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BARRED TIGER SALAMANDER
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium
HOUSE NAME: "Carmen"
HABITAT: This species is found in the great plains region in moist caves and standing bodies of water, including shallow lakes, ponds, or ditches.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
FUN FACT: The Barred Tiger Salamander is the state amphibian of Kansas
DIET: Western tiger salamanders are opportunistic feeders and will eat nearly anything small enough to fit in their mouth, including insects, worms, fish, tadpoles, and mice.
DESCRIPTION: A large and powerful salamander 6 to 8.5 inches in length. They have small eyes and no ear glands. Individuals have no more than 14 vertical grooves on either side of the body between the front and hind limbs. Coloration may be varied, but is characterized by light colored spots, bars, or blotches on a dark background with light belly. Bars on the sides may or may not extend to the belly. The chin is yellow. Like most amphibians, western tiger salamanders have smooth, moist, skin. Females have longer bodies than males and males have a proportionately longer tail than females.
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