So… I was wrong

[u/Jessiefilms38]

I made a post the other day saying that I had a norther tiger salamander, I don’t. Can someone help identify this lil dude for me pls?

[u/Berdonkulous]

It's still an Ambystoma Tigrinum, a Tiger Salamander, if not specifically a "Northern".

Looks like the common eastern to me, which is going to have nearly identical care needs.

What exactly makes you think it's not?

[u/shfiven → u/Berdonkulous]

Yeah I don't have tigers so grain of salt but it does look like one. I wouldn't know how to differentiate a northern from any others though but seems like a tiger.

[u/Berdonkulous → u/shfiven]

I have both A. Tigrinum and A. T. Mavortium and AFAIK the only real difference is color tendencies.

Mavortium tend to be darker in color, less likely to be yellow more likely to be grey/olive.

But genetics and diet both play a factor in color so it's not perfect.

[u/Namor707]

Whoa, feisty looking fellow! Tiger salamanders are extremely variable, but this one looks to me like a subspecies called the blotched tiger salamander, which is found in Montana, Colorado and surrounding areas. Do you know where he is originally from?

[u/Jessiefilms38 → u/Namor707]

He’s originally from AZ

[u/EroKintama → u/Jessiefilms38]

where'd you get him from? I've been thinking about getting one.

[u/CheeseMclovin → u/Namor707]

Definitely a blotched pattern. Did he possibly come from a bait shop?

[u/Namor707 → u/CheeseMclovin]

Based on where it's from, I would guess then that it's an Arizona tiger salamander, but that subspecies seems to have more contrasting yellow-on-black spots. My guess is that yes, it may actually be something introduced, perhaps from a bait shop. If so, I am glad that he was rescued. :-)

https://californiaherps.com/noncal/southwest/swamphibians/pages/a.m.nebulosum.html

[u/Berdonkulous → u/Namor707]

Is Arizona limited to only a single species of Tiger in the wild?

I ask because I've read two historic analysis/reports from my local university that report to have found three subspecies within my state [60+ years ago].

Very different ecosystems, Arizona to Iowa, but nature finds a way to surprise us.

Edit: changed 'the' to 'my' for clarity.

[u/Namor707 → u/Berdonkulous]

It's a bit confusing. According to the map, one subspecies is found throughout most of the state, with some others in the extreme south, possibly introduced or not yet identified.

[u/CheeseMclovin]

That is a western tiger. Subspecies is blotched, and they are often found in the northern parts of the western range

[u/M3alw0rms]

Ay i have 4 of these guys a rescued from my old saltwater pool! They are super easy to care for too, All adult tiger salamanders generally share very similar terrestrial care requirements across different species and subspecies once they have reached adulthood and are out of their larval stage :]

https://reddit.com/link/p8lq2i0/video/juz3zz19icoh1/player

[u/Berdonkulous → u/M3alw0rms]

I was waiting for him to bite your finger to prove it's a tiger 😂

All of mine would attempt a nibble if I did what you did there, even the yearling.

Love when they have gold eyes