Northwestern Salamander Information

The northwestern salamander is an amphibian of the Lissamphibia family, which also includes frogs and toads. It falls with other salamander species into the further subfamily known as Caudata. It is then further separated into a group of 16 other species known as Ambystoma, or mole salamanders. Its scientific name, Ambystoma gracile, combines the Greek term ambystoma, meaning "cram into mouth," and the Latin word gracile, or "blunt mouth."

  1. Description

    • Northwestern salamanders are relatively large compared with other species, typically ranging from 5 to 8 inches long. They have stout bodies, which are generally gray-brown or chocolate in color. They have noticeable bulges on each side of the head, beginning behind the eyes and ending at the neck. Another distinguishing feature are indented, riblike grooves found along the sides of the salamander.

    Habitat and Range

    • The northwestern salamander is found along the coastal regions of western North America, from northern California to parts of southeastern Alaska. The salamander prefers a cool and moist environment. They make their homes in burrows or under logs near water sources in humid forests or swampland areas.

    Diet

    • The northwestern salamander is a predatory species which eats mainly small insects, worms, slugs and spiders. It also eats small, water-based larvae and plankton.

    Life Cycle

    • Much like frogs, the species lays eggs in clutches near the edges of a shaded water source, in masses of around 270 just below the water's surface. The larvae hatch within two to eight weeks, depending on weather conditions, and spend the first two years of life swimming around legless. Once they mature into adults and leave the water, they reach breeding age after about a year. In the wild the salamander can live around five years, but captive specimens have lived as long as 10.

    Predators

    • As juveniles swimming around, the salamanders are at risk from predatory fish such as trout and larval forms of beetle. Once mature, they use aggressive display and an irritating secretion to deter predators, but they are still at risk from large fish, birds, reptiles and mammals.