The Idaho Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon aterrimus, is a species of salamander. There are three closely related species to this taxon: D. ensatus, (California Giant Salamander

California Giant Salamander

The California Giant Salamander is a species of salamander in the Dicamptodontidae family.It is endemic to the United States. The species name once additionally included individuals now belonging to the species D. aterrimus and D...

), D. copei (Cope's Giant Salamander

Cope's Giant Salamander

Cope's Giant Salamander is a species of salamander in the Dicamptodontidae family. It reaches between 12.4–19.1 cm . The salamander resembles Pacific Giant Salamander larvae, but it never transforms to a terrestrial stage. It is smaller overall with a narrower head and shorter limbs...

) and D. tenebrosus (Coastal Giant Salamander

Coastal Giant Salamander

The Coastal Giant Salamander is a species of salamander in the Dicamptodontidae family . It is endemic to the United States and Canada. There are three closely related species to this taxon: D. ensatus , D. copei , and D...

) also known as the (Pacific Giant Salamander).

Description

The Idaho Giant Salamander is the darkest and most intricately blotched of the Giant Salamanders. Varying between brown, purple, tan, grey, and a copperish color, Idaho giant salamanders are large and robust predators. Tiger Salamanders and Idaho Giant Salamanders have superficial resemblance pertaining to size and shape, but the costal grooves and foot tubercles are significantly different between the two species. With a defining thick head and body along with a fourth toe on the hind foot with only three segments; this species of salamander has its own unique features. Adults are typically 20 cm in length but may vary between 7 and 11.75 inches long, but can be observed around 13 inches.

Small external gills adapted for small stream living can be found on their larvae. Their larvae are usually tan with yellow blotches over their dermis. They can undergo paedomorphosis, but most become mature adults.

Distribution

This species of salamander is found in forested watersheds from lake Coeur d’Alene to the Salmon River

Salmon River (Idaho)

The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...

, and in two locations in Montana around mineral county.

Behavior

Larvae are predators but tend to sit and wait for their food to come to them. Usually they feed on small invertebrates and some small vertebrates. This can include tadpoles, fish, and other salamanders. Adults usually feed on terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates. They will eat things as large as shrews, mice, and small snakes, along with other salamanders. They will eat anything that they can catch.

Fish, weasels, water shrews, and garter snakes are a few of their predators. To help defend against these predators they have a few strong defense mechanisms to help them survive. They use toxic secretion from their skin, warning postures, a "bark" vocalization, and they will bite. An Idaho Giant salamanders bite can easily break the skin of a human.

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia (animals)
Eumetazoa (metazoans)
Bilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
Deuterostomia (deuterostomes)
Phylum Chordata (chordates)
Craniata (craniates)
Subphylum Vertebrata (vertebrates)
Superclass Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates)
Euteleostomi (bony vertebrates)
Class Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fishes and terrestrial vertebrates)
Tetrapoda (tetrapods)
Class Amphibia (amphibians)
Subclass Lissamphibia (amphibians)
Order Caudata (salamanders)
Family Dicamptodontidae (Pacific giant salamanders)
Genus Dicamptodon (Pacific giant salamander)
Species Dicamptodon aterrimus (Idaho giant salamander)