Tiger Salamander ( Ambystoma tigrinum )
Tiger Salamander - Tiger Salamander information - Tiger Salamander facts
Ambystoma tigrinum gets its name because of a stripped pattern. It is approximately 15-30 cm long. It has got brownish colour with black and yellow spots. The Tiger Salamander is spread almost all over the United States, in southern parts of Canada and in Mexico. It inhabits dry areas, forests, deserts etc.
His diet consists of worms, insects, snails, larvae and moreover he is a cannibal too, which means he eats other salamanders as well. The reproduction cycle begins in March or April in wet areas such as ponds, pools and lakes. After insemination a female salamander lays eggs at night. This is a critical point, because salamanders have to defend the eggs. Their life expectancy is up to 15 years.
There are plenty of granular glands in the salamanders’ skin. Firstly, they produce a substance, which could be toxic to other animals. Secondly, they secrete mucus to keep salamanders’ skin moist. Through their skin the tiger salamanders absorb water too. Throughout their development cycle salamanders are a good prey for animals such as fish, birds, snakes, owls and frogs too.
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