California's grasslands, coniferous woodlands and oak savanna habitats are the dwelling places for the California tiger salamander. These salamanders are fossorial, meaning they spend most of their time in underground burrows. California tiger salamanders do not dig their own burrows, but use burrows already developed by pocket gophers and ground squirrels. The only time California tiger salamanders emerge is when they are searching for nesting grounds. California tiger salamanders usually stay underground from early spring to mid-winter.
For breeding, California tiger salamanders require moist grounds and the formation of ephemeral, or temporary, bodies of water. Like other amphibians, California tiger salamanders deposit their eggs in water, where the eggs hatch into larvae. Early winter is the usual time of year for California tiger salamanders to lay eggs, since this is when moist grounds and ephemeral ponds emerge. California tiger salamanders are nocturnal and usually arrive at the ponds at night to lay their eggs; females may lay up to 1,300 eggs annually. Larvae live in the water for up to three months after being born.
A California tiger salamander's diet varies with age. Juvenile specimens eat small aquatic invertebrates and tadpoles, while adult California tiger salamanders dine on insects, earthworms, snails and small fish. The California tiger salamander is a member of the Ambystoma genus of salamanders, which use tongue extension for catching prey. These salamanders rely on their tongue for catching food since they have limited head movement.
The California tiger salamander population is deteriorating in the Golden State and they are endangered in Sonoma County, California. The primary reason for the deterioration is habitat loss from urban and agricultural development, squirrel population control -- which decreases the amount of burrows for the salamanders -- and invasive salamander species that out-compete the California tiger salamander for resources. To ensure their survival, the United States Environmental Protection Agency lists the California tiger salamander on their Endangered Species Protection Program. This program offers California tiger salamanders protection by outlawing urban and rural development in certain areas where the salamanders live.