Ambystoma tigrinum

Author: Brad Shankwiler

Common Names

Eastern Tiger Salamander

(Conant, et al. 1998).

Higher Taxa

Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Ambystomatidae
Tribe: Ambystome
Genus: Ambystoma
Species: tigrinum

(Pough, et al. 1998).

Identification

The holotype of A. tigrinum could not be found, because of this, the location of where the specimens rest and were found, along with the person that discovered them, are not known as well (Shankwiler, 1998). Roger Conant and Joseph T. Collins describe the 7.0-8.25 in. Eastern Tiger Salamander as follows, "the light spots, olive- or yellowish brown, are highly irregular in shape and distribution, and extend well downward on the sides. Dorsal ground color dull black to deep brown; belly olive-yellow, marbled with darker pigment (Conant, et al. 1998).

A. tigrinum Photographed by Brad Shankwiler

Geography

The Ambystoma tigrinum are found from Long Island down to Northern Florida and Southern Mississippi. Can be found around Ohio to Minnesota area as well as exanding to the Gulf from Arkansas. There Is a large population in Eastern Texas and some small communities in Northeastern Mississippi, Northeastern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. (Conant, et al. 1998).

Table I: North American Distribution of A. opacum

Ambystoma opacum
AREA	STATUS	REFERENCES
North America: Continental United States; Canada	Sparce	Conant & Collins 1998
Eastern North America: United States east of Mississippi; Ontario and eastern Canada	Yes	Conant & Collins 1998
Southeastern United States: AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV	Yes	Conant & Collins 1998
Southern Appalachian States: AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV	Yes	Conant & Collins 1998
Coastal Plain::	Probably not	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Piedmont:	probably	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Blue Ridge Mountains:	Yes	Conant & Collins 1998
Great Smoky Mountains National Park:	Yes	Pough, Andrews, Cadle, Crump, Savitzky, Wells 1998
Ridge and Valley:	Possibly	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Cumberland Plateau	Probably not	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Central Arch	possibly	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Georgia	Yes	Conant & Collins 1998
Clarke County, Georgia	Yes	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Sams Farm	Absent	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Old Field:	Probably not	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
Wetland	Yes	Conant & Collins 1998
Woods	Sparce	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.
1-Hectare Plot	Possibly	Brad Shankwiler, Pers. Ob.

Natural History

Reproduction and Offspring:
Habitat:
Density:
Diet:
Morphology:

How to Encounter

The A. tigrinum is more easily found during night time, in which they will expose themselves from the underside of logs, rocks and animal burrows. Typicaly found near slow-moving water and small lakes. Larvae will be found in groups in deep water. (Pough, et al. 1998) If found, adults can be easily maintained in an aquarium, and larvae easily raised in one as well (Conant, et al. 1998).

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