Tiger Salamander -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Blotched Tiger Salamander Ambystoma mavortuim melanostictum

Description: Adult tiger salamanders are relatively large salamanders with olive-colored blotches outlined in black. They have gray undersides and can grow to 13 inches in total length.

As adults, tiger salamanders live almost entirely on land, returning to the water to breed. Larvae (juvenile salamanders) live in water until they metamorphose into terrestrial (land-living) adults. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Tiger salamanders are found in grasslands and shrub-steppe habitat. Terrestrial adults spend a significant portion of time in burrows on land that they or other animals have dug.

Diet: Adults are carnivorous. They feed on various invertebrates, such as earthworms, insects, snails, slugs and even small vertebrates.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: In spring, adult salamanders breed and lay eggs in warm ponds, edges of lakes, reservoirs and other water bodies. Each female may lay several clutches with up to 120 eggs each, usually in water less than one meter deep. Females attach eggs one-by-one to the submerged portion of a branch or stem. Coated in a thin jelly layer, the eggs are brown or gray on top and cream colored below. Eggs hatch after a few weeks (between 19 and 50 days).

Larvae are well suited for pond life as they are olive-green in coloration and have large wide gills that are longer than their heads. Hatchlings (young larvae without legs) and larvae require water until they mature. They spend their time in aquatic weeds or under logs in shallow water. Larvae feed on a variety of aquatic invertebrates including worms and insects. They spend up to several years in ponds until they metamorphose and are able to leave their aquatic habitat. Depending on environmental conditions, larvae may mature into neotenic adults (mature aquatic adults that retain their larval form). This is most common in individuals living in permanent ponds. Individuals that do metamorphose into the terrestrial form may become sexually mature in as little as five months (most common for individuals living in seasonal ponds) or up to three years (common for individuals living some subalpine lakes). The length of time until sexual maturity is dependent on various environmental factors, including temperature, food availability, water conditions and level of competition for resources.

Range: In Oregon, blotched tiger salamanders are rarely seen. There are only a few confirmed sightings in the state: in the Columbia Plateau, East Cascades and Northern Basin and Range ecoregions.

Did you know? Tiger salamanders are extremely dedicated to returning to their natal (or birth) pond, often traveling long distances to arrive in time for the breeding season.

Northwestern Salamander -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Northwestern Salamander Ambystoma gracile

Description: These large-bodied salamanders have solid brown skin that is smooth and moist. Adults can grow to almost 10 inches in total length.

Northwestern salamander larvae (juvenile salamanders) live in water until they metamorphose into terrestrial (land-living) adults. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Northwestern salamanders live in moist forests or partly wooded areas. Though common in Oregon, adult salamanders are rarely seen because they live underground. Terrestrial adults require moist crevices in logs or rodent burrows in the ground for shelter from weather and predators.

Diet: They are carnivorous throughout their lives, feeding on a variety of available invertebrates during their larval and adult stages. Adults eat a variety of insects, earthworms, snails and slugs.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: In wet springs from February to July depending on elevation, adult salamanders leave the safety of their burrows to breed in wetlands near lakes, ponds and slow streams. Females lay egg masses the size of an orange that contain between 40 and 270 individual eggs. They attach egg masses to sticks or stems a half meter to two meters under water. Eggs are tan colored above and cream colored below. Eggs hatch in six to eight weeks.

Larvae have long, feathery gills and are generally brown or olive-green in color with large dark spots on their backs and fins. They hide under submerged logs or sediment and forage for small invertebrates such as crustaceans, insect larvae, snails and worms that live in aquatic vegetation. Larvae usually metamorphose after one year, but may require up to three years at higher elevations. After metamorphosis, they require another one to two years to become sexually mature. Some northwestern salamanders spend their entire lives in water because they mature into neotenic adults (mature aquatic adults that retain their larval form).

Range: Northwestern salamanders are found just over the crest of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon’s Coast Range, Willamette Valley, West Cascades, Klamath Mountains, East Cascades and Northern Basin and Range ecoregions.

Did you know? When frightened, northwestern salamanders can emit a poison strong enough to kill small mammals such as snakes and shrews. As the poison is most likely foul tasting, it may be the key to this Oregon native’s survival in areas with stable populations of introduced fish and bullfrogs that prey on northwestern salamander larvae.

Long-toed Salamander -Wikipedia-

Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum

Description: Appropriately named, adult long-toed salamanders have extremely long toes on their hind feet. The long-toed salamander has black or brown skin that is smooth and moist with a yellow- to green-colored ragged edged stripe running from its head to the tip of its tail. It is speckled with white or silver dots along its sides and underside. Adults may grow up to more than six inches in total length.

Larvae (juvenile salamanders) spend their lives in ponds until they metamorphose into terrestrial (land-living) adults. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Adult long-toed salamanders are seen infrequently, as they spend most of the year in the ground. They find cover in a variety of habitats including grasslands, dry shrub-steppe, pastures, lowland forests, high elevation lakes and ponds.

Diet: Terrestrial adults consume larger invertebrates including insects, spiders, earthworms and slugs.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: The breeding season generally begins in spring, but depending on elevation, it can start as early as November in lower elevations and as late as July at higher elevations. At the start of the breeding season, adults leave their underground cover for breeding pools. Females lay 90 to 410 eggs in small temporary ponds where they attach the eggs singly or in small plum-sized clumps to vegetation, sticks or rocks in shallow water less than a half meter deep. Occasionally, females leave their eggs laying unattached and loose on the muddy pond bottom in water less than 20 centimeters deep. Individual eggs are black or brown colored above and white or cream colored below with a thick jelly coating. Depending on water temperature, eggs hatch in five to 35 days.

Larvae have gills and are brown or tan in color to blend in with pond water. During the day, larvae hide in or under bottom detritus (rotting leaves and woody debris) and submerged logs, rocks and aquatic vegetation to escape predation. They feed on various small invertebrates ranging from small crustaceans (or copepods) to fairy shrimp to Pacific treefrog larvae and even salamander larvae. The age at which a larva goes through metamorphosis is dependent on its elevation: larvae commonly metamorphose in as little as 50 days from hatching or by the end of their first summer in low elevation, temporary ponds. At high elevation, permanent lakes, they may require up to three years or more of growth before metamorphosis. After metamorphosis, both males and females reach sexual maturity in one to three years. Though not very common in long-toed salamanders, an individual may mature into a neotenic adult (a mature aquatic adult that retains its larval form).

Range: Three sub-species of the long-toed salamander live in Oregon: the western long-toed salamander (A. m. macrodactylum) west of the Cascade Mountains, the central long-toed salamander (A. m. columbianum) east of the Cascade Mountains and the southern long-toed salamander (A. m. sigillatum) in southwest Oregon. Together, all three sub-species cover all of Oregon’s eight ecoregions.

Did you know? Long-toed salamander larvae are preyed upon by introduced fish. This added predation pressure may lead to the impending extirpation of the long-toed salamander from the North Cascades ecosystem.

Cope’s Giant Salamander neotene -US Forest Service-

Cope's Giant Salamander Dicamptodon copei

Description: These large salamanders are marbled brown and tan in color when in their rare terrestrial (land-living) adult form and brown with yellowish-tan patches on top and short gills in their common aquatic adult form (neotene). Both terrestrial and aquatic adults can grow up to eight inches in total length.

Most Cope’s giant salamanders never metamorphose into terrestrial adults; they spend their entire lives in water as neotenic adults (aquatic adults that retain their juvenile—young salamander—form). See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Most adult salamanders live in cold, fast-flowing, clear and permanent streams in coniferous forests. Adult salamanders need deep cobble and small boulder substrates for foraging for prey and hiding from predators.

Giant Salamander terrestrial adult -Washington Fish and Wildlife-

Diet: Cope’s giant salamanders are nocturnal, leaving their daytime hiding places under streambed rocks to crawl around on the stream bottoms in search for food. They are capable of consuming various small animals ranging from insects and fish to eggs and larvae of tailed frogs and salamanders.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Spring through fall, females lay their eggs in protected areas of streams under large submerged rocks or woody debris. They attach 25 to 115 colorless eggs singly in groups to the substrate by a short gelatinous stalk (pedicel) and guard their eggs from predators until they hatch.

