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Northwest Wildlife Online
Order Caudata: Salamanders and Newts
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A Northwestern Salamander, Ambystoma gracile. Females are bigger than males and may exceed five inches in length. The large parotoid glands are characteristic of the species. The photo on the right was sent in by Lauren who lives near Mount Baker, Washington. Lauren awoke one morning to find her pound full of Pacific Tree Frog and Northwest Brown salamander eggs. She very thoughtfully took the time to photograph their development. Note the gills and the tiny legs sprouting from the wee one. So if you ever see something that looks like a tadpole, but has these distinctive protruding gills, you'll know you are looking at a larval salamander. Thanks Lauren!
2 Families and 13 Species of Order Caudata represent wildlife in the Northwest:
Family Ambystomatidae - the Mole Salamanders:
Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile) - most of the ones I have found are in moist forest floors deeply hidden under rotted logs or other cover, and usually this light brown color. Breeding occurs in spring and the eggs; characterized by a large, rather firm ball of jelly, are laid in still or slow moving water.
Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) - Named for the long fourth toe on the rear legs, this salamander is a very widespread species in our area. A dark colored salamander, up to three and a half inches long and stout in build, long-toes are distinguished by a stripe that runs the length of the animal's back and along the tail. Eggs are laid singly surrounded by a thick cover of jelly and often attached to a small stick or stem.
Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) - A large, vividly colored salamander, the Tiger Salamander is one of the largest in our region. Over five inches long with pale yellow or white blotches on a dark body, this is a beautiful amphibian.
Cope's Giant Salamander (Dicomptodon copei) - Cope's Giant Salamander is a neotenic; it remains in a larval state and rarely, if ever, transforms into a completely terrestrial adult. This is one of our larger salamanders - as long as it stays in its larval stage. Oddly enough, the adults are smaller than the larval form. Some consider this a variant of the Pacific Giant.
Like the very pre-historic creature it is, a Pacific Giant Salamander leers out. Coming in at ten inches, this salamander is known as a neotenic amphibian. Neotenics may stay in the larval stage for most or all of their life, and are generally larger than the adult form.
Pacific Giant Salamander (Dicomptodon ensatus) - The heavy weight champion of our region. Coming in at lengths of up to 10 inches according to some sources, this is a very heavily built salamander. There are reports that Pacific Giants "growl" when disturbed. Bet that would get your attention!
Olympic Salamander (Rhyacotriton olympicus) - Also called Torrent or Seep Salamanders. There are several sub species of this amphibian that are very difficult to tell apart. These guys love cold, flowing water and perish in warmer, less oxygenated environments.
Family Plethodontidae - the Lungless Salamanders:
Clouded Salamander (Aneides ferrus) - similar to the wandering salamander of California and British Columbia, but this little guy is mainly restricted to coastal regions of Oregon; prefers rocky slopes.
Oregon Salamander (Batrachoseps wrighti) - a slender salamander distinguished by white spots and speckles on a black belly surface; 1 - 2.5 inches long.
Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzi) - actually part of a small group of salamanders of the genus Ensatina. Although there is only one species in the genus there are several sub species that exhibit a wide color pattern. Nearly all have a yellow or orange color at the base of the limbs.
Dunn's Salamander (Plethodon dunni) - 2 to 3 inch very slender amphibian with a tan to green yellow stripe; mainly found along coastal areas from the southern tip of Washington to the northern tip of California.
Del Norte's Salamander (Plethodon elongatus) - has a small range along coastal southwest Oregon and a small portion of northwest California; 2-3 inches long, dark colored, but also found with a tan stripe similar to a Western Red Backed
Van Dyke's Salamander (Plethodon vandykei) - very small, 2.5 inch salamander; olive green color dorsal color; possesses a distinctive, light yellow throat patch
Western red-backed Salamander (Plethodon vehiculum) - Although the literature says these guys live mainly under rotted logs, etc., I have found them in moist forest leaf litter as well. Surprisingly quick red-backs will wriggle away and disappear quickly when disturbed. The distinctive stripe of this slender little salamander varies from a noticeable red to tan or reddish brown. Note the size of the little fellow above compared to the earthworm in the upper right corner of the picture.
When I think of amphibians as possessing an ancient fascination it is primarily the salamanders I have in mind. Every time I look at one, especially the larger species, I see the mysterious monsters of the Devonian; silent denizens lurking in hazy swamps and prowling slowly through rich vegetation.
Some 350 species inhabit North and South America. The largest species in the US is the truly giant Greater Siren (Siren lacertina). A native of Florida the Greater Siren is three feet plus of amphibian! Here in the Northwest we don't have such gargantuans. The seven inch long Pacific Giant Salamander is our champion. Pacific Giants are much more strikingly marked and an altogether more handsome creature in my opinion, although the immature forms are a dull brown.
Our 13 species of salamanders are grouped in two families: the Mole Salamanders and the Lungless Salamanders. Lungless salamanders are named in light of the fact that all adult members of this family are without lungs. The largest group of salamanders in the world with 350 named species, lungless salamanders respirate through their moist skin. Most Plethodontidae, however, are not aquatic, but prefer moist terrestrial habitations. Despite this distinctive characteristic the family name Plethodontidae means "many teeth" and refers to the peculiar dentition of these caudates.
Mole salamanders most likely received their familiar name thanks to a predilection for living in or under old, rotten logs and abandoned burrows of other small animals. The Mole salamanders are strictly New World caudates, represented by some 33 species, 6 of which inhabit the Northwest region. The secretive nature of the ambystomatids makes them difficult to find despite their relatively large size. These guys are best found at night with a powerful flashlight or during the breeding season. The tried and true method is to simply turn over every old log or piece of debris you can find in moist habitats, or net the shore bottoms of ponds. Depending on the species the breeding season begins with the spring rains or winter rains. My most successful hunting forays have been in Ocotober with the return of the rainy season.
Salamanders make unique and surprisingly love lived pets if properly care for. Watch them closely and they will reveal their mysterious ways to you. Body posture and tail waiving to defend territory or signal threat are common and mating is often an elaborate, surprisingly complex ritual. Growling and even barking sounds can be heard in some species.
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