Amphibian and reptiles potentially present on the Rocky Mountain Front Oil and Gas 

 Leasing Study Area 



Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) 



Description: Adults are dark gray to black with an irregular (and sometimes broken) green to 

 yellow stripe down the middle of the back. Adult snout-vent length varies from 2 to 3.25". 

 All salamanders have smooth moist skin without scales. 



Eggs and Larvae: Egg masses are typically laid in small clusters of 5-100 eggs but may be 

 laid singly (Nussbaum at al. 1983). Within the clear gelatinous eggs, the embryos are 

 somewhat light-colored, while frog and toad embryos are dark (except in Tailed Frogs). 

 Larval Long-toed Salamanders are typically brown- or gray-colored, are found in ponds, have 

 three external gills, and are relatively small (<1.75" snout-vent) and slender. They are 

 distinguished from Tiger Salamander larvae by the 9-13 gill rakers on the inside of the 3rd 

 gill arch (17-22 rakers on the Tiger Salamander); they are also smaller and lack the large head 

 and mouth. 



Similar species: Adult Long-toed Salamanders can be distinguished from Coeur d'Alene 

 Salamanders by the longest toe on the hind foot which is longer than the sole. Long-toed 

 Salamanders lack a groove running vertically from nostril to mouth and a yellow throat patch. 

 Also see Tiger Salamander. 



Habitat and Habits: Long-toed Salamanders are found in a wide variety of habitats from 

 sagebrush to nearly alpine. They breed in ponds or lakes (very rarely in slow moving 

 streams), usually those without fish present. Adults go to the breeding ponds immediately 

 after snow-melt and are usually the earliest breeding amphibians in western Montana. In the 

 Pacific Northwest, eggs hatch in 3-6 weeks and metamorphosis occurs after 2-14 months 

 (Nussbaum at al. 1983. Leonard at al. 1993). On the L&CNF and vicinity, the earliest 

 observation was of three egg masses nearly ready to hatch and about 500 recently-hatched 

 larvae in a marshy, backwater pond off Wood Creek on 27 May 1994. A mid-sized larva was 

 also seen in a beaver pond in Wagner Basin on 5 July 1994. Individuals were found in the 

 Rocky Mountain Ranger District (RMRD) from 4600 - 5720 ft. elevation. They typically co- 

 occurred with the Spotted Frog. 



Status: The Long-toed Salamander is the most common salamander in western Montana. 

 Preliminary indications are that the Long-toed Salamander is uncommon and locally 

 distributed in the vicinity of the study area on the RMRD of the L&CNF, the eastern edge of 

 its range. Very few suitable ponds or lakes occur in the study area itself, and several of those 

 have Tiger Salamanders present; Long-toed Salamanders are not known to co-occur with 

 Tiger Salamanders at any location. Although it is possible that a population of Long-toed 

 salamanders exists on the study area, it seems unlikely at this point. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S5. 



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