Salamanders of Idaho Ambystomatidae Mole Salamanders Long-toed Salamander Barred Tiger Salamander Dicamptodontidae Idaho Giant Salamander Plethodontidae Lungless Salamanders Coeur d Alene Salamander Salamandridae Newts Roughskinned Newt
Color pattern Size and body shape Head size and shape Balancers Eye size and shape Toe shape and length Nasolabial groove Costal grooves Skin texture Glands Salamander Characteristics
Salamander Characteristics Color pattern Size and body shape Head size and shape Balancers Eye size and shape Toe shape and length Nasolabial groove Costal grooves Skin texture Glands Slender, Max length 4 inches (102mm) Bulky, max length 13 inches (330mm)
Salamander Characteristics Color pattern Size and body shape Head size and shape Balancers Eye size and shape Toe shape and length Nasolabial groove Costal grooves Skin texture Glands Leonard et al. 1993
Salamander Characteristics Color pattern Size and body shape Head size and shape Balancers Eye size and shape Toe shape and length Nasolabial groove Costal grooves Skin texture Glands Leonard et al. 1993
Color pattern Size and body shape Head size and shape Balancers Eye size and shape Toe shape and length Nasolabial groove Costal grooves Skin texture Glands Salamander Characteristics
Color pattern Size and body shape Head size and shape Balancers Eye size and shape Toe shape and length Nasolabial groove Costal grooves Skin texture Glands Salamander Characteristics
Adult Salamanders Ambystomatidae Long-toed Salamander Tiger Salamander Idaho Giant Salamander Plethodontidae Coeur d Alene Salamander Salamandridae Roughskin Newt
Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum Max length= 6.25 inches (160mm) SVL length= 3.5 inches (85 mm) Yellow, green, or tan dorsal stripe Long 4 th toe of the hind foot Rounded head Smooth skin Costal grooves present No nasolabial grooves No parotoid glands
Long-toed Salamander Color Variation
Long-toed Salamander Eggs Eggs laid in still or slow-moving water Attached to vegetation or logs Either laid singly or in clusters Take 2-4 weeks to hatch into larvae
Long-toed Salamander Larva Larval period lasts from 50 days - 14 months Large, feathery external gills Balancers present Unicolor Neoteny has not been observed
Barred Tiger Salamander Characteristics Ambystoma mavortium Max length 13 inches (327mm) SVL length 6.5 inches (162 mm) Olive to yellow bars or blotches Prominent costal grooves Broad, rounded head Small, protruding eyes No nasolabial groove Stocky body shape Smooth skin texture No parotid glands 2 tubercles on hind feet
Barred Tiger Salamander Color Variation W. P. Leonard Ted Koch
Barred Tiger Salamander Eggs Laid singly or in small clumps Normally attached to vegetation Eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks
Barred Tiger Salamander Larvae Larval stage can last from 10 weeks - 2 years Long, feathery external gills Lacks balancers Neoteny does occur in this species
Idaho Giant Salamander Adult Bulky, max length 13 inches (330mm) Tan or copper marbling pattern Large head Inconspicuous costal grooves Dicamptodon aterrimus No nasolabial groove Smooth skin No parotoid glands
Idaho Giant Salamander Eggs Dicamptodon ensatus Nussbaum, Brodie, and Storm. 1983. Eggs attached singly and side-by-side to roof of nest chamber Females will guard and protect eggs and larvae until they leave the nest chamber.
Idaho Giant Salamander Larvae Paedomorphic larvae may exceed 12 (300 mm) total length. Larval period lasts from 18-24 months External gills short and bushy Lacks balancers Dorsal tail fin Stream dwelling After 24 months, if no metamorphosis, larvae become paedomorphic
Coeur d Alene Salamander Plethodon idahoensis Max length 4 inches (102mm) Yellowish dorsal stripe with uneven edges Yellow patch on throat Nasolabial groove present Parotoid glands present Slender shape Smooth skin Slightly webbed toes
Coeur d Alene Salamander Reproduction Plethodon vandykei W. P. Leonard Eggs are laid in grape-like clusters and attached to some medium on land Direct development (no larval stage)
Max length 7.9 inches (200mm) Dark brown dorsal coloration Yellowish-orange ventral coloration Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa Rough skin No costal grooves No nasolabial groove Relatively small eyes
Rough-skinned Newt Larva W.P. Leonard Brown with row of spots along sides External, feather-like gills Pond dwelling Eyes along outer margin of head
Similar Species W.P. Leonard Long-toed Salamander Coeur d Alene Salamander
Similar Species Tiger Salamander W. P. Leonard Idaho Giant Salamander
Idaho Salamander Eggs Ambystomatidae Nussbaum, Brodie, and Storm. 1983. W. P. Leonard Dicamptodontidae Plethodontidae
Idaho Salamander Larvae Ambystomatidae W. P. Leonard Dicamptodontidae Salamandridae
Salamander Distributions
Salamander Habitat
Status and Conservation See species checklists Idaho Department of Fish and Game Conservation Data Center: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/tech/cdc/
Conservation Status
Conservation Status APPENDIX B: COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF IDAHO SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED. Taxa GRank SRank ESA FSR1 FSR4 BLM IDFG Classification Idaho Giant Salamander Dicamptodon aterrimus G3 S3 TYPE 3 Protected Nongame Species Coeur d'alene Salamander Plethodon idahoensis G4 S2 S TYPE 3 Protected Nongame Species Assignment: Download this document and use it to fill out the species natural history tables.
Conservation Status
Detection / Collection Techniques for Salamanders Visual Searching Netting Trapping Turning Cover Raking Road Driving Electroshocking
Detection / Collection Techniques for Salamanders Visual Searching Netting Trapping: Pitfall Traps Turning Cover Raking Road Driving Electroshocking
Detection / Collection Techniques for Salamanders Visual Searching Netting Trapping: Aquatic Funnel Traps Turning Cover Raking Road Driving Electroshocking
Detection / Collection Techniques for Salamanders Visual Searching Netting Trapping Turning Cover Raking Road Driving Electroshocking
Detection / Collection Techniques for Salamanders Visual Searching Netting Trapping Turning Cover: Artificial Cover Raking Road Driving Electroshocking
Detection / Collection Techniques for Salamanders Visual Searching Netting Trapping Turning Cover Raking Road Driving Electroshocking
Detection / Collection Techniques for Salamanders Visual Searching Netting Trapping Turning Cover Raking Road Driving Electroshocking
References Koch, E.D. and. 1996. Amphibians and Reptiles of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. University of Utah Press. Leonard, W.P., H.A. Brown, L.C. Jones, K.R. McAllister, and R.M. Storm. 1993. Amphibians of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington. Nussbaum, R.A. E.D. Brodie, and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University Press of Idaho, Moscow. 332 p. Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.
Further Information Corkran, C.C. and C.R. Thoms. 1996. Amphibians of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia - A Field Identification Guide. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, British Columbia. Digital Atlas of Idaho: http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/ Groves, C. 1994. Idaho s Amphibians and Reptiles. Nongame Leaflet # 7. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Idaho Department of Fish and Game Conservation Status: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/cdc/heritage_ranks.cfm Lannoo, M. 2006. Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. University of California Press. Petranka, JW. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada.
Review Question for Exam Be able to identify the Idaho species of salamanders without the use of any reference materials. Be able to describe the characteristics, distribution, habitat, activity patterns, diets, defensive adaptations, and reproductive habitats, and conservation status of the Idaho salamanders from memory.
15. Identify the family.
16. Identify the species. 17. What does this species eat?
18. What species of salamander might you find in this pond in southeastern Idaho?
19. How does this species defend itself?