Salamanders of Idaho Ambystomatidae Mole Salamanders Long-toed Salamander Tiger Salamander Dicamptodontidae Pacific Mole Salamanders Idaho Giant Salamander Plethodontidae Lungless Salamanders Coeur d’Alene Salamander Salamandridae Newts Roughskinned Newt
Recent Taxonomic Changes
1983 2002 Ambystomatidae Dicamptodontidae Dicamptodon ensatus Dicamptodon aterrimus Pacific Gi ant Sala mander Idaho Giant Salamander
Plethodontidae Plethodontidae Plethodon vandykei idahoensis Plethodon idahoensis Coeur d’Alene Salamander Coeur d’Alene Salamander
Salamander Characteristics
• Color pattern • Size and body shape • Head size and shape • Balancers •Eye size and shape
• To e sh ap e and l eng th Leonard et al. 1993 • N as ol ab ial g roo v e • Costal grooves • Skin texture • Glands
1 Long-toed Salamander Distribution
W. P. Leonard
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 4th toe of the hind foot • Rounded head • Smooth skin • Costal grooves present
• No nasolabial grooves
• No parotoid glands
Long-toed Salamander Color Variation
2 Long-toed Salamander Habitat
Alpine Lakes
Ponds
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
3 Tiger Salamander Distribution
Tiger Salamander Characteristics Ambystoma tigrinum • 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
Tiger Salamander Color Variation
W. P. Leonard
Te d K och
4 Tiger Salamander Habitat
Kettle ponds Beaver ponds
Lakes
Tiger Salamander Eggs
• Laid singly or in small clumps • Normally attached to vegetation • Eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks
Tiger Salamander Larvae
• Larval stage can last from 10 weeks-2 years • Long, feathery external gills • Lacks balancers • Neoteny does occur in this species
5 Idaho Giant Salamander Distribution
Idaho Giant Salamander Adult Dicamptodon aterrimus
• Bulky, max length 13 inches (330mm) •Tan or copper marbling pattern • Large head • Inconspicuous costal grooves • No nasolabial groove • Smooth skin • No parotoid glands
Idaho Giant Salamander Habitat
• Restricted to moist coniferous forests • live under logs, bark, and stones • Adults rarely seen
6 Idaho Giant Salamander Eggs
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
W. P. Leonard • 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 Distribution
7 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: land on land • Direct development (no larval stage)
Coeur d’Alene Salamander Habitat
•Seeps •Spray zones •Moist talus
8 Roughskinned Newt Distribution
W. P. Le ona rd
Roughskinned Newt Taricha granulosa
• Max length 7.9 inches (200mm) • Dark brown dorsal coloration
• Yellowish-orange ventral coloration • Rough skin • No costal grooves • No nasolabial groove
• Relatively small eyes
Roughskinned Newt Larva
W. P. Le ona rd
• Brown with row of spots along sides • External, feather-like gills • Pond dwelling • Eyes along outer margin of head
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