NPS Photo

Mount Rainier provides a rich habitat for amphibians like salamanders and frogs.

Amphibians are good indicators of an ecosystem's health as they live in both terrestrial and aquatic areas and are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. They also constitute a major portion of animal biomass in many habitats. In forested areas, amphibians exceed the combined weight of all other vertebrates. However, amphibians have been suffering from serious population declines worldwide, which has a profound affect on forest ecosystems.

A park-wide survey of aquatic breeding amphibians was conducted during 1996-1999. Terrestrial amphibian surveys were conducted from 1999 – 2002, focusing on the Red-back (P. vehiculum) and Larch Mountain (P. larselii) Salamanders, both federally listed Species of Concern.

Given the worldwide decline in amphibians, and identified threats in Mount Rainier National Park, we are developing long-term monitoring programs to document the distribution and abundance of certain amphibian species that serve as good bio-indicators.

Amphibian Species

1998 Harry Greene

Cascade Frog

Cascade Frog
Rana cascadae

Only 1-2 in (3-5 cm) long, with brown to yellow-olive coloring and black spots.It has a raspy, rapid croak. Habitat: ponds.

Jens V. Vindum @ California Academy of Sciences

Tailed Frog

Tailed Frog
Ascaphus truei

Olive to dark brown coloring with uneven dark splotches. Easily identifiable by their "tails", which are actually male cloacas used to fertilize female frogs internally. They are the most primitive family of frogs. Habitat: Fast-moving creeks and tributaries.

USGS

Red-legged Frog

Red-legged Frog
Rana aurora

Gray to reddish-brown, with reddish coloring on rear legs and lower belly. Toes are only slightly webbed. Habitat: ponds, but frequently can be found away from water.

2009 William Flaxington

Western Toad

Western Toad
Bufo boreas boreas

2-5 in (5-13 cm) long, with large bumps on skin. Unlike frogs, toads have a toothless upper jaw and prefer sluggish walking to hopping. Two bulbous glands behind the eyes exude a think, white poison to deter predators. Habitat: wetlands, ponds.

2004 William Leonard

Rough-Skinned Newt

Rough-Skinned Newt
Tarisha granulosa

6-7 in (15-18 cm) long, greenish-black coloring and rough, warty-looking skin. Newts are a family of salamanders with toxic skin secretions. When threatened, they adopt a rigid posture, with upturned chin and curled tail. Habitat: ponds, marshes.

Pacific Giant Salamander

Pacific Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon tenebrosus

7-12 in (18-30 cm) long, brown-purplish coloring with black splotches.This salamander is large enough to eat mice, garter snakes and other salamanders. It is also the only salamander with a voice, able to emit a "yelp"-like call. Habitat: rivers.

2003 Joyce Gross

Long-toed Salamander

Long-toed Salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum

4-6 in (10-15 cm) long, with a wide, blunt head and a yellow-greenish stripe along back. A wide ranging salamander, with habitat in subalpine meadows as well as forest, though always near water.

2010 Michael Graziano

Northwestern Salamander

Northwestern Salamander
Ambystoma gracile

Olive-brown coloration on backs, with lighter coloration on belly. Habitat: ponds and lakes.

2004 Gary Nafis

Van Dyke's Salamander

Van Dyke's Salamander
Plethodon vandykei

Dark coloring with a vivid yellow, green, or reddish stripe. This salamander has relatively short legs and tail compared to other salamanders. It breeds terrestrially but is found in stream sides and wet areas.

2010 Michael Graziano

Western Red-backed Salamander

Western Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon vehiculum

3-5 inches (7.6-12.5 cm) long, brown or black coloring with full-length red, orange or yellow stripe on back. Red-backed salamanders do not have lungs or gills but absorb oxygen directly through their skin. Habitat: terrestrial, forest and rocky talus areas.

Gary Nafis

Larch Mountain Salamander

Larch Mountain Salamander
Plethodon larselii

Similiar in size as the Red-backed Salamander, with gold-flecked dark coloring and a reddish stripe on back. When threatened, the Larch Mountain Salamander coils and uncoils itself rapidly causing it to jump about. Habitat: terrestrial, rocky talus areas.