California Tiger Salamander - Habitat and Range

Habitat and Range

The California tiger salamander depends on vernal pools for reproduction, its habitat is limited to the vicinity of large, fishless vernal pools or similar water bodies. It occurs at elevations up to 1000 m (3200 ft). Adults migrate at night from upland habitats to aquatic breeding sites during the first major rainfall events of fall and early winter and return to upland habitats after breeding.

Historically, the California tiger salamander probably occurred in grassland habitats throughout much of the state. It occurs from Sonoma County, especially in the Laguna de Santa Rosa (outside the floodplain), south to Santa Barbara County, in vernal pool complexes and isolated ponds along the Central Valley from Colusa County to Kern County, and in the coastal range. Both the Sonoma and Santa Barbara populations are listed as endangered since 2000 and 2003, respectively. On August 4, 2004, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the California tiger salamander as threatened within the Central Valley distinct population segment. The Santa Barbara and Sonoma County populations were returned to endangered status on August 19, 2005.

There are six populations, which are found in: (1) Sonoma County; (2) the Bay Area, (Stanislaus County, western Merced, and the majority of San Benito counties); (3) the Central Valley; (4) southern San Joaquin Valley (5) the Central Coast Range and (6) Santa Barbara County

The loss of California tiger salamander populations has been due primarily to habitat loss within its historic range, although introduced predators such as bullfrogs might also be an issue.