Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Ambystomatidae

Listing Status:    and  

General Information

It is a large, stocky, terrestrial salamander with a broad, rounded snout. Adults males are about 8 inches long, females a little less than 7. Coloration consists of white or pale yellow spots or bars on a black background on the back and sides. The belly varies from almost uniform white or pale yellow to a variegated pattern of white or pale yellow and black. The salamander's small eyes protrude from their heads. They have black irises.

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the California Tiger Salamander 

Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
01/19/2000 California/Nevada Region (Region 8) U.S.A. (CA - Santa Barbara County)
07/22/2002 California/Nevada Region (Region 8) U.S.A. (CA - Sonoma County)
08/04/2004 California/Nevada Region (Region 8) U.S.A. (Central CA DPS)

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 40 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
08/18/2009 74 FR 41662 41673 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense): Proposed rule; public hearing announcement.
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
12/14/2005 70 FR 74137 74163 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger Salamander; Final Rule
09/02/2005 70 FR 52434 52436 Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, Contra Costa County, CA
08/23/2005 70 FR 49379 49458 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the California Tiger Salamander, Central Population: Final rule.
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title
08/04/2004 69 FR 47212 47248 Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; determination of threatened status for the California tiger salamander; and special rule exemption for existing routine ranching activities; final rule

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 5 of 8 : view all)
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    08/18/2009 74 FR 41662 41673 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense): Proposed rule; public hearing announcement. Proposed Rule Not Required
    12/14/2005 70 FR 74137 74163 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger Salamander; Final Rule Final Rule Active
    08/23/2005 70 FR 49379 49458 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the California Tiger Salamander, Central Population: Final rule. Final Rule Active
    08/02/2005 70 FR 44301 44322 Designation of Critical Habitat for the California Tiger Salamander in Sonoma County: Proposed rule; public hearing announcement. Proposed Rule Not Required
    11/24/2004 69 FR 68568 68609 Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; designation of critical habitat for the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) in Santa Barbara County, final rule Final Rule Active

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 6 : view all)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    East Contra Costa County HCP/NCCP
    Kern Water Bank
    Natomas Basin Revised HCP and Litigation Resolution - City of Sacramento, Sutter County, and Natomas Basin Conservancy
    San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan
    Sonoma County Office of Education LE HCP
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    East Bay Municipal Utility District Upper Mokelumne River Watershed

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    04/18/1994 59 FR 18353 18354 ETWP; 12-Month Petition Finding for the California Tiger Salamander
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 11/19/1992 57 FR 54545 54546 ETWP; 90-Day Finding and Commencement of Status Review for a Petition to List the California Tiger Salamander; 57 FR 54545 54546
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009