Long-toed Salamanders have a long fourth toe on their hind feet. They have dark-gray to black, wet-looking skin with a patchy yellow stripe running down their back. They are 3-7 in long with large bulging eyes and a blunt nose and can be found from the Alaska Panhandle south through Oregon and east to Idaho and Montana.
Long-toed Salamanders are nocturnal and spend most of their time underground, often in rodent burrows. The easiest time to spot them is during the spring breeding season when they come out to mate and lay their eggs. They prefer valley bottoms and moist forests not far from water. They lay their eggs before the ice has disappeared in large, shallow lakes and ponds with boggy edges.
Long-toed Salamanders eat insects, tadpoles, worms, and beetles. In colder areas, they hibernate in groups underground during the winter.
Did you know? The Long-toed Salamander's tail serves two purposes. It stores fat for the salamander to use as food during hard times and, if a predator tries to bite the tail, it receives a mouthful of sticky poison.
See Also: Rough-skinned Newt, Short-horned Lizard, Tiger Salamander, Western Skink
