Description. This is a small to medium sized salamander
(up to 10 cm total length) that has large glands on the sides of the back
of the head (parotid glands, which can be seen in the picture above). There
are three color variants: yellow/orange, rose/salmon-pink, and yellow striped
with black sides. Adult males have yellow throat patches.
Distribution. Van Dyke salamanders are restricted to Washington.
They occur in the Olympic Mountains, Willapa Hills, and Cascade Mountains
of southern Washington. Click here to go to the Washington Gap Analysis
distribution
map for this species; use the "back" button on your web browser to
come back to this page.
Habitat. These salamanders usually live under rocks along
stream banks, but also spend some time in large fallen, decaying logs.
Populations occur in patches at low to mid elevations.
Cool Biology Facts. The color pattern variation in Van
Dyke salamanders may be related to elevation and associated features, such
as local climate. In eastern red-backed salamanders (in the eastern US), the color changes that occur with increasing elevation and latitude are correlated with environmental temperature.
Conservation status. These salamanders occur in apparently
isolated populations. They appear to lay eggs inside large, fallen decaying
logs, and therefore may be restricted to older forests that have such fallen
logs. Disturbance of these habitats by clear-cutting or removal of fallen
dead wood can cause local extinction of populations.
Photograph by Brad Moon.
