Office & Parks Winter Weather Closures
Due to expected extreme weather conditions, Denver Colorado Parks and Wildlife Headquarters (including the Call Center), Northeast Region and Littleton Offices, are closing at noon Friday, Nov. 8. Castlewood Canyon State Park is closed. Cherry Creek, Chatfield and Barr Lake Park visitor centers are closed.
Veteran's Day Office Closures
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices, including park visitor centers, will be closed for the state holiday, Monday, Nov. 11.
These large salamanders can be found anywhere there is appropriate habitat across the state at all elevations.
The barred tiger salamander is also known as the western tiger salamander. This species was once considered a subspecies of the tiger salamander (A. tigrinum), but is now its own species. A. mavortium are distinguished from A. tigrinum by having a lighter body color with dark colored speckles and bars, rather than a dark body with lighter colored spots and stripes.
Skin smooth, moist, sometimes sticky; tail long; four toes on each front foot; maximum total length about 35 cm (less than 14 inches). Color pattern ranges from black with yellowish bars or spots to pale or dark with dark spots or mottling. Adults stocky, with 11-14 grooves on each side of body; head broad, eyes small; small bumps on bottom of feet.
Mature Male
Large dark papillae at rear end of vent during breeding season; tail relatively long.
Statewide, from high mountains to lowest river valleys. Common.
Breeds in lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and pools. When on land, usually in rodent burrows; most active on ground surface at night during damp weather.
Barred tiger salamanders have two different feeding morphologies: typical and cannibalistic. These two different feeding methods also result in physical differences. The cannibalistic form has large, rounded teeth on their top jaw, slim bodies, and wider heads. They also tend to metamorphosize earlier and are found in drier areas and shallow water. They eat larger pray, including fathead minnows, and eating competitors results in more food overall for the salamander.
Larvae
Initially lack legs; front legs develop first, and hind legs develop after larvae are about 1 inch long; large larvae have three conspicuous pairs of gills and four gill slits on each side of neck; tail fin extends forward to about shoulder region; variable coloration.
Eggs
Attached singly or in short rows or small clusters to submerged plants or other objects.
Life History
Breeds in spring or summer. Newly metamorphosed salamanders may leave breeding sites in late summer or early fall. Gilled larvae may become sexually mature and breed without ever leaving their pond.