Larvae (juvenile salamanders) are brown with lighter blotches across the body. Their short gills, short dorsal fin and wide flat tail make them well adapted to living in streams. They live in cold, fast-flowing, clear and permanent streams in coniferous forests. Larvae need rocky stream-banks or in-channel logs with crevices to forage and hide. They almost never metamorphose into terrestrial adults; mature adult Cope’s salamanders are most commonly neotenic.

Range: Cope’s giant salamanders are extremely rare and, worldwide, are only found in Oregon and Washington. In Oregon, they are found in the far northern portions of the Coast Range and West Cascades ecoregions.

Did you know? Adult giant salamanders can actually prey on animals as large as adult tailed frogs, which are about 2 inches in length.

The Cope’s giant salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Pacific Giant Salamander -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Pacific Giant Salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus

Description: Pacific giant salamanders are the largest salamanders in Oregon. Terrestrial (land-living) adults are marbled with tan and brown on their tops and are mostly tan on their undersides. They can grow to a total length of 13 inches.

Some larvae (juvenile salamanders) never metamorphose into their terrestrial adult form. These individuals spend their entire lives in water as mature adults called neotenes. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Terrestrial adult Pacific giant salamanders live in cool, moist coniferous forests near cold and clear streams. Because terrestrial adults spend most of their adulthood in burrows, they are rarely seen. Occasionally, during times of heavy rain, adults leave their burrows to forage on the forest floor at night.

Diet: Their large body size and powerful jaws enable them to feed on many insects and even amphibians and snakes. Full-grown adults may even take mammals smaller than themselves, such as mice, that they are able to over-power by their size.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: These giant salamanders breed from spring through fall. Most females lay their eggs in spring and summer. They lay 75 to 200 eggs in protected slow-moving areas of streams, springs or mountain lakes. Females attach their colorless eggs singly to the undersurfaces of submerged logs or rocky crevices using a short gelatinous stalk (pedicel). They guard their eggs until they hatch.

Larvae are well adapted to living in streams as they are brown colored and have short bushy gills and a long tail fin. They live under cobble, small boulders or logs and even exposed in small, shallow pools. Larvae forage on various aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates such as insects, mollusks, crayfish, small fish, tadpoles and even northwestern salamanders. Some individuals reach metamorphosis by 18 to 24 months after hatching and others may require a third year before metamorphosis. However, there is a high frequency of neoteny. These individuals spend their entire lives in small to medium sized streams as mature adults and can grow to 14 inches in total length.

Range: They are found in the Coast Range, Klamath Mountains, West Cascades and East Cascades ecoregions.  

Did you know? Very few salamander species are capable of vocalizations. The Pacific giant salamander is one of them with the ability to yelp.

Columbia Torrent Salamander Rhyacotriton kezeri

Description: These small salamanders have solid green-, brown- or gray-colored sides and backs with bright yellow or orange undersides. Adults can grow to four inches in total length.

Larvae (juvenile salamanders) live in water until they metamorphose into terrestrial (land-living) adults. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Columbia torrent salamanders spend their lives in and near cold and clear water bodies including mountain streams, springheads, waterfalls and seeps in older forests. They need loose gravel stream beds for hiding and foraging. They are highly connected to their water sources, but in times of heavy rainfall, they may venture into a nearby forest.

Diet: Terrestrial adults feed on various invertebrates including beetles, snails, flies and amphipods (small crustaceans).
 
Breeding and Early Life Stages: Breeding occurs mostly in spring and summer. Female salamanders find protected rocky aquatic areas and lay about 11 single eggs. They leave their eggs unattached, laying in cold, slow-moving water or hidden in deep and narrow rock crevices. Columbia torrent salamander eggs are white with several jelly layers.

In comparison to the vibrant adult coloration, larvae are lighter in color with duller undersides. Larvae also have miniscule gills for living in small, cold and sediment-free streams or springs of coastal coniferous forests. Because of their extremely small gills, larvae are highly sensitive to increased water temperatures and sediments in streams that make it harder for them to breathe. Larvae often hide under stones in shaded areas of streams. They consume aquatic invertebrates including flatworms, snails, crustaceans and insects. Larvae usually metamorphose into terrestrial adults by their third year after hatching and are fully mature adults in another year.

Range: In Oregon, Columbia torrent salamanders may be seen along the northern Coast Range in the Coast Range ecoregion.

Did you know? The scientific name for torrent, Rhyacotriton, comes from the Greek words rhyaco that means small stream and triton that means god of the sea.

The Columbia torrent salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Southern Torrent Salamander -US Fish and Wildlife Service-

Southern Torrent Salamander Rhyacotriton variegatus

Description: This small salamander is evenly speckled with dark flecks and has a brown head, back and tail with a bright yellow belly.

Larvae (juvenile salamanders) metamorphose into terrestrial (land-living) adults. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Southern torrent salamanders spend their lives in and near permanent, cold and clear water bodies including mountain streams, springs and seeps in older coastal coniferous forests. For a salamander, they are able to tolerate relatively dry forest conditions.

Diet: Terrestrial adults feed on various invertebrates including beetles, snails, flies and amphipods (small crustaceans).

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Adults may breed throughout the year but most of the breeding occurs in spring and summer. Adult females lay about eight to10 eggs per clutch, which they leave singly unattached under rocks or in the gravel substrate of streams. Their eggs are white with several jelly layers and hatch in about 210 days.

In comparison to the vibrant adult coloration, larvae are similarly patterned but with dull-colored bellies. They are well adapted to living in streams, but because of their small gills, they are sensitive to increased water temperatures and sediment in streams, which makes it harder for them to breathe. Larvae live in the small and cold streams or springs of coastal coniferous forests. They often hide under stones or in shaded gravel areas of shallow streams. Larvae consume aquatic invertebrates including spiders, flatworms, snails, crustaceans and insects. Larvae in the coastal populations of southwestern Oregon usually metamorphose into terrestrial adults by their third year after hatching and are sexually mature in another year. Those living at higher elevations may require up to five years before metamorphosis and another three years afterwards to become sexually mature adults.

Range: Southern torrent salamanders occur in northwestern Oregon in the Coast Range ecoregion. There is an isolated population in the southern West Cascades ecoregion.

Did you know? This species is a communal nester. Multiple females will lay their eggs in one large cluster.

The southern torrent salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Conservation Status: State: Vulnerable Sensitive; Federal: None

Cascade Torrent Salamanders post-metamorphs -Washington Fish and Wildlife-

Cascade Torrent Salamander Rhyacotriton cascadae

Description: The Cascade torrent salamander generally has numerous medium-sized black spots and white-gray flecking along its tan back and sides and a bright yellow belly that has fewer spots. Adults can grow to just over four inches in total length.

Larvae (juvenile salamanders) metamorphose into terrestrial (land-living) adults. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Cascade torrent salamanders spend their lives in and near permanent, cold, fast-flowing and clear water bodies including headwater streams, waterfall splash zones and seeps in older coniferous forests. Adults need gravel streambeds or other gravel areas with constant and shallow water flow for foraging and cover.

Diet: Terrestrial adults feed on various invertebrates including beetles, snails, flies and amphipods (small crustaceans).

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Adults may breed year round but most of the egg laying occurs in spring. Adult females lay about eight single eggs per clutch and leave them unattached in protected areas of streams where water flow is slow. Their eggs are white with several jelly layers.

In comparison to the adult coloration, larvae are similarly patterned but with dull-colored bellies. They are well adapted to living in streams because of their coloration and small gills. Due to the small size of their gills, they may have difficulty breathing if the water temperature or sediment of the stream increases too much. Similar to adults, larvae need gravel streambeds or other gravel areas with constant and shallow water flow for foraging and cover. They consume aquatic invertebrates including flatworms, snails, crustaceans and insects. Larvae metamorphose into terrestrial adults by their fifth year and are sexually mature within another year after metamorphosis.

Range: Cascade torrent salamanders are found in Oregon’s West Cascades ecoregion.

Did you know? If a salamander is injured, other salamanders will avoid the injured individual and may move away to probably avoid predators.

The Cascade torrent salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Rough-skinned Newt -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa

Description: Rough-skinned newts were named for their dry granular skin―most other salamander species have moist smooth skin. A terrestrial (land-living) adult newt has a brown head and back with a bright orange belly and can grow to almost eight inches in total length.

