Photo © 2005 by Jim Jung and licensors. All rights reserved

Tiger Salamanders

Tiger Salamanders, named for their blotchy yellow tiger-like markings - are the largest land living salamanders in the world exceeding a foot in length for the largest specimens. These are the salamanders most often encountered in basements and while turning garden soil in the spring. They're also the first salamander species in our area to mate.

Tiger Salamanders begin moving to their mating pools in late November and December and then hide in crayfish burrows and other shelters until the first rains of spring summon them to their natal pools. (They can occasionally be spotted crossing roads on cool, rainy spring nights heading for these pools). Here they pair off and, after courtship, lay their eggs. The young salamander larvae hatch in a week or two and then spend the next few months fattening up on small invertebrates until they transform into land-living adults in May.

These are another member of the Mole Salamander family that seems to prefer moister habitats than their cousins the Marbled Salamanders. However their habits are nearly identical in that they also burrow through the forest duff consuming small soil creatures.

Tiger Salamanders have almost no economic value to humans (or any other creature for that matter). While other animals eat them when they can catch them these animals spend almost their entire lives underground safe from predators. And while no ecosystem would miss them if they suddenly vanished they have played an important role in human affairs.

Scientists studying certain forms of blindness in humans have obtained valuable insights into human sight by studying their vision and eye structure. Since they can regenerate lost limbs they're valuable study subjects in cancer studies and their skin secretions may hold the key to a cure for a number of pesky illnesses that plague humans.

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