Western Tiger Salamander

Ambystoma mavortium

The Western Tiger Salamander is a cool, spotted amphibian that loves to live in wet areas. It has a smooth, shiny skin and can be black or dark brown with bright yellow or white spots!

Lebensraum: Wetlands

Aussehen

The Western Tiger Salamander is a large, stout-bodied amphibian with a broad head. It has a dark background color, typically black or dark brown, covered with striking irregular yellow or olive-green blotches and bars. This vibrant pattern makes it easily recognizable.

ReichAnimaliaStammChordataKlasseAmphibiaOrdnungCaudataFamilieAmbystomatidaeGattungAmbystoma

Western Tiger Salamander

Kategorie

Amphibien

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Their larvae are fierce underwater predators, often eating other tadpoles and smaller salamanders!

They are one of the largest land-dwelling salamanders found across North America!

They can secrete a milky toxin from their skin as a defense against hungry predators!

Tiger salamanders sometimes eat each other, especially when food is scarce in their ponds!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Western Tiger Salamander can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even damaged organs, helping them recover from injuries.

Western Tiger Salamander has strong front limbs that help them dig deep burrows for shelter and escape from predators.

Western Tiger Salamander can remain a gilled, water-dwelling larva and reproduce, adapting to stay aquatic in certain conditions.

Western Tiger Salamander uses a quick, sticky tongue to snatch insects and other small prey with surprising speed.

Maße und Details

Länge: 15-33 cm
Gewicht: 0.03-0.2 kg
Lebenserwartung: 10-16 Jahre
Top Speed: 0.5 km/h
Gelegegröße: 100-1000
Metamorphose: 60-120 Tage

Ernährung und Fütterung

These hungry amphibians eat almost anything smaller than them, from insects to other amphibians!

Altersunterschiede: Larvae are aquatic and eat aquatic invertebrates, while adults are terrestrial and eat a wider range of land-based prey.

Hauptnahrung

earthworms
insects
slugs
small fish
tadpoles
small rodents

Nahrungssuche

Ambush

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

hunts

Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

A primary food source for foraging salamanders.

eaten by

Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Salamanders are prey for various snake species.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Mammalian predators dig up salamanders from burrows.

eaten by

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Larvae and emerging adults are vulnerable to wading birds.

Merkmale

Gefleckt

Mit Flecken oder farblich abgesetzten Bereichen gezeichnet.

Graben

Grabende Tiere heben Tunnel und Kammern im Erdboden aus und nutzen diese unterirdischen Strukturen als Unterschlupf, zur Jagd oder zur Fortpflanzung.

Insektenfressend

Dieses Merkmal kennzeichnet Organismen, deren Nahrung hauptsächlich aus Insekten und anderen kleinen Wirbellosen besteht.

Feuchtgebiet

Dieses Lebensraummerkmal kennzeichnet Arten, die in Feuchtgebieten vorkommen. Dies sind Landflächen, die dauerhaft oder saisonal mit Wasser gesättigt sind, darunter Marschland, Sümpfe und Moore.