Pacific Giant Salamander

Where they live

• View a map of where they live.
• Coast Giant Salamanders are only found in the Pacific Northwest. In Washington State they are found in the Cascade Mountains, the Willapa Hills of southwestern Washington, Long Island
• Prefer clear, cold mountain streams next to forests or in mountain lakes and ponds.
• During the day they stay underground or under rocks in the streams, but come out in the evenings onto the stream bottom.
• Some terrestrial forms will move out of the stream and stay in the forest undergrowth near water sources.

Breeding

• Eggs are laid one at a time under rocks and logs in slower moving parts of streams usually during May.
• The female protects eggs.
• Larvae take 18-24 months to go through metamorphosis.

Cool Biology Facts

• Metamorphose into terrestrial adults, but sometimes mature and reproduce in the aquatic form. This is called paedomorphosis or neoteny.
• Marbled pattern is usually the easiest way to identify them, although the larvae form are easily mixed up with the Cope’s Giant Salamander.

Threats

• Main threats include habitat loss and habitat changes from logging. View their status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.