Photo by Charles Woolwine, all rights reserved, used by permission
Official State Amphibian of Wyoming
Wyoming declared the blotched tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum) the official state amphibian in February, 2019. The tiger salamander is Wyoming's only native salamander, and notable for its adaptablility to the state's harsh environment.
A large salamander, it is 5.5 to 8 inches long, black and dark green with a mottling of spots, stripes or blotches of yellow or olive. This salamander can adapt by remaining aquatic as long as its pond lasts, but will grow legs and lungs and move elsewhere if the water dries up. This adaptablity means it can found nearly everywhere in Wyoming (map).
Students at Pathfinder High School in Lander, Wyoming intitated the effort to add a state amphibian to Wyoming's official symbols after reasearching the salamander. They found a legislator to sponsor a Bill, lobbyied for it, and were present at the vote.