image credit: Hamilton Images, via Flickr
image credit: The Horned Jack Lizard, via Flickr
image credit: The Horned Jack Lizard, via FlickrHabitat: southwestern Canada to western United States and even in northern Mexico
This lovely salamander which perpetually displays an over-sized grin is known as the Barred Tiger Salamander. It is one of the largest land species and can grow up to 14 inches in length, but typically only reaches 6-12 inches.
These salamanders are nocturnal and prefer to hang out in burrows (and have subsequently earned the nickname of a “mole salamander”) in an effort to keep their wonderfully colorful skin moist. They can live to be up to 20 years old!
Kansas seems to be quite proud of their Barred Tiger Salamanders, as they have made them their State Amphibian….which I had no idea even existed….
