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Coastal Giant Salamander

Dicamptodon tenebrosus

The Coastal Giant Salamander is a big, friendly amphibian that loves to live in cool, moist places. With its smooth skin and bright colors, it's a special creature that helps keep nature healthy.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Coastal Giant Salamander is a large, robust amphibian with a broad head and dark eyes. It has a striking marbled pattern of dark brown or black on a lighter background of tan, olive, or grey, making it unique among its kind.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderCaudataFamilyAmbystomatidaeGenusDicamptodon
Coastal Giant Salamander
solitary trait badgecolorful trait badgeinsectivorous trait badgeforest trait badge
Coastal Giant Salamander

Category

Amphibians

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Their family of salamanders is considered one of the most ancient on Earth!

These giants are fierce predators, even eating other smaller salamanders!

They are the biggest terrestrial salamander in North America!

They can sometimes survive injuries by regrowing lost body parts!

Special abilities

Ability

Defensive Vocalizations

Coastal Giant Salamander can bark or growl because of special throat muscles, helping them surprise and deter potential predators.

Ability

Forever Young (Neoteny)

Coastal Giant Salamander can stay a larva forever because of their unique biology, helping them live their whole lives underwater.

Measurements & details

Length
17-34 cm
Weight
0.15-0.35 kg
Lifespan
10-25 years
Top Speed
0.5 km/h
Clutch Size
90-200
Metamorphosis
730-1825 days

Diet & Feeding

A hungry hunter, it eats many forest creatures, from aquatic insects to small fish and even other salamanders!

Age differences: Young eat aquatic insects; adults add larger prey like fish, mice, and other salamanders.

Primary Foods

  • aquatic insects
  • slugs
  • small fish
  • other salamanders
  • mice

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

hunts small trout in streams when opportunity arises.

hunts

Vagrant Shrew

Sorex vagrans

ambushes small mammals in damp forest habitats.

eats

Rough-skinned Newt

Taricha granulosa

can prey on smaller newts in their shared habitats.

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

can be prey for various garter snake species near water.

eaten by

Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis

occasionally hunted by owls and other predatory birds.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch where you step in nature, and don't touch wild animals without asking an adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Coastal Giant Salamander?

17-34 cm

How much does Coastal Giant Salamander weigh?

0.15-0.35 kg

How long does Coastal Giant Salamander live?

10-25 years

How fast can Coastal Giant Salamander move?

0.5 km/h

What does Coastal Giant Salamander eat?

A hungry hunter, it eats many forest creatures, from aquatic insects to small fish and even other salamanders!

Where is Coastal Giant Salamander usually found?

Forests

How does Coastal Giant Salamander hunt?

Ambush

How many eggs does Coastal Giant Salamander lay?

90-200

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