description Long-toed Salamander Overview
The long-toed salamander, Ambystoma macrodactylum, is a mole salamander native to western North America, ranging from California and the Rocky Mountain region northward into Alaska. It is named for the unusually elongated fourth toe on each hind foot and typically has a dark body marked by a yellow or greenish dorsal stripe. Adults spend much of the year underground, while breeding and larval development occur in ponds, lakes, and other still waters.
help Long-toed Salamander FAQ
Why is it called the long-toed salamander?
Ambystoma macrodactylum gets its common name from the unusually long fourth toe on each hind foot. It is a mole salamander native to western North America.
Where does the long-toed salamander live?
Its range extends from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia through the Pacific Northwest to California and parts of the northern Rocky Mountains. It uses forests, wetlands, ponds, lakes, and other moist habitats during different life stages.
What does a long-toed salamander look like?
It usually has a dark body with a contrasting yellow, olive, or tan dorsal stripe and irregular markings. The elongated hind toe is the feature that most clearly separates it from many other western salamanders.
How does the long-toed salamander reproduce?
Breeding takes place in ponds and other still or slow-moving water, where females attach eggs to submerged vegetation or surfaces. Reported egg counts vary by site, with one Forest Service review citing averages from about 90 to 166 eggs per female in different populations.
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