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California Tiger Salamander

The California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) is an endangered amphibian native to Northern California. Previously considered to be a Tiger Salamander subspecies, the California was recently designated a separate species.

Description

The California Tiger Salamander is a relatively large, secretive amphibian. Adults can grow to a length of about 8-10 inches (20-25 cm). It has a stocky body and a broad rounded snout. Adults are black and have yellow or cream spots; larvae are greenish-grey in color. The California Tiger Salamander has brown protruding eyes with black pupils.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Tiger_Salamander

Conservation Status

A threatened species, estimated to have disappeared from more than 50 percent of its historic range. Many populations have been extirpated due to loss of or fragmenting of suitable habitat through urbanization and agriculture. Hybridization with non-native Tiger Salamanders also threatens the continuity of this species. As of August 2005, the California Tiger Salamander is protected by California law as a threatened species, but populations in Sonoma and Santa Barbara counties are protected as endangered species.

Source: http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/a.californiense.html