# Northwestern Salamander (*Ambystoma gracile*) The Northwestern Salamander is a cool little creature that loves to live in damp places. With its smooth skin and long body, it can be found hiding under rocks and logs in the forest. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northwestern Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ambystoma_gracile.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ambystoma_gracile.jpg) ## Appearance The Northwestern Salamander has a stout body and a broad head, typically dark brown, black, or gray, sometimes with small yellow or tan flecks. Its skin is smooth and moist, and it features prominent parotoid glands behind its eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Ambystomatidae - **Genus:** Ambystoma ## Interesting facts - Baby salamanders hatch with external gills, looking like tiny aquatic dragons! - Some can stay forever young, living their whole life with feathery gills! - Their eggs are laid in huge, jelly-like masses, sometimes as big as your hand! - They embark on long, mass migrations to specific ponds for breeding. ## Special abilities - **Poisonous Defense:** Northwestern Salamander has special glands behind its head that release a milky, toxic substance, helping deter predators. - **Super Healer:** Northwestern Salamander can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their brain or eyes, helping them recover from injury. - **Water Breather:** Northwestern Salamander can absorb oxygen directly through its moist skin because of tiny blood vessels, helping them breathe underwater. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7.5-18 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-15 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 80-270 - **Metamorphosis:** 90-400 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters eat many small creatures, using their sticky tongue to catch prey. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat aquatic invertebrates; adults eat terrestrial invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** insects, earthworms, slugs, spiders, small crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Preys on adult salamanders and their larvae. - **Eats:** [Earthworm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/earthworm) (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source for adult salamanders. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Hunts salamanders near water sources. - **Eaten by:** [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) — Consumes salamander larvae in aquatic habitats. ## 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. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [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. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [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 If you see a salamander, look but don't touch! They need to stay safe in their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northwestern 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 Northwestern Salamander? 7.5-18 cm ### How much does Northwestern Salamander weigh? 0.01-0.03 kg ### How long does Northwestern Salamander live? 6-15 years ### How fast can Northwestern Salamander move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Northwestern Salamander eat? These tiny hunters eat many small creatures, using their sticky tongue to catch prey. ### Where is Northwestern Salamander usually found? Forests ### How does Northwestern Salamander hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Clatsop State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clatsop-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest - [Sunrise Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunrise-historic-district) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Yakima Park Stockade Group](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yakima-park-stockade-group) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Washington Park Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/washington-park-arboretum) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Lynn Canyon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lynn-canyon-park) — British Columbia, CA · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Northwestern Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northwestern-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: [Northwestern Salamander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northwestern-salamander)