Pacific Giant Salamanders: Dicamptodontidae

Physical characteristics: Adult coastal giant salamanders may be the largest land-dwelling salamanders. The head plus body length is more than 7.5 inches (19 centimeters), and the total length is at least 13 inches (34 centimeters). The largest coastal giant salamanders on record were larvae found in large rivers. These larvae were about 8 inches (20 centimeters) in head plus body length and nearly 14 inches (35 centimeters) in overall length. The color of coastal giant salamanders varies. The background color of larvae usually is dark brown to black. As metamorphosis approaches, a silvery or dull golden color appears over the dark base and produces a marbling effect of light on dark. The marbling varies from fine to coarse. In some cases the marbling is so coarse that the underlying color cannot be seen.

Geographic range: Coastal giant salamanders live in an area that extends from southwestern British Columbia, Canada, southward A pacific giant salamander is eating a large banana slug. (Photograph by Karl H. Switak. Photo Researchers, Inc.) west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains to northern California, United States. Some of these salamanders live in isolated areas in north central Oregon, east of the Cascade crest.

Habitat: Coastal giant salamanders live in and near clear, cold, rocky streams.

Diet: Coastal giant salamanders mainly eat frogs and small mammals, but they also eat worms, insects, and spiders.

Behavior and reproduction: Adult coastal giant salamanders are active at night and are secretive, but they sometimes are seen walking through leaves on rainy days in densely forested regions. When approached, these salamanders bark. They are one of the few salamanders that make a sound. Coastal giant salamanders also can be found on rainy nights as they try to cross roads in areas near breeding sites.

Scientists know little about the breeding habits of coastal giant salamanders. Eggs are fertilized inside the female's body, so scientists believe males make a sperm sac that the females pick up. Females lay large numbers of large eggs under large rocks that are at least partially underwater in streams. The eggs take several months to hatch, and scientists believe the females guard their nests while the eggs are developing. After hatching, metamorphosis takes about two years. Some coastal giant salamanders do not go through metamorphosis, but even though they look like larvae, they can reproduce.

Coastal giant salamanders and people: Coastal giant salamanders are rarely found and are little known to people.

Conservation status: Coastal giant salamanders are not considered threatened or endangered. The greatest risk to these salamanders is destruction of forests and the buildup of silt in streams. ∎