Pacific Giant Salamander © Karl H. Switak

Salamanders

Description 7-11 3/4" (17.8-30 cm). Robust and smooth-skinned. Brown or purplish, with black mottling. Belly light brown to yellowish-white. No foot tubercles; 3 segments on 4th toe of hind foot. Costal grooves, 12-13, indistinct.

Breeding Terrestrial adults breed in spring, in river headwaters. Eggs laid singly, on submerged timber. Hatching larvae, about 5/8" (16 mm), may transform during or following 2nd year at 3 1/4-6" (8.9-15.2 cm). Neotenic larvae mature at about 8" (20.3 cm).

Habitat Rivers, their tributaries, and surrounding cool, humid forests.

Range Extreme sw. British Columbia south along coast to southern Mendocino County, California.

Discussion Most salamanders are voiceless, but the Pacific Giant has been known to emit a low-pitched sound when captured. Land-dwelling adults live under logs, rocks, and forest litter but are sometimes seen crawling on the surface or even climbing in bushes or trees to 8 feet (2.4 m). They eat large insects, mice, salamanders, and garter snakes. Voracious larvae cannabalize smaller larvae and eat Tailed Frog tadpoles and insects.