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University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 27 
Ambystoma californiense Gray. California Tiger Salamander 
(PI. 1, fig. 1; pi. 7, figs. 15-17 : pi. 8, fig. 18; text fig. U) 
Ambyostoma Californiense Gray (1853, p. 11, pi. 7). Original description, 
type from Monterey, California. 
Ambystonia Calif ornica, Borland (1857, p. 194). Occurrence near Petaluma. 
Amblystoma californiense, Baird (1859&, pp. 12-13, pi. 30 [figs. 1, 2, 
doubtfully fig. 3]). 
Amblystoma mavortium, Cope (1867, pp. 184-192). Monograph. 
Amblystoma mavortium, Strauch (1870, p. 64). Monograph. 
Amblystoma tigrinum, Cope (1889, pp. 68-85, pi. 25 [fig. 7], text figs. 12, 
13), part. General account. 
Amblystoma tigrinum californiense, Cope (1889, pp. 76, 79, 80, 82). Criti- 
cal account. 
Ambystoma tigrinum californiense, Storer (1915, p. 56). Locality records 
in California. 
Amblystoma tigrinum, Grinnell and Camp (1917, p. 138). Bange in Cali- 
fornia. 
Ambystoma tigrinum, Dunn (1918, p. 457). Locality records. 
Diagnosis. — Size medium among California salamanders, total 
length up to 207 millimeters (8% inches) ; skin moderately smooth; 
ground color black, with numerous large spots of yellow ; costal folds 
usually 11 (rarely 10 or 12) ; line of vomerine teeth bent forward in 
a broad U-shape medially, curving laterally to behind internal nares. 
Comparisons. — Distinguished from Dicamptodon ensatus by smaller 
size, spotted instead of marbled coloration, 11 instead of 12 costal 
folds, and by line of vomerine teeth being bent forward between 
internal nares; from Ambystoma paroticum by 11 instead of 10 costal 
folds, absence of parotoid glands, and by spotted coloration ; and from 
Ambystoma macrodactylum by larger size, proportionately shorter 
digits, spotted pattern of coloration, and vomerine teeth in 2 instead 
of 4 patches. 
Description (based on alcoholic specimens listed in table below). — 
General form robust throughout ; head very thin in profile ; outline of 
snout slightly truncate as viewed from above; canthus rostralis very 
slightly indicated ; top of head almost plane ; external nares on line of 
canthus rostralis; internarial width equal to or greater than inter- 
orbital width ; distance from naris to orbit greater than diameter of 
orbit ; orbits moderate in size, bulging only slightly above plane of head ; 
interorbital width l 1 /^ to l 1 /^ times length of orbit; parietal region 
smoothly rounded to beginning of neck constriction; side of head 
below orbit smooth ; a faint groove from behind orbit to behind com- 
missure of jaw; lower jaw more rounded in outline than upper; gular 
fold conspicuous; neck constriction slight; body slightly wider than 
high ; limbs stout ; free portion of upper arm shorter than forearm ; 
digits four, bluntly tapered, in order of decreasing length 3, 2, 4, 1 ; 
longest digit slightly more than length of palm ; palm smooth save for 
two small flat tubercles; costal folds 11 (exceptionally 10 or 12), well 
indicated in both living and preserved specimens ; a shallow mid-dorsal 
groove in some preserved .specimens; hind limb somewhat stouter than 