Larvae (juvenile salamanders) are aquatic (water-living) until they metamorphose into terrestrial adults. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Through the non-breeding season, terrestrial adults live in forested areas along the coast and through to the eastern foothills of the Cascades. They find protection in or under soft logs. For their size, these newts travel relatively long distances between their breeding and non-breeding habitat and may be seen crossing roads during spring and fall as they migrate.

Diet: Terrestrial adults forage on small terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates such as insects, snails, leeches and tadpoles.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: The breeding season depends on elevation. At lower elevations, the species begins breeding in February; at higher elevations, breeding begins in June. During this time, rough-skinned newts frequent vegetated areas surrounding permanent lakes, beaver ponds and slow moving streams. From mid-spring through summer, females lay their eggs and attach them individually to vegetation submerged in a half meter to two meters of water. Their eggs are tan colored above and cream colored below surrounded in a thin layer of jelly. Depending on water temperature, eggs hatch in three to 10 weeks.

Larvae are brown with light spots along their sides and have gills. During the day, aquatic larvae hide under stones or amongst aquatic vegetation. They consume a variety of aquatic invertebrates such as larval insects and small crustaceans. Larvae usually metamorphose by late summer, but at higher mountain elevations, they may require two years before metamorphosis. Both males and females usually reach sexual maturity by their fifth year. Neoteny (retaining the larval form into mature adulthood) occurs in some individuals that live in cold permanent water bodies.

Range: They are found in the Coast Range, Willamette Valley, Klamath Mountains, West Cascades, East Cascades and Columbia Plateau ecoregions.

Did you know? Rough-skinned newts have several defenses against predators. When first disturbed, a newt assumes a defensive posture, displaying its bright orange underbelly—a warning for the attacking animal. Its’ second defense is its poisonous secretions, which are strong enough to deter most predators.

Dunn’s Salamander -Photo by Dave Bickford, US Forest Service-

Dunn's Salamander Plethodon dunni

Description: This large woodland salamander is dark colored with a green- or tan- colored stripe along its back. The Dunn’s salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their skin. Adults can grow to six inches in total length.

Dunn’s salamanders do not have an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage actually occurs while the young are still in their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the young salamanders emerge as terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamanders. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Dunn’s salamanders live in the shaded rocky edges of highly humid forested streams and moist talus (rock fragment piles). They prefer areas that are permanently moist but not in flowing water. Adults often hide under rocks, in splash zones near streams and occasionally under woody debris. The rainy season of the Cascade Mountains temporarily allows salamanders to move away from streams in forested areas that are otherwise too dry.

Diet: Adult salamanders feed on various small invertebrates such as mites, snails and flies.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Females lay about nine eggs in rocky outcroppings on land near streams during the spring. They attach their eggs in grape-shaped clusters to the insides of rock crevices by jelly strings and remain with their nests until their eggs hatch in early fall. As fall rains arrive in October and November, young salamanders emerge at the surface from their hidden nesting areas.

Young salamanders look like miniature adults with a brighter colored green or tan stripe along their backs. Similar to adults, young salamanders often hide under gravel or cobble along shaded stream banks and under woody debris or in talus in humid forested areas. They feed on various small invertebrates, such as mites, snails and flies, possibly selecting smaller-sized prey then adult salamanders select. Individuals usually reach sexual maturity in about two to four years after hatching.

Range: They are found between the Pacific Coast and the crest of the Cascade Mountains in the Coast Range, Willamette Valley, Klamath Mountains and West Cascades ecoregions.

Did you know? Dippers, Steller’s jays and northwestern garter snakes are predators of Dunn’s salamanders.

Larch Mountain Salamander -Photo by Tom Kogut, US Forest Service-

Larch Mountain Salamander Plethodon larselli

Description: The Larch Mountain salamander is one of the rarest amphibian species in the Pacific Northwest. This small woodland salamander has a reddish-brown or yellow black-spotted stripe along its back and has a pink belly. The Larch Mountain salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their skin. Mature adults can grow to four inches in total length.

Larch Mountain salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young are still in their eggs, which hatch as young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamanders. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: They find refuge in moist steep basalt talus (piles of volcanic rock fragments) slopes in forested habitats. The rocks, with a mossy covering sheltered by a dense canopy (tree branches and foliage) of coniferous trees, remain moist throughout the year. Larch Mountain salamanders prefer slopes that have large amounts of fine litter such as decaying leaves, bark and twigs. They also favor late-successional (old) forests with gravel or fractured rock in the soil. During extreme cold, hot or dry weather, they move deep under talus (rock fragment piles) to avoid desiccation (extreme dehydration).

Most of this species’ habitat is within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which encompasses the entire length of the Columbia River Gorge in northern Oregon and southern Washington.

Diet: Adults feed on various invertebrates, favoring mites, springtails (wingless arthropods), snails and earthworms.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Breeding occurs from September through April and females lay their eggs in late winter or early spring. They lay about seven eggs every other year. Females hide their eggs on land in moist chambers deep below surface talus and remain with their eggs until they hatch in about four months. Young salamanders first appear at surface talus in October through November when the fall rainy season begins.

Young salamanders are similarly colored as adults, but the reddish-brown or yellow black-spotted stripe along the back is brighter. Young salamanders are found in similar habitats as adults. During rainy periods, they live just under surface rocks, logs or debris. When drier or colder weather approaches, they move deeper into talus slopes or woody debris. Young salamanders feed on similar invertebrates as adults, but they are limited to smaller prey such as mites and springtails (wingless arthropods). Male salamanders reach sexual maturity by 3½ years, while females typically lay their first clutches at four years old.

Range: They are found in the far northern portions of the West Cascades ecoregion in the Columbia River Gorge and northern Cascade Mountains.

Did you know? Larch Mountain salamanders are almost never found in or near any water bodies, such as streams or ponds.
 
The Larch Mountain salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Western Red-backed Salamander, yellow color morph adult -Photo by Tom Kogut, US Forest Service-

Western Red-backed Salamander Plethodon vehiculum

Description: A woodland species, the western red-backed salamander is small and slender. It has a wide stripe running from the head to the tip of the tail that can be yellow, orange, green or brown. Mature adults can grow up to just over four inches in total length.

Western red-backed salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young are still in their eggs, which hatch as young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamanders. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Western red-backed salamanders live in humid coniferous forests with mild winters. They find cover in rocky substrates, including talus (rock fragment piles), boulders and rock outcroppings. They may also hide under or in rotting logs, leaf litter and other forest debris. During extreme cold, hot or dry weather, they move deep under talus (rock fragment piles), deep in logs or move underground to avoid desiccation (extreme dehydration).

Diet: They consume various terrestrial invertebrates such as mites, spiders and isopods (small crustaceans).

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Breeding occurs from November through early March. Females lay about 10 eggs every other year during spring. They lay their eggs on land in deep moist crevices under or in rocks and logs. Females attach their grape-shaped egg clusters to the roofs and sides of moist crevices and remain with their eggs through the summer until they hatch in fall.

Young salamanders look like small adults but with a brighter colored stripe along the back. They have similar habitat requirements as adults, but may remain more active on the forest floor than adults during dry, cold or hot weather. They feed on terrestrial invertebrates, such as mites, small spiders and isopods. Young salamanders reach sexual maturity by their second and third year after hatching.

Range: The western red-backed salamander is found in the Coast Range, Willamette Valley, Klamath Mountains and West Cascades ecoregions at elevations below the winter snow line. This is the most widely distributed and common of the woodland salamander species in the Pacific Northwest.

Did you know? The western red-back salamander is a species of lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae). Lungless salamanders actually breathe through their moist skin!

Conservation Status: State: None; Federal: None

Del Norte Salamander -Photo by James Bettaso, US Fish and Wildlife Service-

Del Norte Salamander Plethodon elongatus

Description: Del Norte salamanders are solid brown or black in color. Some individuals, especially younger salamanders, have a reddish-orange to red stripe along their backs, but it generally fades as they mature. As the species’ scientific name (elongatus) suggests, individuals have long bodies in relation to their short limbs. The Del Norte salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their skin. They can grow to six inches in total length.

