# California Tiger Salamander (*Ambystoma californiense*) The California Tiger Salamander is a special amphibian with a black body and bright yellow or white spots. They live underground most of the year and come out during the rainy season to breed in ponds. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands and wetlands ![California Tiger Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/California_Tiger_Salamander.jpg&width=800) Photo: John Cleckler, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_Tiger_Salamander.jpg) ## Appearance The California Tiger Salamander has a stout body with striking black or dark brown skin patterned with irregular yellow or cream-colored spots and bars. It has a broad head and prominent eyes, making it distinct from plain-bodied salamanders. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Ambystomatidae - **Genus:** Ambystoma ## Interesting facts - Adults emerge only during rainy nights to find mates. - Some journey for miles to return to their birth pond! - Their babies have feathery gills and breathe underwater! - They can live most of their lives hidden deep underground! ## Special abilities - **Burrow Master:** California Tiger Salamander can spend most of its life underground because of its strong body that helps them dig or use existing burrows. - **Gilled Guppies:** California Tiger Salamander larvae have feathery gills that help them breathe underwater, like tiny fish, until they grow lungs. - **Chemical Defense:** California Tiger Salamander has special skin secretions that make them taste bad, helping them avoid becoming a predator's meal. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 17.5-20.5 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Speed:** 0.8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 100-1300 - **Metamorphosis:** 90-120 days ## Diet & Feeding These salamanders are active hunters, feasting on small creepy-crawlies they can find. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat aquatic invertebrates like zooplankton and insect larvae; adults eat terrestrial invertebrates and small vertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Insects, Slugs, Snails, Mice - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Preys on adult salamanders. - **Eats:** Mosquitofish (*Gambusia affinis*) — Feeds on salamander larvae. - **Eats:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Digs up and eats adults. - **Eaten by:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A favorite adult salamander meal. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a salamander, watch it from a distance and don't touch it. They are very delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Tiger Salamander? Compare body shape, toes, markings, tail and skin texture. Tadpoles and larvae can look nothing like the adults they turn into. Amphibian Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is California Tiger Salamander? 17.5-20.5 cm ### How much does California Tiger Salamander weigh? 0.05-0.1 kg ### How long does California Tiger Salamander live? 8-15 years ### How fast can California Tiger Salamander move? 0.8 km/h ### What does California Tiger Salamander eat? These salamanders are active hunters, feasting on small creepy-crawlies they can find. ### Where is California Tiger Salamander usually found? Grasslands and wetlands ### How does California Tiger Salamander hunt? Ambush ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [California Tiger Salamander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-tiger-salamander)