Question: Identification please!

[obrowell]

Found this in a local shop and have been told that it is a certain species, however I am dubious. I would be interested to see what other people think it may be. I won't influence your thoughts by telling you what it is being sold as.

Thanks

 

[Shizeric]

Ambystoma maculatum would be my thoughts.

 

[Azhael]

Eric is right, A.maculatum, no doubt whatsoever.

 

[obrowell]

Well it's being sold as a 'spotted tiger salamander'...? (specifically that it is a tiger)

Having got a couple of tigers myself I was convinced that it was not. I was pretty certain that it was a maculatum too, but I just wanted to check with other people.

Thanks!

 

[achiinto]

Yup, it is a Spotted Salamander. I found them occasionally in Ontario Forrest. IMO, I found the Spotted Salamander being one of the most visually appealing salamanders. Just my visual preference.

 

[obrowell]

Yeah they are pretty, but when I originally saw it advertised on their shop website as a 'spotted tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum' I was intrigued as to what one was because a) I hadn't heard of one and b) what the colouration/patterning would be like. When the lady kindly emailed me pics of it (the one above) I thought straight away that it was a maculatum. Shame really considering I was on the hunt for an addition to the tiger tank!

 

[Shizeric]

An addition? What do you currently keep in your tiger tank?

 

[obrowell]

Oh I've got two tigers (both barred) and was after another one to put in with them, when I came across this 'spotted tiger' one on the web. Obviously I'm not going to mix the species...strictly tigers in the tiger tank! ha