long-toed salamander

Long-toed salamander meets a biologist

The long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) is yellow listed (not at risk) in British Columbia. Named for the long fourth toe on their hind legs, when threatened, this salamander secretes a distasteful poison from granular glands on its back and tail.

Map

Biodiversity Interactive Map - Long-Toed Salamander

Range

North America: range extends from south-eastern Alaska southward to Tuolumne County, California, east to Rocky Mountains (east to east-central British Columbia, west-central Alberta, western Montana, and central Idaho).

BC:  throughout the province as far north as the Peace River; does not occur on the northern end of Vancouver Island or the Queen Charlotte Islands

Columbia Basin: throughout

Habitat

Small lakes, upland, wetland, riparian, dry land

Found in a wide variety of habitats, from semi-arid sagebrush deserts to sub-alpine meadows, including dry woodlands, humid forests, and rocky shores of mountain lakes.

Reproduction

• This terrestrial salamander migrates to shallow water in early spring to breed (sometimes before the ice has completely melted)
• Each female lays up to 60 eggs, deposited in many small clusters attached to underwater vegetation which hatch out in 2-3 weeks
• Usually larvae metamorphose that same summer except at high elevations where they may overwinter and transform the following summer.

Listing and Date

Threats to Species

• Predation by introduced species
• Road mortality, habitat loss and degradation
• Pollution, disease and increasing levels of UV-B radiation

Select Reports

• 2009 Amphibian Survey Columbia Forest District
• 2008 West Kootenay Amphibian Survey  
• An Amphibian Inventory of the East Kootenay

For more information on this species, visit:  The BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer and enter “long-toed salamander” in the Species Name field.