Scuba the Tiger Salamander was hungry. He struck at each worm quickly and shook them zealously before swallowing his meal whole. (I paused to wonder if he felt the worms wiggling on the way down.) He finished his portion of three red wigglers and, as I closed the door, he scrambled up for more. Finding the clear barrier, Scuba waited for more with his foot propped up on the window where I could count his four toes.
These feet perfectly serve his terrestrial lifestyle. Adult Tiger Salamanders are rarely seen as they prefer to stay burrowed underground. They have been found up to two feet below the surface! Their feet will help them dig a burrow where they can stay cool and moist.
Some salamanders have actually adopted an arboreal lifestyle. It seems strange to imagine a salamander clambering up a tree when I am accustomed to searching for them under rocks or logs. But tropical parts of the world are humid enough that thin salamander skin can stay hydrated above-ground. These salamanders have webbed feet that are thought to be used like miniature suction cups as they climb smooth leaves like bromeliads. Some can even hang upside-down!
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