Del Norte salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young are still in their eggs, which hatch as young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamanders. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Del Norte salamanders live in older redwood or Douglas-fir forests and commonly use rocky substrates―rubble, talus (rock fragment piles) and rock outcroppings―for cover. During hot and dry or cold weather, they retreat deeper into rocky crevices or underground. They may emerge to just beneath surface debris during times of warm and wet weather.

Diet: Adults feed on various small invertebrates such as spiders, millipedes, caterpillars, termites and beetles.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Breeding occurs in spring and fall. Females lay about eight eggs in spring and they hide their grape-shaped egg clusters on land in concealed rocky crevices. They remain with their eggs until they hatch in fall.

Young salamanders are similarly patterned as adults, but the reddish-orange to red colored stripe along the back is brighter. They have similar habitat requirements as adults. Young salamanders feed on similar invertebrates as adults but likely feed on smaller-sized prey.

Range: Del Norte salamanders occur throughout older forests of southwestern Oregon in the Klamath Mountains and Coast Range ecoregions.

Did you know? A salamander’s activities, such as delaying hatching or seeking refuge from a predator, may be triggered by their ability to taste chemical cues in their environment, called chemoreception.  

Siskiyou Mountains Salamander adult (left) and juvenile (right) -Photo by Karen West, US Forest Service-

Siskiyou Mountains Salamander Plethodon stormi

Description: Siskiyou Mountains salamanders are similar to Del Norte salamanders, except they are a little shorter, growing to about 5½ inches in total length. An adult salamander is brown colored with a light brown stripe along the back and a grayish-purple belly. It has light scattered flecks along the body. The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their skin.

Siskiyou Mountains salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young are still in their eggs, which hatch as young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamanders. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Siskiyou Mountains salamanders require talus (rock fragment piles) or rock outcrops in older forest stands. Siskiyou Mountains salamanders retreat deep within rocky crevices that remain cool and moist during extremely dry summers. Even during times of wet weather, when they emerge to just under surface debris, they remain near sheltering rocks.

Diet: These nocturnal salamanders feed at night on a variety of invertebrates such as spiders, mites, ants, springtails and beetles. Their favorite springtime prey are ants.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Siskiyou Mountains salamander females lay about nine eggs every other spring on land in the deep crevices of the talus slopes in which they live. Females remain with their nests through the summer until the eggs hatch in fall. Occasionally, young may stay underground until the following year.

Young salamanders are black with a tan stripe along the back. They have similar habitat and foraging requirements as adults. Both males and females reach sexual maturity in about five to six years after hatching.

Range: The Siskiyou Mountains salamander has a range size of just 145 square miles in the Applegate River drainage in the Klamath Mountains ecoregion.

Did you know? The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is a sedentary species. From a hiding spot, it patiently waits for prey to come by and then it quickly jumps out to grab the prey.

The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Conservation Status: State: Vulnerable Sensitive; Federal: None

Ensatina -Photo by Ray Davis, US Forest Service-

Ensatina Ensatina eschscholzii

Description: Ensatinas have short bodies and yellow or orange legs. Two sub-species of ensatinas live in Oregon. The Oregon ensatina (E. e. oregonensis) is solid red, orange, brown or tan colored, while the painted ensatina (E. e. picta) has small yellow, black or white spots on the back and tail. Ensatinas are one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their moist skin. They can grow to just over four inches in total length.

Ensatinas lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young are still in their eggs, which hatch as young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamanders. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Ensatinas live in humid forests, woodlands and shrub lands. They commonly use woody debris, such as logs, bark piles at the base of snags (standing dead trees), stumps and even woodpiles in residential areas for cover from weather and protection from predators.

Diet: They consume a variety of invertebrates including spiders, snails, centipedes, millipedes, springtails, mites, termites, beetles and crickets.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Breeding may occur throughout fall and even through spring. Males perform a mating dance for a single female that entices her to follow him. During spring and just after the end of the rainy season, females retreat into protected cavities to lay clusters of about seven to 25 whitish-colored eggs under or in rotting logs or in underground rodent burrows. They remain with their nests through the summer until the eggs hatch in about 110 to 140 days, usually in fall or early winter.

Young salamanders resemble small adults with brighter colored legs. They have similar habitat and foraging requirements as adults. Both males and females reach sexual maturity in about two to three years.

Range: Ensatinas are found in the Coast Range, Willamette Valley, Klamath Mountains and West Cascades ecoregions. Of the seven recognized sub-species of ensatinas, there are two found in Oregon: the Oregon ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis) occurs throughout most of western Oregon and the painted ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii picta) occurs in far southwestern Oregon.

Did you know? When attacked by a predator, an ensatina can secrete a milky poison from its skin. It can also drop its tail. While the tail continues to move and attract the predator, the ensatina is able to escape. It can regenerate a new tail.

Clouded Salamander -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Clouded Salamander Aneides ferreus

Description: Adult clouded salamanders are generally brown with brassy patches on their backs and gray bellies. As salamanders age, the brassy back colors fade. The clouded salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their moist skin. Mature adults can grow to just over five inches in total length.

Clouded salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young are still in their eggs, which hatch as young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamanders. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Clouded salamanders prefer forest habitats or burned areas that provide large decaying logs or stumps, especially Douglas firs, where they can find burrows in the wood or spaces just under the bark to hide. They may also hide deep in rock crevices during dry and cold weather. During warm wet weather, clouded salamanders lie closer to the surface just beneath the top layer of debris.

Diet: Clouded salamanders feed on a variety of small invertebrates, favoring beetles, ants, spiders and mites.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Every other year, a single female salamander lays about nine to 17 eggs during late June through July in protected cavities of rotting logs and stumps and occasionally in rock crevices. The female attaches each white-colored egg singly by a jelly strand to the roof of the cavity and keeps them clustered. She remains with her clutch for about two months until the eggs hatch in late August or September. When the young emerge, they are just about an inch long.

Young clouded salamanders look like small adults but with a distinct brassy stripe running from the top of the head to the tip of the tail. This brassy stripe usually fades as they mature into adults. Generally, young salamanders have similar habitat requirements as adults. They prefer using bark litter for cover rather than rock or leaf litter. The size of a salamander’s prey is dependent on its size. When they first emerge from their nests, they feed on small prey, including mites, springtails, flies and small beetles. As they grow larger, they are capable of consuming larger prey items, including sow bugs, larger beetles, spiders, ants and earwigs. Young male salamanders reach sexual maturity by their second year after hatching and females lay their first clutches during their third year.

Range: In Oregon, clouded salamanders are found throughout the Coast Range, Klamath Mountains and West Cascades ecoregions. They do not occur in the far northwestern Coast Range or in the Willamette Valley.

Did you know? Clouded salamanders are rather exceptional climbers. They can climb to the tops of trees over 100-feet tall.

The clouded salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Conservation Status: State: Vulnerable Sensitive; Federal: None

Black Salamander -Photo by James Bettaso, US Fish and Wildlife Service-

Black Salamander Aneides flavipunctatus

Description: Adult black salamanders that live in Oregon are fully black with a smattering of bronze or green specks across the top of their heads, backs, tails and legs. The black salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their skin. Female black salamanders are generally larger than males and grow up to 5½ inches in total length.

Black salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young is still in the egg, which hatches as a young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamander. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Black salamanders live in forest, open woodland, moist talus (rock fragment piles) and streamside habitats. They use crevices in moist decaying logs or stumps, wet talus slopes or just under surface debris for cover during warm wet weather. During drier periods, they find refuge in the interior portions of large decaying logs and talus slopes or even along streams.

Diet: They feed on terrestrial invertebrates including millipedes, ants, termites and worms.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Female black salamanders lay clutches of about 18 to 25 eggs during July or early August in earthen cavities about 15 inches underground. They attach their eggs singly by a jelly strand (peduncle) to a central jelly base. They guard their eggs through the summer until they hatch.

Young salamanders look like small adults, but the covering of green specks is brighter. They have similar habitat and foraging requirements as adults. Young salamanders tend to feed on smaller invertebrates, such as flies, mosquitoes and springtails, than adults do. They select larger prey as they continue growing.

Range: The black salamander has a limited range in Oregon, it occurs only in the far southern portion of the Klamath Mountains ecoregion.

