>>2639447it's a tiger salamander. they live in the desert. I'm guessing you live in the high plains, if not the llano estacado near the texas panhandle.
they're a mole salamander. they burrow up to 8 feet deep and come out in spring and fall after rains.
they're sluggish because they're hunting. and by hunting, I mean sitting around waiting for a bug to walk by at random.
they make excellent pets if you can care for them well.
FUN FACT:
on the llano estacado of texas and new mexico, there is more salamander in terms of biomass than all other vertebrates (including livestock, pets and humans) combined.
they eat anything they can fit in their mouth that moves, exhibit empathy towards their own kind, and regenerate any limb they lose.
they are *very* closely related to axolotls, however they live longer when not neotenized, and can grow to over 9" long,
females have a keeled tail, males have a round tail.
and yes, I wrote all of that off the top of my head.
