3 



identification, Slater and Slipp (1940) classified it as a new 

 species, Plethodon idahoensis . Lowe (1950) later reclassified 

 it as a subspecies (idahoensis) of a western Washington 

 Plethodon . Van Dyke's salamander (P. vandykei ) . Some experts 

 cited biochemical evidence that indicates the Coeur d'Alene 

 salamander is a separate species (Highton and Larson 1979, 

 Wallace 1986) , whereas others held that the biochemical evidence 

 is weak, and that insufficient morphological variation exists to 

 justify specific designation (Brodie 1970, Nussbaiim et al. 1983) . 

 However, whether considered a species or a subspecies, the Coeur 

 d'Alene salamander represents a unique genetic resource in Idaho, 

 Montana, and British Columbia and should be managed as such 

 (Wallace 1986) . We follow the most recent classif iction of 

 Collins (1990) which is the species designation (P. idahoensis ) . 

 Range and distribution 



The Coeur d'Alene salamander is a remnant of a once diverse 

 plethodontid salamander fauna in the northern Rocky Mountains 

 that was likely reduced by climatic changes over the last 10-14 

 million years (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Tihen and Wake 1983). The 

 species maintains a disjunct distribution at elevations up to 

 1,524 m (5,000 ft) in northern Idaho, northwestern Montana and 

 southeastern British Columbia. The North Fork of the Clearwater 

 and the St. Joe drainages in Idaho and the lower Clark Fork and 

 Kootenai rivers in Montana comprise the core of the species 

 distribution (Wilson and Simon 1987, Center et al. 1988; Groves 

 1988) (Appendix A) . The Selway drainage comprises the southern 



