The Crater Lake newt is a distinct population of rough-skinned newt which is endemic to Crater Lake in Oregon’s southern Cascade Range. It is considered by some authorities to be a subspecies of rough-skinned newt, and was first formally described in the 1940’s. Crater Lake newts are characterized by a roughened skin surface and relatively …
Oregon spotted frogs are the most aquatic frogs in the Pacific Northwest; often if you see one, you’ll only see its eyes peeking up out of the water. This medium-sized frog is named for the black spots that cover its head, back, sides, and legs. These spots have a light bump in the center, with …
There are two species of tailed frog found in Oregon: the Rocky Mountain tailed frog found in the Blue Mountains, and the coastal tailed frog on the west side of the state. Tailed frogs are adapted to mountain streams with flattened bodies, hardened toes on the front feet, and long back legs. Tailed frogs can …
Siskiyou Mountains Salamanders are members of the lungless Plethodontid salamander family, and are found only in the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon and northern California. They have large eyes and glossy speckled skin. They are long and slender with short limbs, slightly webbed toes, and vertical grooves along the sides of the body. Adults are …
Southern torrent salamanders are highly aquatic and closely associated with cool, clear, permanent water. They are a relatively small salamander with short legs and a short, vertically compressed tail. They have a small, broad head with large, protruding eyes, and a short snout. Southern torrent salamanders are olive to brown in color on their backs, …
Western toads are relatively large, stout-bodied amphibians that are well camouflaged. The color of adult western toads is highly variable: individuals can be anywhere from olive green to reddish brown or even black in color overall. On their underside, their skin is a mottled cream to tan with dark blotches. Regardless of body color, western …
The Larch Mountain salamander is a salamander endemic to the Pacific Northwest in Oregon and Washington. It belongs to the Plethodontidae family of lungless salamanders. Larch Mountain salamanders have a fully terrestrial life cycle: young hatch from eggs in their adult form. Larch Mountain salamanders are strikingly marked with a thick, uneven-edged stripe running from …
Northern red-legged frogs are primarily diurnal. They are a medium-sized frog that can be found in a variety of aquatic habitat types and in terrestrial habitats. They have a prominent ridges (dorsolateral folds) from the eyes down either side of the back, and the under half of the hind legs are a bright red. They …
The Oregon slender salamander is a small terrestrial salamander species endemic to Oregon found on the west slope of the Cascade Range. They are deep brown to black in color overall, and have a long, thin body, and a long tail. They have large, blueish-white spots on the sides and belly. Their head is small, …
Cascade torrent salamanders are long-lived amphibians adapted for life in cold, fast-flowing streams. They are small salamanders with a stocky body, a broad head, and large protruding eyes. Adult Cascade torrent salamanders have highly variable coloration that ranges from brown to olive to tan on their backs. Their bellies are yellowish with some black and …
Cascades frogs are a medium-sized montane frog species that can be found near still or slow-moving fresh water. They are brown to olive green in color above, and most individuals have angular or round black spots on the back. Underneath, their skin is nearly translucent, with a mottled throat and a yellow-tan abdomen. Cascades frogs …
Clouded salamanders are slim, relatively long-legged amphibians that are both terrestrial and arboreal; they live their lives in damp coastal mature forests, and are often found high above the ground in the forest canopy. They are members of the large family of plethodontid salamanders, which are characterized by reduced lungs and two grooves that extend …
Coastal tailed frogs are adapted to mountain streams with flattened bodies, hardened toes on the front feet, and long back legs. They have vertical pupils and lack external ear drums. The coloration of coastal tailed frogs varies from olive, green, or reddish with gray or yellow mottling. There is a pale yellow or greenish triangle …
Columbia spotted frogs are one of the most highly aquatic frog species native to the Pacific Northwest, and are rarely found out of the water. They are adapted for this aquatic lifestyle, with upward oriented eyes that allow them to see out of the water while mostly submerged, fully webbed feet, and relatively short hind …
Columbia torrent salamanders are long-lived, highly aquatic amphibians that are closely associated with cool, clear headwater streams. They are slim, mid-sized salamanders with a short tail, a small head, rounded snout, and protruding eyes. They are dark brown with no dark spots on their back, and bright yellow or orange underneath. Adult males are slightly …
These medium-sized salamanders are unique in that they rarely transform into terrestrial adults: with few documented exceptions, Cope’s giant salamanders remain in a paedomorphic form (sexually mature adults with aquatic, juvenile characteristics), retaining their bushy external gills with wide, laterally compressed tail fins that they use to navigate the water throughout adulthood. Cope’s giant salamanders …
Del Norte salamanders are a species of fully terrestrial salamander native to a small corner of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. They do not need standing water to complete any part of their life cycle. These medium-sized salamanders have long, slender bodies with short limbs and short, slightly webbed toes. They spend much of their …
The foothill yellow-legged frog is a resident of lower elevation mountain streams west of the Cascades, readily identified by the distinct lemon-yellow skin under the legs. The rest of their body is variable in color and often mottled beige, olive, or grayish brown. Some foothill yellow-legged frogs have dark spotting, while others do not. Brick-red …