Endangered Species in Santa Cruz County - Amphibians

California Tiger Salamander

Scientific Name: Ambystoma californiense

Status: C

It is a large, stocky, terrestrial salamander with a broad, rounded snout. Adults males are about 8 inches long, females a little less than 7. Coloration consists of white or pale yellow spots or bars on a black background on the back and sides. The belly varies from almost uniform white or pale yellow to a variegated pattern of white or pale yellow and black. The salamander's small eyes protrude from their heads. They have black irises.

Prime habitat in California is grassland and open woodlands of foothills and valleys. Adults rely on rodent burrows (of ground squirrels and gophers) for underground retreats.

To Learn More:

• AmphibiaWeb
  Information on historical versus current distribution, habitat, breeding, predators.
• Animal Diversity Web - University of Michigan
  Brief easy-to-read summaries describing habitat, geographic range, behavior, food status
• California Department of Fish and Game
  Life History Notes - distribution, habitat, breeding
• CalPhotos - University of California, Berkeley
  Browsable photographs of the species.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  Current listing status, links to Federal Register and Critical Habitat documents.

Last updated by ann on April 22, 2008