Tiger Salamander???

[Skink Keeper]

I bought a tiger salamander at the show on Sunday, i was told it was a green. Then when i was in the pet store today i saw yellow tiger salamanders, other then colour what's the difference between the two? just curious. Thanks. :D

[sevenofthorns]

Hi There,

The main difference between the tiger salamanders is geographics and colour patterns. The one you have is Ambystoma mavortium diabolii, where the yellow ones could be any other species (probably Ambystoma mavortium mavortium). Ambystoma tigrinum is Ontarios native tiger salamander, but it is under protection so probably not what you saw at the store.

A good site for information on salamanders and how to keep them is http://www.caudata.org/caudatecentral. A forum dedicated to just caudata is http://www.caudata.org/.

I hope this helps!

Rob

[KristenM]

Hey Rob,
The only ambystoma that I knew that we had in Ontario was blue spots, yellow spots, jeffersons, and small mouths. I dont think that Ambystoma tigrinum is in ontario. As far as I have heard it has just been a few cases of them spotted but this was like year and years ago and some ppl assume that they were tiger sallys that were used as fish bait and escaped. They say that it was extirapated, but ppl debate that it may not have existed here in the first place. Sightings occured in teh Point Peele area a long time ago. Where abouts do you know of that tiger sally's live in Ontario?
This is just what I have heard and read.

Kristen

[sevenofthorns]

Hey Kristen,

I'm well aware of the debate about it being here vs extripated, but if you check with the Ministry of Natural Resources it is still listed as a protected native animal. Also, it's illegal to use salamander larva as fishing bait in Canada, so introduction through that route is slim.

To the best of my knowledge it used to be regularly found in Ontario. If you look at Petranka's range map it tightly encroaches on the border in Mi right next to Windsor area, which is where Point Peele is. It also encroaches on the border in one other area, without any body of water seperating it, but my US geography is poor so I can't say for sure which state. I believe these indicate very limited ranges in Ontario leading to the ease with which they were extripated.

But, all that aside, it is still considered a native animal by Ministry of Natural Resources, and they still reserve protection for it. So whenever people are asking about which species of Tiger they have in Ontario, I always make a point of stating Ambystoma tigrinum is a native species, so that on the off chance they can get ahold of one they realize it has protection here.

But I agree with you, the only Ambystoma species that can currently be found in ON are laterle, jeffersonianum, maculatum and texanum. Hopefully within a few years the MNO will release protection on it.

Rob

[KristenM]

Hey Rob!

I worked for the mnr this summer and I think the only reason they have that listed as a protected species is the small chance that someone may find one. As far as I know Sally's could be used as fishing bait a long time ago, then it became illigal. I agree that it should be taken off the list, its like the whole eastern box turtle thing. Eastern Box's are listed as being a possiblity in Ontario but the reason they have been spotted most likely is that they were escaped pets. I have seen posters and field guides that list the turtle as native to ontario. There could be a chance that Tiger salamanders that were pets somehow got loose. But that's a slim chance I have heard the whole thing about them comming over from the states and I would agree that it could be a way that they are comming over. Like how wolverines come over from manitoba but its still considered native.

Oh well! The MNR should take the tiger sally off their list!
Kristen

[sevenofthorns]

Hey Kristen,

I agree, they should remove it. Until they do though, just for the safety of others, I tell them it's native and protected. Just easier then explaning it's not native but they have it protected just in case it ever was native and decides to reappear...which is the short version of it.

I had a long talk with some of the MNR guys and they agreed, but they can't do much about it personally!

Toss me an email again when you have free time. I have a few questions for your regarding all of our past conversations.

Rob

[KristenM]

sure rob no problem! I understand what your telling ppl bout tiger, better safe than sorry!
Kristen