Stats

Lifespan: Up to 25 yrs
Size: Large
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate rainforest
Range: North America
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Toxins
Status: Uncommon

About

One of the largest terrestrial salamanders in North America, growing over a foot long and prowling Pacific Northwest forest streams. Unlike most salamanders, it can produce a sharp, audible bark-like call when threatened.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A jelly-coated egg is laid in water and develops over days into an aquatic larva.
2.
tadpole
A gilled tadpole swims and grazes on algae, slowly absorbing its tail and growing limbs.
3.
juvenile
A near-adult amphibian leaves the water with new legs and lungs, smaller than the mature form.
4.
adult
Fully grown at adult size, breathing air.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Ambystomatidae
Genus: Dicamptodon
Species: Dicamptodon tenebrosus