Did you know? The western terrestrial garter snake is a predator of black salamanders. A black salamander is capable of biting a snake and causing serious injuries to the snake.

Oregon Slender Salamander Batrachoseps wrighti

Description: This dark colored salamander has a reddish-brown ragged edged stripe that runs along the top of the head to the tip of the tail with black or dark brown sides. The belly is black with large white flecks. The Oregon slender salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their skin. Mature adults can grow to just under four inches in total length, with females about 12% larger than males.

Oregon slender salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young is still in the egg, which hatches as a young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamander. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: Oregon slender salamanders are most common in stable, moist old-growth (late successional and second-growth) forests where there are abundant large decaying Douglas fir logs and bark debris mounds at the base of snags (standing dead trees). They may also use moist talus (rock fragment piles) and lava fields. Occasionally, Oregon slender salamanders clump together in groups to remain damp.

Diet: Adult salamanders consume a variety of terrestrial invertebrates such as mites, spiders, snails, beetles, centipedes and worms.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Oregon slender salamanders breed during rainy days from April through early June. During this time, females lay clutches of three to 11 eggs in deep crevices of decaying stumps and logs or in underground cavities and talus. They guard their nests until the eggs hatch in four to five months.

Young salamanders have brighter stripes along their backs than older salamanders. They have similar habitat and foraging requirements as adults.

Range: The Oregon slender salamander is endemic to (only found in) the West Cascades ecoregion of Oregon, primarily on the mountains’ western slopes. The Columbia River is a barrier to the species’ range expansion.

Did you know? When disturbed, the Oregon slender salamander coils into a tight spiral and, if further disturbed, escalates to display of sporadic flips. The Oregon slender salamander is capable of dropping its tail when threatened by predators. A smaller tail will regrow.

The Oregon slender salamander is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Conservation Status: State: Vulnerable Sensitive; Federal: None

California Slender Salamander -Photo by Jason Chenoweth, US Fish and Wildlife Service-

California Slender Salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus

Description: California slender salamanders have especially long and slender worm-like bodies. They have reddish-brown stripes along their backs from head to tail. This stripe fades as the animal ages. The California slender salamander is one of the lungless salamander species; they breathe through their skin. Mature adults can grow to 5½ inches in total length.

California slender salamanders lack an aquatic larval (water-living juvenile) stage. The larval stage occurs while the young is still in the egg, which hatches as a young terrestrial (land-living) juvenile salamander. See the Breeding and Early Life Stages section.

Habitat: In Oregon, this salamander usually lives in humid coastal conifer forests. It especially prefers redwood forests, which its coloration provides camouflage for perfectly hiding in the rotting red-colored wood. In times of warm wet weather, it takes cover just beneath surface debris. In times of drier weather, it may retreat deep into crevices or insect and worm burrows underground and in large logs and stumps. As it lives along the coast, it is capable of tolerating ocean salt sprays.

Diet: Adult salamanders consume a variety of small invertebrates such as earthworms, millipedes and insects.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Females tend to lay their clutches, which contain about four to 13 eggs, together in communal nests from October through November. Their eggs appear clustered, but they are actually enclosed in a long, thin jelly string that is coiled. They place their eggs in underground cavities or under or in rotting logs and other woody surface debris. Their eggs hatch later that same winter or through the following spring.

Young salamanders look like small adults except the back stripe is brighter colored. They have similar habitat requirements as adults, but they may prefer smaller pieces of surface debris for cover. They forage on similar small invertebrates as adults. Both males and females reach sexual maturity between two to four years after hatching.

Range: In Oregon, the California slender salamander occurs in the far southern Coast Range and southwestern Klamath Mountains ecoregions.

Did you know? When disturbed, the California slender salamander coils into a tight spiral and, if further disturbed, escalates to display of sporadic flips. The Oregon slender salamander is capable of dropping its tail when threatened by predators. A smaller tail will regrow.

Living with Frogs | Frogs Are Cool! Facts for Kids (pdf)

Coastal Tailed Frog -Photo by Brome McCreary -

Description: The coloring of adult coastal tailed frogs often matches the color of local rocks ranging from brown or reddish-brown to gray with little flecks of yellow or gray. They have grainy textured skin that further enhances their camouflage. Male coastal tailed frogs have a short tail, the signature for tailed frogs. Adult males grow to 1¾ inches long and adult females to two inches long.

Habitat: They live in very shallow and heavily shaded water of fast running, small, permanent mountain streams with cold and clear water, rocky substrates and little silt in older forests. These streams are often fish-less headwater streams. During rainy weather, adults may venture onto stream banks or away from streams into areas that would otherwise be too dry. Adults spend their days hiding under streambed rocks. 

Diet: At night, adults emerge to feed. They feed along the stream and in the surrounding forest in the summer on snails, slugs, spiders and various insects.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Adults mate in fall, mostly from September through October. Females lay between 25 and 95 large white colored eggs in long strings during the following summer in July and may breed every year. They attach their eggs to the undersides of large rocks, such as cobble or boulders, in the shallow streams in which they live. Occasionally, they may leave their eggs unattached and laying underneath rocks. Eggs hatch in about three to six weeks, usually by late summer from August through September.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) are almost colorless and transparent and do not have external gills. They retain some of the yolk from the egg inside their gut, which is visible through their clear skin. Hatchlings and tadpoles have wide mouths that they use to suction onto rocks in fast-flowing streams. Tadpoles are black or reddish-brown with a white sport on their tails and can grow to two inches in total length. They spend their days hiding under streambed rocks, clinging to moss-free rocks. Tadpoles tend to live further down-stream, usually in larger streams, than adults live in. They feed on algae near the water’s surface and may scrape tiny organic debris off rocks to eat. Coastal tailed frogs develop slowly and require about one to two years of growth before metamorphosing. Juvenile frogs may require up to six to eight years after metamorphosis to reach reproductive maturity.

Range: Coastal tailed frogs are found in the Coast Range, Klamath Mountains and West Cascades ecoregions. They are found from near sea level to high-mountain streams. They do not occur in the north and central portions of the Willamette Valley.

Did you know? This frog doesn’t croak. In fact, it has no voice at all and has poor hearing.

The coastal tailed frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Coast Range, Klamath Mountains and West Cascades ecoregions. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Rocky Mountain (Inland) Tailed Frog Ascaphus montanus

Description: The Rocky Mountain tailed frog’s coloring often matches the color of local rocks ranging from brown or reddish-brown to gray. They have grainy textured skin that further enhances their camouflage. Male Rocky Mountain tailed frogs have a short tail, the signature for tailed frogs. Adult males are slightly smaller than adult females that grow to two inches in length.

Habitat: Rocky Mountain tailed frogs are found in the water or close by it. They live in very shallow and heavily shaded water of fast-flowing, small, permanent streams in older mountain forests with cold and clear water, rocky substrates and little silt. These streams are often fish-less headwater streams. During rainy weather, adults may venture onto stream banks or away from the streams into areas that would otherwise be too dry. In the summer, adults hide under rocks in streams.

Diet: This primarily nocturnal frog emerges at night to feed. Adults eat a variety of insects and other invertebrates, such as snails, slugs and spiders.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Adults mate in the fall, mostly from September through October. Females lay their eggs during the following summer, usually in July, and likely breed every other year. They attach up to 90 large white colored eggs in long strings to the undersides of large rocks in the shallow streams in which they live. Eggs hatch usually by late summer from August through September.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) are almost colorless and transparent and do not have external gills. They retain some of the yolk from the egg inside their gut, which is visible through their clear skin. Hatchlings and tadpoles have wide mouths that they use to suction onto rocks in fast-flowing streams. Tadpoles are black or reddish-brown and can grow to two inches in total length. Like adults, they spend their days hiding under streambed rocks, clinging to moss-free rocks. Tadpoles tend to live further down-stream, usually in larger streams, than adults live in. They primarily feed on small algae, called diatoms, near the water’s surface and may scrape tiny organic debris off rocks to eat. Rocky Mountain tailed frogs develop slowly and require three to five years of growth before metamorphosing. Juvenile frogs may require up to six to eight years after metamorphosis to reach reproductive maturity.

Range: Rocky Mountain tailed frogs are found in the Blue Mountains Ecoregion of eastern Oregon.

