6 

 insects and other invertebrates (Wilson and Larson 1988) . They 

 appear to be opportunistic feeders and generally restrict 

 foraging activities to moist spray zones, seeps, or streamside 

 rocks and vegetation although they may venture beyond these areas 

 during rainy periods. 



Coeur d'Alene salamanders mate above ground in late summer and 

 fall (August-October) and, to a lesser extent, in spring (April 

 and May) (Lynch 1984) . After a courtship ritual of an hour or 

 more, the male deposits a spermatophore with a sperm cap which 

 the female picks up with the cloaca (Lynch and Wallace 1987) . 

 Females store sperm up to nine months before fertilizing eggs. 

 An average of six eggs are deposited in April or May, presumably 

 in underground rock crevices, although no nest sites have been 

 found in the wild. The young emerge in mid-September (Lynch 

 1984). 



Neonates apparently grow more slowly than other Plethodon . 

 Growth probably occurs in spurts associated with wet weather in 

 the spring and fall. Male Coeur d'Alene salamanders reach sexual 

 maturity at 3.5 years of age and females at 4.5 years, but some 

 individuals may delay breeding. Males mate every year, while 

 females mate in alternate years (Lynch 1984) . 

 Habitat use 



All plethodontid salamanders respire through their skin and 

 lose water to the environment through evaporation and are 

 therefore restricted to cool, damp environments. Because Coeur 

 d'Alene salamanders may live in the harshest climate of any 



