temperature strongly influences its activity and metabolism.
10. Its skin is biologically active and participates in water balance…Its skin is biologically active and participates in water balance and gas exchange to a greater degree than reptile skin.
11. Tiger Salamander has glandular skin without the dry overlapping scales…Tiger Salamander has glandular skin without the dry overlapping scales typical of most reptiles.
12. Because amphibian skin is permeableBecause amphibian skin is permeable, dehydration and contaminated water can become serious physiological challenges.
13. Like other living amphibiansLike other living amphibians, Tiger Salamander belongs to a lineage that evolved from ancient four-limbed vertebrates.
14. As a salamander, adult Tiger Salamander retains a long tail…As a salamander, adult Tiger Salamander retains a long tail throughout life.
15. Its body is elongated with limbs projecting sideways in the…Its body is elongated with limbs projecting sideways in the typical salamander arrangement.
16. Salamanders have unusually strong tissue-regeneration abilities compared with most other…Salamanders have unusually strong tissue-regeneration abilities compared with most other vertebrates, although capacity varies by species.
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Why tiger salamander are fascinating
Tiger salamanders are large burrowing North American amphibians with bold yellow markings and aquatic larvae. Looking at these traits together reveals how the animal solves the everyday challenges of feeding, movement, communication, reproduction and survival.
Frequently asked questions
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