Did you know? These frogs don’t have any tongues or vocal sacs, so they don’t call at all.

The Rocky Mountain tailed frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Blue Mountains Ecoregion. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Great Basin Spadefoot

Description: The Great Basin spadefoot is a species of toad. Adult spadefoots are gray with light lines along the back and light colored bellies. Their skin has abundant dark colored small bumpy spots. They have a single, black, hard spade on the heel of each hind foot. Adult females are larger than males, growing to 2½ inches in length.

Habitat: Great Basin spadefoots live in dry sagebrush, grasslands and woodlands with sandy soils near ponds. Though they live in semi-arid habitats, like all frogs, they love the rain and damp weather. They spend most of the year in underground burrows that they dig quite efficiently using the spade on their hind foot. They use these burrows for hibernation during cold dry winters and estivation during hot dry summers.

Diet: Adult spadefoots forage for ants, beetles and earthworms at night and especially enjoy foraging after it rains.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: When the warm rains of spring arrive, adults emerge from their burrows to breed in the edges of shallow ponds from May through July. At this time, males can be heard making their boisterous mating calls that sounds like slowly quacking ducks. Following breeding, females lay up to 800 eggs in small clusters of 20 to 40 eggs in water less than a half meter deep. They usually lay their eggs just after a spring or summer rain. They loosely attach their soft eggs in grape- to plum-sized clusters to submerged vegetation or simply leave them on the bottom of the pond. Eggs are tan-gray colored above and cream colored below. They hatch within two to three days, depending on environmental conditions.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) are light tan or gray colored. Their eyes develop quickly and in just a few hours, their tiny external gills become covered with skin. As black colored tadpoles, they have shiny golden undersides and grow to 2¾ inches in total length. They are able to live in warm and dirty water up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Tadpoles feed day or night on a variety of algae, decaying debris, plants, insects and amphibian larvae. They metamorphose soon after hatching, within several weeks and sometimes as early as five weeks after hatching. Male spadefoots reach reproductive maturity by their first or second year after metamorphosis and females require at least two years after metamorphosis before they lay their first eggs.

Range: Great Basin spadefoots are found in the Columbia Plateau, Blue Mountains, Northern Basin and Range and East Cascades ecoregions of eastern Oregon.

Did you know? They are named for the small, black “spade” on the heel of each hind foot, which allows them to dig into the ground for shelter. This spade makes them a champion digger, as they are able to disappear from the surface in minutes.

Western Toad -Kelly McAllister-

Description: These large toads are well camouflaged in earth tones with dry bumpy skin that aids in protection from predators. Their color can be highly variable among individuals ranging from gray or reddish-brown to yellow or green. They have a light colored stripe that runs along the center of the back. Adult female toads are larger than males, growing to five inches in length.

Habitat: They live mainly on land in a range of habitats from forests to mountain meadows to desert flats. During the non-breeding season, they are nocturnal. They dig their own burrows in loose soil, use existing burrows or hide under logs, other woody debris and rocks for daytime cover.

Diet: At night, adults feed on various invertebrates such as worms, spiders, ants, moths, beetles and other insects. They catch their prey by rapidly extending a long portion of their tongue, call a zot, to grasp their prey.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: The breeding season occurs from late winter through spring depending on elevation. At low elevations, breeding may begin as early as January. At higher elevations, breeding may occur in spring or summer depending on when snow begins to melt. During this time, adults frequent extensive, sunny shallow ponds or lake edges with little to no vegetation. A female lays up to 12,000 eggs in two very long, thin strands of double-layered jelly on the pond bottom in shallow water less than a half meter deep. Eggs are black colored above and white colored below. They hatch in three to 10 days, depending on water temperature—with just a few days for warmer water and up to 12 days in colder water.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) have a short tail with a dark gray and translucent tail fin. They are black or dark maroon colored with grainy textured skin. As they mature into tadpoles, they become solid dark brown, black or charcoal colored with black speckled translucent dorsal tail fins. They grow to an inch in total length. Tadpoles form schools that require shallow ponds with little vegetation that allows them space to move widely as they forage. They live in the warmest and shallowest water they can find. Tadpoles feed on decaying mud and microscopic algae called diatoms. They may even feed on fish carcasses. Tadpoles metamorphose by the end of their first summer or about one to three months after hatching. Tadpoles living in warmer water may metamorphose sooner than those do living in colder water. They reach reproductive maturity by their fourth to sixth year.

Range: Western toads are found in all eight ecoregions. In the Willamette Valley ecoregion, they are found only in the far north.

Did you know? Western toads have skin secretions that taste bad and help to deter other animals from eating them.

The western toad is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Blue Mountains, Coast Range, East Cascades, Klamath Mountains, Northern Basin and Range and West Cascades ecoregions. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Woodhouse’s Toad -ODFW-

Description: These large toads have bumps on their dry skin which contain poison glands to discourage predators. Color varies between individuals ranging from gray or yellow to dark brown. They have thin white stripes along thier backs and yellow bellies with dark specks. Females are larger than males and grow to five inches in length.

Habitat: Woodhouse’s toads live in river valleys in sagebrush and grassland habitats. They rest in burrows throughout the daytime hours and use wetlands during the breeding season. During dry weather, they burrow underground.

Diet: Adults are nocturnal; they feed on small terrestrial insects at night.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Adult toads breed in wetlands usually during spring, but may breed from February through September. During this time, males sing a loud, long whistle that may sound like a bleating lamb. A female lays up to 28,000 eggs in long, thin strings of single layered jelly among submerged aquatic vegetation. Eggs are black colored above and white colored below.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) are black or charcoal colored with lighter colored bellies and pale gray colored tail fins. As they mature into tadpoles, they become solid brown, gray or black with pale gold and cream blotches and light colored tails. As tadpoles, they can grow to an inch in total length. They form tadpole schools and require shallow ponds with little vegetation that allows them space to move widely as they forage. They live in the warmest and shallowest water they can find and feed at night. Tadpoles are herbivorous and consume finely decayed plant matter and algae. They metamorphose in about eight weeks from hatching. Male toads reach reproductive maturity within their first year after metamorphosis and females within their first two years.

Range: Woodhouse’s toads are found in only a few areas along the Columbia River in the Columbia Plateau ecoregion. There is a small population in the Northern Basin and Range ecoregion located along the Owyhee Reservoir.

Did you know? Woodhouse’s toads survive hot summer days by burying into the ground with their powerful hind legs. They cope with dehydration better than most other amphibians.

Pacific Treefrog -Photo by Bob Swingle, ODFW-

Description: Adult treefrogs have a dark mask that extends from the tip of the nose across the eyes to the shoulders. Coloration varies between individuals, ranging from green or reddish to brown or gray. Most individuals have dark blotches along their sides with light colored bumpy undersides. They have special skin glands that produce a waxy coating to keep their skin moist. Male treefrogs have a dark gray, inflatable throat pouch during the breeding season. As the smallest frog species in Oregon, adult northern Pacific treefrogs only grow to two inches in length.

Habitat: During the non-breeding season, this treefrog is found in various habitats that can be quite distant from water, including wet meadows, riparian areas, woodlands and brush habitats and pastures and disturbed areas. They may even find shelter in tree cavities. Individuals living east of the Cascades move into underground burrows dug by other animals or stay in streams or springs during times of dry weather. They are inactive during freezing weather.

Diet: Adult treefrogs have sticky pads on the bottoms of their toes, allowing them to climb on vegetation with ease. This gives them better access to their prey including beetles, flies, spiders, ants and isopods (small crustaceans).

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Breeding migrations are triggered by warmer rains during winter in western Oregon. Depending on elevation, the breeding season lasts from November through July. At this time, adults move to ephemeral (temporary) shallow wetlands such as shallow ponds, seasonal pools, wet meadows or forested swamps and avoid predation by fish and other amphibian species that require permanent water sources. Females lay up to 750 soft eggs in tightly packed clusters of 20 to 80 eggs each. Individual eggs are surrounded by a thin layer of jelly and are tan to gray-tan colored above and yellow-gold or cream colored below. Females attach their eggs to submerged vegetation or lay them on the bottom of the pond in water a half meter deep or less. Eggs hatch within a few weeks. In western Oregon, eggs may take up to five weeks to hatch.

