Family: Ascaphidae, Tailed Frogs view all from this family

Description 1-2" (2.5-5.1 cm). Usually olive or gray to almost black; many dark spots on back. Dark stripe often runs from snout through eye; snout bears yellowish triangle. Some small tubercles and warts on skin. Toes long and slender; outer toes of hind feet thicker than others. Eye pupil vertical. No external eardrum. Male has pear-shaped "tail," actually a copulatory organ for internal fertilization of eggs.

Voice No vocal sac.

Breeding May to September. Eggs are attached to downstream side of rocks.

Habitat Usually clear, cold swift-flowing mountain streams; sometimes found near water in damp forests or in more open areas in cold, wet weather.

Range From s. British Columbia south to nw. California; also w. Oregon and Washington east to nw. Montana and Idaho. Many separate populations.

Discussion Aquatic. It is a primitive frog with ribs and vestigial tail-wagging muscles. Sucking mouthparts equip tadpoles for clinging to rocks in strong currents. They will hang on to anything solid, including human flesh. They feed on algae and invertebrates and transform in 1-3 years.