# 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. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Coastal Giant Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dicamptodon_tenebrosus_2.JPG&width=800) Photo: Marjef07 ( talk )Jeffrey Marsten, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dicamptodon_tenebrosus_2.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Ambystomatidae - **Genus:** Dicamptodon ## 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 - **Defensive Vocalizations:** Coastal Giant Salamander can bark or growl because of special throat muscles, helping them surprise and deter potential predators. - **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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## 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 to identify Coastal Giant Salamander? Compare body shape, toes, markings, tail and skin texture. Tadpoles and larvae can look nothing like the adults they turn into. Amphibian Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Arcata Community Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arcata-community-forest) — California, US · Forest - [Headwaters Forest Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/headwaters-forest-reserve) — California, US · Forest - [Portland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/portland-aquarium) — Oregon, US · Zoo [View all places to see Coastal Giant Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/coastal-giant-salamander) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Coastal Giant Salamander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coastal-giant-salamander)