Maryland's Salamanders and Newts  (Order Caudata)


Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)


Adult photo of Eastern Tiger Salamander courtesy of Jim White
Adult photo of Eastern Tiger Salamander courtesy of Jim White


Size:
7 - 8¼ in; Record - 13 in.

Appearance:
  • Our largest terrestrial salamander.
  • Olive-yellow to brownish-yellow irregular bars (“tiger stripes”), blotches and spots on a dark-brown to black background. 
  • Prominent rounded-flattened head.

Habitat:

Habitat Photo of Eastern Tiger Salamander courtesy of Scott A. Smith
Habitat Photo for Eastern Tiger Salamander
courtesy of Scott A. Smith

  • Deciduous and mixed forests adjacent to vernal pools and “borrow pits”. 
  • Typically there are no fish present in breeding ponds.

Distribution in Maryland:
Maryland Distribution Map of Eastern Tiger Salamander