The Coeur d'Alene Salamander is a member of the lungless Plethodontidae, a family of small, slender terrestrial salamanders which do not have an aquatic life stage.
The salamander has a long, slim body with bulbous eyes that project above its head, and grows to a length of 10-12 cm (BC Ministry of Environment 1998).
This species has a small home range, where it lives year round, hibernating in the winter, and remaining belowground when the temperature falls below 4 degrees C and during very dry weather in the summer; it emerges only at night (BC Ministry of Environment 1998).
Females lay four to twelve eggs in April or May, once every two or three years; each egg is up to five millimetres in diameter (BC Ministry of Environment 1998). This species feeds at night on flies and fly larvae.
Biology
Reproduction
Breeding is terrestrial and occurs just before and just after hibertaion, with one to three eggs laid. Hatching occurs in late summer and early fall, however breeding sites are rarely observed (Lohman 2009).
Diet
Aquatic and semi-aquatic invertebrates.
Habitat
The ecology of this species is poorly known, but adults seem to be more closely associated with riparian areas alongside streams flowing through rocky areas and hillside seeps than other members of the genus. It lays eggs on land in damp places, such as beneath or within rotting logs, which are then brooded by the female. As with all members of Plethodontidae, there is no aquatic larval stage.
Distribution
This species is distributed in disjunct populations throughout northern Idaho, Montana and southeastern B.C. In British Columbia, the Coeur d’Alene
Salamander has been found on the east side of Koootenay Lake in the Creston Valley and in one location near the Moyie River (BC Ministry of Environment 1998).
Conservation
Conservation Concerns
Due to their small population size, the Coeur d’Alene Salamander is threatened by human encroachment into its limited and fragile habitats. As of 1998, fewer than 20 had been found in any location (BC Ministry of Environment 1998). They are sensitivie to logging, land development and resulting habitat fragmentation, and are particularly sensitive to trampling because of their tendency to hide under flat rocks along the water's edge (BC Ministry of Environment 1998).
Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC:
Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab
for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British
Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed:
2024-12-07 10:00:05 AM]
Disclaimer:
The information contained in an
E-Fauna BC atlas pages is derived from expert sources as cited (with permission) in each section.
This information is scientifically based. E-Fauna BC also acts as a
portal to other sites via deep links. As always, users should refer to
the original sources for complete information. E-Fauna BC is not
responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the original information.
