Dunn's salamander may have a tan, yellow, or green stripe with dark blotches the color of its sides.
Nasolabial grooves (nose to mouth indentations) separates Plethodon species from other types of salamanders.
Moderate
This salamander’s status is of concern in Washington based on the species’ small state range, narrow environmental requirements, a need for retention of large woody debris, and riparian habitats that are not fully protected.
Description and Range
Physical description
This is Washington's largest woodland salamander, reaching sizes of 2.5 to 3 inches from snout to vent and 5.5 to 6 inches total length. It has a dorsal stripe that is tan, yellow, or green with dark blotches the same color as the sides of the salamander's dark (black or brown) body. Coloration in juveniles is similar but the dorsal stripe is distinctly brighter.
The presence of nasolabial grooves separates Plethodon species (Lungless Salamanders) from other types of salamanders. These woodland salamanders in Washington are similar in general appearance to each other.
The following traits distinguish the Dunn's salamander: 1) the dorsal stripe of large juveniles and adults does not extend to the tip of the tail and has an uneven, "eroding" edge that is invaded by blotches of the side color, 2) the sides of the body have patchy blotches and flecks similar in color to the dorsal stripe, 3) the costal groove count is usually 15 with 2.5 to 4.0 intercostal folds between adpressed limbs.
Contrary to the common name, the western red-backed salamander (Plethodon vehiculum) often has a yellow or tan dorsal stripe. In the Willapa Hills, it is common to find individuals with black pigment invading the dorsal (topside) stripe (melanism) resulting in a dorsal stripe that may be absent, fragmented, and/or does not extend to the tip of the tail. Unlike the Dunn's salamander, however, western red-backed salamanders do not have blotches and flecks of the stripe color on the sides of the body.
The long-toed salamander has a similar color pattern, but lacks the nasolabial grooves unique to Lungless Salamanders, has a rounded snout and the fourth hind toes are noticeably longer than the rest of the toes.
Eggs
Eggs are laid in clusters (four to fifteen) on dry land within moist areas of cover. There is no free-living larval stage. Hatchlings emerge as juvenile salamanders.
For more details about Dunn’s salamander, see the Washington Herp Atlas.
Ecology and life history
Dunn’s salamanders live in the shaded rocky edges of highly humid forested streams and moist talus (rock fragment piles). They prefer areas that are permanently moist but not in flowing water. Adults often hide under rocks, in splash zones near streams and occasionally under woody debris. This species has also been found upslope, away from stream channels. They may wander on the forest floor during rainy nights in the wet season, seeking cover in moist microhabitats such as forest duff or downed wood during the day.
All life stages are terrestrial. They require moist conditions and, therefore, most surface activity takes place in the spring and fall when temperatures are above freezing.
Dunn's salamanders lay their eggs in clusters on dry land within moist areas of cover such as in rotted logs or in crevices within wet, rocky areas. One nest was found in a decayed log next to a stream, with the female curled around nine eggs. Hatchlings emerge as juvenile salamanders.
Geographic range
This species is relatively rare in Washington. It occurs only in the Willapa Hills of the Olympic Physiographic Province. The range extends north to the Chehalis River and east to the Cowlitz River. This is the northern extreme of this species' range.
This map from the Washington Herp Atlas illustrates the distribution of Dunn's salamander in Washington based on records in the WDFW database as of 2016. If you see this species in areas that are not indicated on the map or have more recent observations (less than 10 years), please share your observation using the WDFW wildlife reporting form.
For a range-wide map and conservation status of this species, check out NatureServe Explorer.
Climate vulnerability
Sensitivity to climate change
Low-
Moderate
Dunn's salamander is surface active a temperatures higher than its co-occurring lungless salamander congeners and its distribution going no further north than the Willapa Hills ecoregion partly reflects that. Few nest sites have been described, but the few found are concealed, so it likely that the few found represent the most accessible portion of typical nesting locations.
Exposure to climate change
Moderate
- Increased temperatures
- Changes in precipitation
- Reduced snowpack
- Earlier snowmelt See comment on snowpack issue it adjacent cell.
Regulations
Licenses and permits
Be advised that collection of this species is only permitted under a WDFW Scientific Collection Permit for research and educational activities.
Conservation
Conservation Threats and Actions Needed
- Resource information collection needs
- Threat: Lack of information on status and distribution.
- Action Needed: Continue research, surveys and monitoring to understand species distribution and status.
- Fish and wildlife habitat loss and degradation
- Threat: Loss of suitable habitat. This species is closely associated with cool forested streams and is dependent on specific microhabitat features.
- Action Needed: Prevent habitat modification at occupied sites.
- Climate change and severe weather
- Threat: Loss of suitable habitat. This species is closely associated with cool, forested streams and is dependent on specific microhabitat features.
- Action Needed: Minimize habitat fragmentation and maintain robust populations across landscape.
See the Climate vulnerability section for more information about threats posed by climate change to this species.
Resources
References
Brodie, E. D. 1970. Western salamanders of the genus Plethodon: systematics and geographic variation. Herpetologica 26(4): 468-516.
Jones, L. L. C., W. P. Leonard, and D. H. Olson, editors. 2005. Amphibians of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington. xii + 227pp.
Leonard, W. P., H. A. Brown, L. L. C. Jones, K. R. McAllister and R. M. Storm. 1993. Amphibians of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society The Trailside Series, Seattle, Washington. 169 pp.
Nussbaum, R. A., E. D. Brodie, Jr., and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University of Idaho Press, Moscow, Idaho. 332 pp.
Personal communications
Marc Hayes, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington.
WDFW publications
- Hallock, L. A. and K. R. McAllister. 2005. Dunn’s Salamander. Washington Herp Atlas. 2009. A cooperative effort of Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. Map products updated March 2017. Provisional PDF version of the website (2005-2019) created July 2019. 250 pp.
PHS Program
WDFW educational resources
- Wild Washington Lesson Plan – Herps in Washington: Elementary school students are introduced to the cold-blooded world of reptiles and amphibians, also known as herps.
- Family Education – Amphibians and Reptiles - Slither, hop, or crawl on over to learn about herpetofauna!