The tiny hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) are golden tan colored with visible yolk in their bellies. Their gills are usually hidden by the time they hatch. As tadpoles, they can be a variety of colors including brown, mottled green or tan with two light stripes along the back and a white or silver belly. They can grow to just under two inches in total length. They live in the warmest and shallowest water they can find, such as quiet waters or sluggish, slow streams. Tadpoles form schools that may help maintain their body temperatures (thermoregulation) or to avoid predators. Tadpoles forage on a variety of available algae and organic debris that they scrape off rocks or consume from floating mats. Tadpoles metamorphose within two to three months after hatching; by midsummer (June) at lower elevations and by late summer (late August) at higher elevations. They may take up to two years to reach reproductive maturity. Individuals living in western Oregon may reach reproductive maturity in less than one year.

Range: The northern Pacific treefrog is the most common frog in Oregon; it is found in all eight ecoregions.

Did you know? Pacific treefrogs are often heard on movie soundtracks.

Northern Pacific treefrogs are a fabulous example of what the Oregon Conservation Strategy hopes to accomplish for all our common native species—that is, keep them common.

Northern Red-legged Frog - Photo by Don Vandeberg, ODFW-

Description: Adults have smooth, moist skin that is brown or reddish-brown in color with black flecks on their backs, sides and legs. They may also have a dark colored mask. Adults have red underlegs, hence their name. Females, growing to four inches in length, are almost twice the size of males.

Habitat: Adult red-legged frogs like cool damp coniferous or deciduous forests and forested wetlands. During the non-breeding season, adult frogs spend most of their time on land in woodlands along streams, in moist sedge or brush, along shaded pond edges or under logs and other forest debris. Damp weather permits them to venture away from their primary water source into areas that would normally be too dry. They are inactive if temperatures are too cold or weather is too hot and dry. Coastal populations may remain active throughout the year.

Diet: Adult frogs are nocturnal and feed on a variety of small invertebrates including beetles, caterpillars and isopods (small crustaceans).

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Depending on elevation, adult frogs breed in winter through early spring in marshes, bogs, swamps, ponds, lakes or slow-moving streams. They prefer shaded water that is a half meter to two meters deep. Following breeding, females lay up to 1,300 eggs and attach them to submerged vegetation, such as a branch or stem, or leave them on bottom vegetation. Each soft, grapefruit- to cantaloupe-sized egg mass contains about 530 to 830 large eggs. Eggs are black colored above and white colored below with a thick layer of jelly. Eggs hatch in 30 to 45 days.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) remain near the egg mass, sometimes even clinging to the egg mass or nearby vegetation. They are dark colored with translucent dark gray dorsal tail fins. As tadpoles, they have brown topsides with dark flecks and light colored undersides with silver flecks. They can grow to 2¾ inches in total length. They live in warmer areas of ponds and prefer dense vegetation for cover. Tadpoles consume microscopic organisms including algae and small decaying animal and plant particles. Tadpoles metamorphose between 11 and 14 weeks after hatching, usually in June and July. Some individuals may overwinter as tadpoles and metamorphose during their second summer. Males reach reproductive maturity as early as their first breeding season after they metamorphose, but most require two years before they are reproductively mature. Most females are reproductively mature by their third year.

Range: Found throughout most of western Oregon, northern red-legged frogs occur at an array of elevations, ranging from sea level along the coast to about 4,600 feet in the Klamath Mountains and Cascades and into the Willamette Valley and the Columbia River Gorge.

Did you know? It’s unlikely you’ll ever hear a red-legged frog call. They call from underwater.

The northern red-legged frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Klamath Mountains and Willamette Valley ecoregions. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Cascades Frog

Description: Adult Cascades frogs have tan, copper or green backs with black spots and yellow bellies. Their skin has small bumps on the back and sides. Females, which grow to three inches in length, are slightly larger than males.

Habitat: Cascades frogs live in a variety of moist habitats including mountain meadows, bogs, seasonally flooded forested swamps and shallow ponds, marshes and lakes. They use woody debris, mud or dense vegetation for cover from predators and spend their winters hibernating in mud. They emerge during the summer and live in wet meadows and bogs or along forested streams and pond edges.

Diet: While scientists do not have a clear understanding of their diet, adult Cascades frogs likely consume a wide variety of invertebrates. Once they see their prey, they use their large sticky tongues to catch and bring the prey into their mouths to eat.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: The melting of snow and ice in spring signals the beginning of the breeding season for Cascades frogs. Depending on elevation, frogs may breed from March through mid-August. They prefer breeding in cold bogs or ponds supported by cold springs or snowmelt. Females lay around 300 to 500 eggs in soft, orange- to grapefruit-sized clumps. Individual eggs are black colored above and white colored below. As a thick layer of jelly surrounds each egg, individual eggs are widely spaced within the egg mass. Females leave their eggs unattached on submerged short vegetation, such as moss, in slow flowing shallow water less than 20 centimeters deep. At high elevations, they lay their eggs in sunny ponds. The amount of time eggs require to hatch is strongly influenced by water temperatures; warmer water temperatures decrease the time required to hatch.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) are long, dark colored and streamlined with dark charcoal or black colored tail fins. They have long, gnarled gills that disappear as they mature into tadpoles. Tadpoles have brown backs and tails that are smattered with dark spots and pale iridescent bellies. They grow to about two inches in total length. Tadpoles live in warmer areas of ponds among vegetation. They commonly form large schools of up to 100 individuals that are usually all siblings. They feed on microscopic aquatic organisms including algae, detritus (decaying organic waste or debris), plants and various other small organisms. While time to metamorphosis is greatly influenced by water temperature, most tadpoles metamorphose about two months after hatching, during the end of their first summer. Some individuals overwinter and metamorphose by their second summer. Males reach reproductive maturity by their second or third year after metamorphosis and females by their fourth year.

Range: As their name suggests, Cascades frogs are found throughout the Cascade Mountains. In Oregon, they usually occur at elevations above 2,000 feet through about 6,500 feet.

Did you know? The Cascades frog and other frog species (those in the Ranidae family) have high concentrations of antimicrobial secretions that may have significant medicinal value for fighting human infections.

The Cascades frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the East Cascades and West Cascades ecoregions. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Oregon Spotted Frog

Description: Adult Oregon spotted frogs have moist bumpy skin that is reddish-brown on their topsides. On their heads, backs, sides and legs, they have black spots with light centers that darken with age. They also have red bellies and orange-red underlegs. Adult females grow to four inches in length and males to three inches.

Habitat: Oregon spotted frogs live in wet areas that provide abundant aquatic vegetation such as marshes, permanent ponds, lake edges and slow streams. When frightened, they hide in dense vegetation or under debris at the bottom of shallow wetlands. Adult frogs hibernate during the winter in freeze-free seeps, springs and channels (sometimes in mud bottoms at least one foot under water) connected to their breeding waters.

Diet: Adults eat various insects such as beetles and flies as well as spiders, mollusks, crustaceans and other young amphibians. They are patient predators, remaining motionless, until they see something that looks tasty. The frog then lunges and captures the prey with its sticky tongue.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Breeding seasons are dependent on elevation and time of snowmelt. At lower elevations, frogs start breeding in late winter during February or March. At higher elevations, breeding does not start until late May or early June. Adult frogs breed in shallow waters such as flooded meadows near ponds or streams. Male frogs produce mating calls that sound like a distant woodpecker tapping on a tree for insects. Females living in low elevations lay eggs annually and females in higher elevations may go a couple years without laying eggs. One to two weeks after breeding, females lay one egg mass each. Usually, females lay their egg masses communally in large clusters that contain a few hundred egg masses and they return to the same location each year to lay their eggs. Females lay their soft, orange-sized egg masses on bottom vegetation in water about 15 centimeters deep. Individual eggs are black colored above and white colored below and have a thin jelly layer. Eggs hatch in about 18 to 30 days.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) have long wide translucent tail fins and long gills that resemble gnarly fingers. As hatchlings mature into tadpoles, their gills disappear under their skin. Tadpoles, they retain their long wide tail fins, but become darker colored with dull gold speckling and pale gold colored bellies. Tadpoles live in warmer shallow areas of ponds among dense aquatic vegetation. They forage on algae, organic debris, carrion (decaying animal flesh), aquatic plants and other small aquatic organisms. Tadpoles in warmer climates metamorphose by their first fall, while those in cooler climates may require a second summer before metamorphosing. Males reach reproductive maturity by the end of their first year and females not until their second year.

