26 HERPETOLOGY OF MICHIGAN. 



1909) ; ClieboYgan County (Ruthven, 1911) ; Huron County (Rutli- 

 ven, 1911a) ; Washtenaw County (Smith, 1879) ; Ottawa and Wayne 

 Counties (Milner, 1874). 



AMBYSTOMA TIGKINUM (Green). 



TIGER SALAMANDER. 

 (PI. II a.) 



Description: Body large and thick. Head flat and not as broad 

 as body in adult specimens. Ejes prominent, nares small. Parotid 

 region much swollen. Gular fold prominent, extending upward on 

 sides of neck. Also a groove running from corner of mouth to eye. 

 Twelve costal furrows and a distinct dorsal groove. Limbs stout; 

 toes depressed, tapering from a broad base to the tips which are 

 hardened and horn}' in appearance. Two distinct plantar tubercles. 

 Tail long and compressed, equal in length to distance from snout to 

 groin. Skin smooth and glossy, and covered with mucous pores 

 which are not as prominent as in Ami) ij stoma punctatum. Vomero- 

 palatine teeth in a straight or slightly curving series across roof 

 of mouth. Tongue large and fleshy, free on sides and attached at 

 ends. 



Ground color brownish black above, lighter beneath. Bright yel- 

 low spots scattered irregularly over entire surface of body. These 

 spots may be few or many in number and are sometimes confluent 

 to form more or less definite stripes. 



Measurements: Specimen No. 36030. 



Total length 205 - 



Length of head and body 100 



Width of head 02G 



Habits and Habitat: This species, as a rule, spends most of the 

 year under stones, logs, in decaying stumps and in holes or burrows 

 made bv other animals. However, it has been known to remain in 

 the water during the summer. It is voracious and carnivorous, eat- 

 ing worms, insects and at times small frogs. According to Metz- 

 dorff (Gadow, 1901, p. 113), the breeding season of Am'bystoma 

 tigrimim is from April to .Time and occasionally in December. 

 Smith (1882, p. 721) states that "they have been observed in great 

 numbers in the 'Cathole,' at Ann Arbor, Michigan, swimming vigor- 

 ouslv on March 10th, and their eogs were found a few davs later." 

 The male enters the water and deposits spermat()]>hores, which are 



