Species known to be present within the Miles City District, BLM 



Tiger Salamander {Ambystoma tigrmum) 



Description; Adults have a smooth moist skin without scales and the color pattern is highly 

 variable; usually the background color is dark, with lighter blotches of yellow, tan or green 

 The aduh is large and heavy-bodied with a snout-vent length of 3-6" Adult Tiger 

 Salamanders can be separated from other Montana species by; 1) their large sized and heavy 

 body; and 2) two prominent tubercles on the bottom of each hind foot. 

 Eggs and Lan'ae: Egg masses are typically laid in small clusters of 5-120, but may be laid 

 singly (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Leonard et al. 1993). They are usually attached to vegetation 

 and placed 2"-10" below the surface of the water (Hammerson 1982a) Larval Tiger 

 Salamanders are typically pale green or brown-colored, though those living in bentonite clay 

 ponds may be nearly white. They are found in lakes and ponds, have external gills, and are 

 relatively large (0.75-4" snout-vent) and heavy-bodied. 



Similar species; None in the Miles City District. 



Habitat and Habits; Tiger Salamanders in eastern Montana are primarily associated with prairie or 

 agricultural habitats. On the Sioux and Ashland Districts, Custer National Forest they are also 

 found in wooded draws and ponderosa pine forests (Reichel 1995b, Hendricks and Reichel 

 1996). They breed in ponds or lakes, usually those without fish present. In arid areas, they 

 may also be found in springs, intermittent streams, and stock ponds. Adults spend much of the 

 day in rodent burrows, becoming active on the surface at night. Larvae were found in ponds 

 from 24 April to 24 July in 1998. Adults may be active relatively late in the year (a Carbon 

 County aduh was captured well away fi'om open water on 25 September 1995). 



Surveying; Larvae and eggs may be seen in ponds during the day and may be sampled with a 

 dipnet. Migrations of hundreds or thousands of newly transformed adults are occasionally 

 seen in mid-late summer or early fall. During the breeding season, adults are often seen 

 moving to or away from the water or breeding in it. Pitfall and minnow traps may be used to 

 capture adults at this time. In 1995 an adult was captured in a pitfall can trap set for shrews 

 (Appendix 4). Throughout the rest of the summer aduUs are difficult to find, using pitfall 

 traps or driving roads on warm rainy nights may be the best techniques then 



Status; The only salamander in eastern Montana. The species is widespread and probably more 

 abundant than the survey results indicate. On the Miles City District, this species was 

 detected in 6 counties on 12.8% of the 1998 standard surveys and 37.5% of the 1995 Carbon 

 County surveys (Table 1, Appendix 2 and 3b). This species should be considered common on 

 the Pvliles City District. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank; G5 S5. 



