Barred Tiger Salamander-Ambystoma tigrinum
Habitat	Commonly found in ponds, small lakes and seasonal wet areas. The larvae are common in farm ponds until it is stocked with fish.  Adults remain in moist areas as do most salamanders. All the tiger salamanders can be found outside their original home ranges due to pets being released and the fact that they are commonly used as fish bait.
Ecological Niche	The larvae are eaten by many aquatic animals and wading birds.  Adult salamanders are eaten by raccoons, opossums, large fish and wading birds.  The salamanders that survive to adulthood eat virtually anything that moves that they can get into their mouth including small fish, frogs, birds, snakes and other kinds of salamanders.
Life Cycle	The eggs are laid in large masses or smaller clusters in the water.  Usually they are attached to underwater branches or plant stems.  In the south most egg laying occurs in the winter or early spring.  The newly hatched salamanders have variable color and external gills that disappear as they develop.
Behavior and physical adaptations	All the forms of tiger salamander remain relatively inactive except when looking for food and they have a huge appetite.  They do hibernate by burying themselves in mud.  When the weather warms and spring rains arrive they they emerge for mating.