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Class:
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Amphibia
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Order:
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Caudata
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Family:
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Ambystomatidae
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Genus:
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Ambystoma
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Species:
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Tigrinum
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Size:
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3.8 – 12 in. or more
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Weight:
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4.4 oz
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Reproduction:
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A female may deposit one or more egg masses, containing 25 – 50 eggs per mass
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Life Span:
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12 – 15 years
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Range:
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Native to North America, ranging from southern Canada south, roughly to the border of Mexico and the United States
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Habitat:
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Found in prairie and open, dry woodland habitats
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Diet:
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Diet consists of invertebrates and small vertebrate prey
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Description:
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Adults vary in color pattern from black with bright yellow spots and bars of indistinct yellow flecks
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Fun Facts:
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Some small species of salamanders are lack lungs. If they have lungs, as the tiger salamander does, they pump air in and out by gular pumping (lowering and raising the floor of the mouth).
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Salamanders do not have fracture zones in their tails as some lizards do, but are able to regenerate entire limbs. Regenerated parts are usually distinguishable by the lack of characteristic pigmentation.