Range: Currently, spotted frogs are classified as two separate species, the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) and the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris). Researchers found that while the two species are nearly identical morphologically, they differ genetically and occupy different ranges (Green et al., 1997). Oregon spotted frogs are found in the Cascade Mountains.

Did you know? The species scientific name, pretiosa, means precious in Latin.

The Oregon spotted frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the East Cascades and West Cascades ecoregions. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Columbia Spotted Frog

Description: Adult frogs have moist bumpy skin that is tan or olive-green colored on their topsides. On their heads, backs, sides and legs, they have dark spots with light centers that darken with age. They also have red bellies and orange-red underlegs. Adult females grow to 4 inches in length and males  to 3 inches in length.

Habitat: Columbia spotted frogs live in wet areas that provide abundant aquatic vegetation such as marshes, permanent ponds, lake edges and slow streams. When frightened, they hide in dense vegetation or under debris at the bottom of shallow wetlands. Adult frogs overwinter in springs, spring-fed water holes, beaver dams, pond bottoms and some areas of permanent streams. They may actively move in cold water through the winter in ponds that ice over during the winter.

Diet: Adults feed day or night on a variety of insects, mollusks, crustaceans and arachnids (invertebrates such as spiders and ticks).

Breeding and Early Life Stages: Depending on the elevation and time of snowmelt, the breeding season may begin from late winter through spring. Adult frogs breed in shallow quiet waters that usually freeze over at night such as flooded meadows near ponds or streams. Females living in low elevations lay eggs annually and females in higher elevations may go a couple years without laying eggs. Females usually lay their soft, orange-size egg masses in communal clusters on vegetated bottoms in the warmest areas of a wetland in shallow water about 10 to 20 centimeters deep. Females lay about 600 eggs per egg mass. Individual eggs are black colored above, white colored below and have a thin jelly layer. Time to hatching is greatly influenced by water temperature and ranges from eight to 21 days.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) have long wide translucent tail fins and long gills that resemble gnarly fingers. As hatchlings mature into tadpoles, their gills disappear under their skin. Tadpoles, they retain their long wide tails that darken as they grow. They have solid brown backs with dull gold speckling and light gold colored bellies. They grow to 1¾ inches in total length. Tadpoles live in warmer shallow areas of ponds. They forage on algae, organic debris, aquatic plants and other small aquatic organisms. Tadpoles in warmer climates metamorphose by their first fall, while those in cooler climates may require a second summer before metamorphosing. Individuals living in high elevations reach reproductive maturity at greater ages than those living in low elevations. Generally, males are  reproductively mature in one to four years after metamorphosis and  females in two to six years after.

Range: Currently, spotted frogs are classified as two separate species, the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) and the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa). Researchers found that while the two species are nearly identical morphologically, they differ genetically and occupy different ranges (Green et al., 1997). Columbia spotted frogs are found in the Blue Mountains and the Northern Basin and Range ecoregions.

Did you know? Columbia spotted frogs like to wander. They will sometimes migrate seasonally and use different water bodies for breeding, summer feeding and overwintering.

The Columbia spotted frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Blue Mountains and the Northern Basin and Range ecoregions. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog

Description: Adult frogs are gray or brown with yellow underbellies and thighs. Their color and grainy textured rough-looking skin helps camouflage them, making them hard to see among rocks. Adults can grow to three inches in length; males are slightly smaller than females.

Habitat: They live in or along edges of permanent streams and rivers with exposed rocky streambeds and off-channel waters that are slow flowing and quiet. In summer, they are likely to hide under rocks in streams or among clumps of vegetation along pools. They use rocks or debris at the bottom of the streams as refuge from predators. They may wander out of their aquatic habitats on wet days. During times of cold weather, they become inactive and usually reduce their level of activity during hot, dry weather.

Diet: Adult frogs consume a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates including flies, moths, hornets, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, water striders and snails.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: When stream flows subside after winter storms and runoff, adult frogs breed during two weeks from mid-March through early June in quiet slow flowing areas of the streams in which they live. After breeding, females attach about 1,000 eggs in a soft, orange- to grapefruit-sized cluster to streambed rocks in shallow, slow flowing water less than a half meter deep. Occasionally, females attach their eggs to submerged aquatic vegetation or woody debris. Individual eggs are black colored above, white colored below and surrounded in a thin jelly layer. In warmer water temperatures up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, eggs develop faster and hatch sooner than those do in cooler waters. Given the variation in water temperature across the species’ range, eggs may hatch in five to 37 days.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) use their mouths to suction to rock surfaces in areas of gentle water flow and remain close to the area of their hatched egg mass. As they develop into tadpoles, they become more streamlined and continue using their large mouths for clinging to rocks to avoid being swept away in the current. Tadpoles have olive colored backs and tails with dark spots towards their tails. They can grow to two inches in total length. Tadpoles live in slow flowing pools with little silt that provide access to the main stream. They find shelter among cobble and gravel substrates. Tadpoles graze rock and vegetation surfaces for algae, decaying organic material and small aquatic organisms. While dependent on water temperature, most tadpoles metamorphose in three to four months during late summer through early fall. Most individuals reach reproductive maturity by their second year after metamorphosis, but some may reproduce as soon as six months after metamorphosis.

Range: Foothill yellow-legged frogs are found in the southern portion of the Coast Range, the southeastern Willamette Valley, the central and southern West Cascades and throughout the Klamath Mountains ecoregions.

Did you know? The closest you may come to a yellow-legged frog is its splash. They will sun on rocks but are quick to take a dive when sensing a predator.

The foothill yellow-legged frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Coast Range, Klamath Mountains, West Cascades and Willamette Valley ecoregions. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.

Northern Leopard Frog

Description: Adult northern leopard frogs have smooth skin that is green or brown and covered with dark brown spots outlined with white rings. Females grow to just over four inches in length; males are slightly smaller at just over three inches.

Habitat: They live in and near various water sources with abundant vegetation such as wet meadows, marshes, riparian areas and moist, open woodlands. These frogs use the vegetation, such as grasses, sedge, weeds or brush, as cover from predators. During the winter, they need ponds or slow-running streams for hibernation.

Diet: Adults feed on a variety of prey including insects, spiders, fish and rarely other amphibians and small snakes and birds.

Breeding and Early Life Stages: When snow and ice clears from their breeding waters in spring, adults breed in the shallow, densely vegetated areas surrounding ponds or along lake edges. Most frogs breed when water temperatures reach about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Males produce breeding calls that sound similar to a small motor boat’s putter. Females lay grapefruit-sized egg masses containing between 600 and 7,500 eggs per mass in spring. They usually attach their egg masses in communal clusters to submerged vegetation at water depths of a ½-meter or more. Occasionally, females leave their egg masses laying on the bottom of shallow, slow-moving waters. Their small eggs are each surrounded in a thin layer of jelly. Time to hatching depends on water temperatures, ranging from two days at 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 17 days at 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hatchlings (newborn tadpoles that do not have fully developed eyes) have very short gills and remain close to the egg mass or nearby vegetation. As hatchlings mature into tadpoles, their gills disappear under their skin. Tadpoles, they grow to 3½ inches in total length and are brown to gray colored with gold spots and light colored bellies. They spend the rest of the summer in their natal ponds, living among dense aquatic vegetation. Tadpoles feed on algae, organic decaying material and small invertebrates. They metamorphose in early to late summer, about three to six months after females lay their eggs (egg deposition). Most individuals reach reproductive maturity by their second year. Females living at higher elevations become reproductively mature by their third year.

Range: In Oregon, there are few records suggesting that the northern leopard frog occurs east of the Cascade Mountains along the Columbia River and along the Snake River and lower Malheur River in the far northeastern corner of the Basin and Range Ecoregion.

Did you know? They like to forage for food afoot—often far from water in fields and prairies.

The northern leopard frog is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Northern Basin and Range Ecoregion. See the Conservation Summaries for Strategy Species for more information.