Amphibians
Barred Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma mavortium · also called barred tiger salamanders
Emerging from an underground burrow after a night of rain, a barred tiger salamander moves across open grassland in search of prey substantial enough to include other, smaller salamanders, a boldness in diet matched by its status as one of the largest terrestrial salamanders in North America.
Overview
The barred tiger salamander, Ambystoma mavortium, is a large, burrowing amphibian native to grassland and other open habitat across a broad range of western and central North America, from Canada south into Mexico. Its record-setting size among terrestrial salamanders, willingness to prey on other salamanders, and populations that sometimes remain permanently aquatic make it one of the more physically imposing and biologically flexible amphibians on the continent.
A salamander bold enough to eat its own kind
While most salamanders stick to small invertebrate prey, the barred tiger salamander’s large size lets it take genuinely substantial animals, including other salamander species, a level of predatory ambition unusual for an amphibian of any size.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable grassland and open habitat throughout western and central North America.
Barred Tiger Salamander: common questions
How big does a barred tiger salamander get?
This species is among the largest terrestrial salamander species found anywhere in North America, reaching a size substantial enough to allow it to prey on genuinely large animals for an amphibian, including other smaller salamander species and occasionally small snakes or rodents.
Why do some barred tiger salamanders stay aquatic their whole lives?
Certain populations of this species show neoteny, a condition in which the salamander retains larval features such as external gills and remains permanently aquatic throughout adulthood rather than completing the typical metamorphosis into a terrestrial, lunged adult, a trait also famously seen in the closely related axolotl.
Does the barred tiger salamander really eat other salamanders?
Yes, this species is a genuinely opportunistic predator willing to eat other, smaller salamander species when the opportunity arises, a level of dietary boldness uncommon among North American amphibians and reflecting the barred tiger salamander's large size relative to many potential prey items.
Where does the barred tiger salamander spend most of its time?
This species spends the great majority of its life in underground burrows, either dug itself or borrowed from other animals such as rodents, emerging mainly at night or after rain to forage on the surface, a habit that keeps it hidden from view for most of the year despite being genuinely common within its range.