A Fun Amphibian

Garden_of_Mu · Post by **Garden_of_Mu** » Oct 27, 2006 10:12 pm

I was cleaning up all the potted plants, weeding and rearranging, now that the leaves have died back, and came across this little fella. He is less than 3 inches from nose to tip of tail and could not be any cuter. I relocated him out of reach of the cats after removing his cover. I've never seen one of these before in real life. I believe it is a salamander, but not sure. Anyone know?

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Oct 28, 2006 11:32 am

I love love love finding those guys. I find them in lots of colors and sizes - usually tiny. I'll look and see if I can find that one on enature.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Oct 28, 2006 11:43 am

Based on size, description(s) and location, it looks like it's probably the Larch Mountain Salamander Plethodon larselli. From enature.com:

"Family: Plethodontidae, Lungless Salamanders view all from this family

Description 3-4" (7.6-10.3 cm). Smallest western woodland salamander. Ragged-edged back stripe is red to yellow and heavily mottled with small dark flecks, often divided by black line from head to tail. Gold specks on upper sides; large white spots on lower sides. Short 5th rear toe. Costal grooves, 15.

Breeding Habits unknown.

Habitat Prefers lava talus slopes and outcrops in dense Douglas fir stands; 100-3,900' (30-1,189 m).

Range Lower Columbia River gorge, Skamania County, Washington; Multnomah and Hood River counties, Oregon.

Discussion Found under rocks at base of outcrops or under forest litter away from seepages and streams. When discovered, it rapidly coils and uncoils itself several times, perhaps mimicking the numerous unpleasant-tasting millipedes in its habitat. The Larch Mountain shares its habitat with the Western Red-backed Salamander in Washington, with Dunn's Salamander in Oregon. Mites and springtails are common in its diet."

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Oct 28, 2006 11:45 am

I dunno though - your's looks different to me.

KellieD · Post by **KellieD** » Oct 28, 2006 5:24 pm

Definitely not the same one going by range alone. Mike does have Doug firs surrounding him, but there are several subspecies of salamanders in Washington State.

Regardless of who he is, he's awfully darn cute!

(you are cute too, Mike!)

PNWJudy · Post by **PNWJudy** » Oct 29, 2006 1:45 am

From Kozloff's book it looks like Western Long-Toed salamander, Ambystoma macrodactylum.

Garden_of_Mu · Post by **Garden_of_Mu** » Oct 29, 2006 11:29 am

Thanks for the help folks! Ambystoma macrodactylum fits perfectly, from the pics I found on 'the google'. And it appears slugs are on his menu of goodies he's looking for. Huzzah!

petal*pusher · Post by **petal*pusher** » Oct 29, 2006 4:41 pm

Hmmm....such a slippery little cutie you've shared with us! We used to see them often when I was a youngin'.....mostly the spotted salamander.....but it is a rare treat now.

At first, I thought he may be a "newt"....a close relative that has that stocky body and head like your fella....but when I googled Ambystoma macrodactylum....there is an exact match!

Here's a great site.....p

http://www.californiaherps.com/salamand ... spics.html