Species Present on the Bitterroot National Forest 



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. Aduh snout-vent lengths vary from 5-8 cm. All 

 salamanders have smooth moist skin without scales. Adult long-toed salamanders can be 

 told from other Montana species by a combination of: 1 ) the longest toe on the hind foot 

 which is longer than the sole of the hind foot; 2) lack of a nasolabial groove running 

 vertically from nostril to mouth; and 3) 12-13 costal grooves on side of body. Egg masses are 

 typically laid in small clusters of 5-100 eggs but may be laid singly (Nussbaum et al. 1983). 

 Within the clear gelatinous eggs, the embryos are light colored, while frog and toad embryos 

 are dark. Larval long-toed salamanders are typically brown colored, 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). 



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

 sagebrush to alpine. They breed in ponds or lakes, often in those without fish present. 

 Adults migrate to the breeding ponds immediately after snow-melt and are usually the earliest 

 breeding amphibians in western Montana. Egg masses in the Kootenai National Forest to the 

 north were seen as early as 28 April, although the eggs were at least 10 days old by that date 

 (Werner and Reichel 1 994); newly hatched larvae were also observed on 28 April and as late 

 as 8 September 1994. On the BNF, egg masses, and larvae 1.5-2.0 cm long, were found on 19 

 May 1995 in Kramis Pond (4290') at Lake Como and the monitoring pond near the mouth of 

 Lost Horse Canyon. Larvae 6.5-8.0 cm total length were foimd on 10 August in the unnamed 

 lake (7990') at the head of McCalla Creek on the SE flank of St. Mary Peak. Two cohorts 

 were present in Carlton Lake (7790') and Little Carlton Lake (7740') on 1 September 1995: 

 larvae 3 cm long and 8-9 cm-long (most of the latter with dorsal adult color patterns and 

 greatly reduced gills). This indicates that some high-elevation individuals probably 

 overwinter as larvae before transforming. Smaller larvae (3-5 cm total length) were also 

 found high in the Sapphire Mountains on 3 1 August at Dam Creek Lake (73 10'). Adults were 

 still surface-active on 23 October 1995 near Carlton Creek at 3940'. In the Pacific Northwest 

 eggs hatch in 3-6 weeks and metamorphosis takes 2-14 months (Nussbaum et al. 1983, 

 Leonard etal. 1993). 



Surveying: Larvae can be seen in ponds during the day and sampled with a dipnet. During the 

 breeding season adults may also be seen in the water. During the rest of the spring, summer 

 and fall adults may occasionally be found in and under logs on the forest floor. 

 Metamorphosed individuals are active at night, particularly when it is warm and rainy; they 

 may be captured at this time by either night searches or pitfall fraps. 



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



Appears common and wide-spread in suitable habitat on the BNF from 3200-8000' elevation. 

 This species was encountered at ten locations in 1995; it has been reported from all but the 

 West Fork District on the BNF, but likely occurs there as well. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S5. 



