A subspecies of barred tiger salamander restricted to a tiny range in southern Arizona. Federally endangered; threatened by introduced bullfrogs and chytrid fungus.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The barred tiger salamander or western tiger salamander is a species of mole salamander that lives in lower western Canada, the western United States and northern Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia — Barred tiger salamander Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Robust black salamander with bold yellow blotches or bars; pale belly.
Similar species. Other tiger salamander subspecies.
Voice. Silent.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, small invertebrates, small vertebrates.
Behavior. Federally endangered Arizona subspecies of tiger salamander. Restricted to small range in Santa Cruz County, AZ. Recovery includes restoration of breeding ponds.
§ Range
Southeastern Arizona, Mexico
§ Habitat
High-elevation wetland complexes
§ Threats
Habitat loss, introduced predators (bullfrogs), chytrid fungus.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the sonoran tiger salamander is currently classified as Endangered.
§ What helps
Support Sonoran biodiversity. Donate to Mexican wolf recovery (helps protect salamander habitat).
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Barred tiger salamander
- www.fws.gov — authoritative profile of Ambystoma mavortium stebbinsi
- IUCN Red List · taxon 59071
- iNaturalist · taxon 27551
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Ambystoma mavortium stebbinsi
§ Sources cited
- USFWS Sonoran Tiger Salamander Recovery
- Arizona Game and Fish
- IUCN Red List 2014
