Eastern Tiger Salamander

(Ambystoma tigrinum)

The eastern tiger salamander is considered Endangered by New York State, though is has no Federal Status. It is considered one of the largest of the terrestrial salamanders that can be found in the United States. The largest eastern tiger salamander recorded was 13 inches long, though most range in size from seven to eight inches in length. This is a stocky salamander with sturdy limbs and a long tail. Most eastern tiger salamanders are a dark brown with irregular yellowish spots. It may sometimes be confused with the spotted salamander which is similar in color. The spotted salamander has two rows of regular spots and the spots are more uniformly shaped. It is also smaller than the eastern tiger salamander.

Eastern tiger salamanders can be found along the east coast from New York to Florida and can be found as far west as Minnesota and Texas. Albany, NY has been considered the most northern point of their range, though it is believed that the observed salamanders may of been brought to the area accidently via the Erie Canal.

These salamanders prefer sandy pine barrens with access to permanent or temporary ponds for breeding. In New York State they are only found in the Pine Barrens on Long Island.

Eastern tiger salamanders reach sexual maturity in about four to five years and are thought to have a life expectancy of about 12 to 15 years. Their diet consists of invertebrates as well as other small vertebrates.

Eastern tiger salamanders spend most of their time underground. They come out of their burrows in late winter or early spring (February or March) to move to their breeding ponds. Eggs are laid in a large masses of 25 to 50 eggs and are usually attached to a plants or other objects under water. After about four weeks the eggs hatch and the larvae remain in the breeding pond until summer (usually late July or early August). At this point the larvae change to sub-adults. Sub-adult eastern tiger salamanders generally measure four to five inches and will leave the breeding ponds at night to find their own burrows.

Habitat destruction is the main cause of the eastern tiger salamander's Endangered status in New York. They can now only be found in about 90 breeding ponds in eastern Nassau County and Suffolk County due to the development of western Long Island. Pesticides, other environmental contaminants, and the constant threat of more development have put these remaining sites are great risk. Other factors such as the introduction of predatory fish, the increase of the bullfrog populations, and road construction have put further strain on the species by threatening reproduction of adult eastern tiger salamanders and the survival of the larvae.

Currently plans are being considered to construct tunnels under roadways to help reconnect the salamanders' burrows with the breeding ponds. All breeding ponds have been considered Class I wetlands in New York State and a reintroduction program was attempted in 1987 to reintroduce the eastern tiger salamander back to a site in Nassau County, but had only limited success. In 1990 a radio telemetry study conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was started to better identify the needs of the tiger salamander in order to plan additional actions to help preserve this species.

Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.

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