Editor’s Note: I am re-publishing this March 2020 post by herpetologist Torsten Watkin. Toe is now a sophomore at Wenatchee High School, and is looking forward to doing field research this summer, in collaboration with University of Washington’s Burke Museum scientists. This was his second guest post featuring a local native “herp.” Be sure to check out his biography in his first piece about western skinks. Plan to download the field guide he authored and illustrated, Reptiles and Amphibians of Chelan County.
Today’s Curious About is about the long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum), a cute little burrowing salamander you can find in your own backyard.
The long toed salamander is considered a “mole salamander” (Ambystomatidae) and is closely related to another, rarer Wenatchee Salamander, the western tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium). The name mole salamander comes from the fact that this family of salamanders share the habit of leading a mostly subterranean existence.
This species inhabits many different habitats from lowland shrub steppe deserts, to ponderosa pine/douglas fir woodlands, moist and shaded old growth forests, and high elevation lakes. During breeding season however, they are found closer to their breeding sites than usual. Breeding sites include small ponds to lakes and reservoirs, with emergent vegetation and debris. They prefer water without fish though, as the fish feed on the larval long-toed Salamanders.
Their range covers almost all of Washington and extends south to northern California, north to southern Alaska, and east to western Montana.
This species of salamander is most active on the surface during its spring breeding season, but retreats underground after this period of time has ended. Long-toed salamanders inhabit burrows of their own construction, and burrows other animals have made. They also take refuge under rocks and logs. Because of the moist microhabitats that irrigation valve boxes provide, I often find long-toed salamanders in them.
Long-toed salamander’s were named after the fact that their fourth toe on their hindlimbs is longer than usual. However an easier way to identify them is by their yellow or greenish-yellow stripe running down their backs. This stripe is often broken up and not completely straight, sometimes even being split into individual spots!
When the spring rains come in late March and early April, long-toed salamanders begin to migrate to their breeding spots. The males arrive before the females to prepare for the females arrival. Courtship involves the male rubbing pheromones onto the females snout. After courtship, females will lay their eggs on debris like pieces of wood and aquatic grasses in the water.
After a few weeks the aquatic larvae will hatch. They will feed on small invertebrates while they grow and develop the organs needed to survive on land. Once they have reached a certain size they begin to lose their gills, and will eventually begin their lives on land as they become terrestrial. These recently developed juveniles will disperse into the surrounding area. Over time they will grow up into adults to start the cycle over again.
Despite long-toed salamander’s tendency to stay below the surface, they emerge during the night to feed. Adult long-toed salamanders feed on insects, earthworms, slugs, and other small invertebrates. They may compete with the western tiger salamander for food in some cases, but the western tiger salamander most likely eats larger prey than the long-toed salamander.
Thankfully for this species, they are considered least concerned by the IUCN, meaning they have safe population numbers. However introduced trout in lakes have caused problems for long-toed salamanders, because the trout feed on their larval forms. If you want to find a long-toed salamander for yourself, then go and find the irrigation valve box outside of your house and search it for a salamander. This method does not work all of the time however and you may have to find a breeding area. If you think you have found a possible breeding site, search the perimeter for any adult or larval salamanders. If this turns up nothing then search under debris that you find near the shore (up to 30 feet away) like rocks and pieces of wood.
Please replace any debris that you might have moved exactly how you found it. The fragile microhabitats under debris can easily be destroyed or damaged.
If you found a salamander, Great! You might notice it will try to burrow away in the soil or even your hand. Some long-toed salamanders will lash their tails out and slowly wiggle them while releasing a white, irritating secretion as a defense mechanism.
Make sure not to handle it for too long as this will dry their skin, which is a very important respiratory organ for them. When you are done observing this interesting little species for your self, make sure to place the object you found the salamander under back, and release it back into its habitat.
