Tiger salamander is a fairly large amphibian known for the markings on its back, which resemble the stripes of a tiger in some individuals. Tiger salamanders can be found throughout North America. The bodies of tiger salamanders vary in appearance throughout the animal’s range. They may range from dark brown or black with brilliant yellow stripes or blotches to gray or greenish with irregular blotches. An adult tiger salamander has a thick body with unique grooves along its sides and a short, round snout. Tiger salamanders can grow to about 14 inches (36 centimeters) long.
Tiger salamanders belong to a group called mole salamanders. A mole salamander spends most of its life underground. Tiger salamanders live in burrows and are mostly active at night. They feed on such animals as insects, worms, and even such small vertebrates (backboned animals) as mice. Animals that eat tiger salamanders include birds, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, and snakes.
Female tiger salamanders attach their eggs to twigs and stems underwater. They lay single eggs or egg clusters, with some clusters containing several dozen eggs. The eggs hatch in a few to several weeks. Tiger salamander larvae (young) have feathery gills outside of their bodies, which help them remain underwater to feed and grow. Like many other salamanders, tiger salamanders undergo a period of intense change called metamorphosis. In metamorphosis, a young tiger salamander loses its gills and goes through other changes that prepare it for life on land. Tiger salamanders typically undergo metamorphosis about two to five months after hatching and move to land. After several years of growth, adults return to the water to breed. Some tiger salamanders may avoid or delay metamorphosis under certain conditions. These salamanders remain in the water to live and breed as adults. Tiger salamanders can live over 10 years in the wild and longer in captivity.
