Pacific giant salamander
Encyclopedia
Pacific giant salamanders (Dicamptodontidae) are a family
of large salamander
s.
The family includes only a single genus
, Dicamptodon. The genus
was formerly thought to contain two species, Cope's Giant Salamander
(D. copei) on the Olympic Peninsula
, Washington, and the Pacific giant salamander (D. ensatus) which consisted of three geographic populations, an Idaho
isolate, a group in northern California
and a group in Oregon
and Washington. In 1989 genetic studies showed D. copei to be a distinct subspecies, and the D. ensatus populations to consist of three subspecies: the Idaho Giant Salamander
(Dicamptodon aterrimus) in Idaho, and two highly divergent species with a narrow hybrid zone in California, the Coastal Giant Salamander
(Dicamptodon tenebrosus) (ranging from northern California to Washington) and the California Giant Salamander
(Dicamptodon ensatus) (limited only from Santa Cruz County
to Mendocino County in California).
Specimens are up to 30 cm (12 in) long, and are found in the Western USA and South Western British Columbia
. Except for their size, they are similar to the mole salamander
family (Ambystomatidae) in which they were originally included.
While most salamanders are silent, the Pacific giant salamander is one of several salamanders that have vocal abilities. When startled, the salamander may respond with a croaky sounding cry similar to that of a barking dog. Members of this family can either be terrestrial or aquatic when adults.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of large salamander
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
s.
The family includes only a single genus
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
, Dicamptodon. The genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
was formerly thought to contain two species, 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...
(D. copei) on the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
, Washington, and the Pacific giant salamander (D. ensatus) which consisted of three geographic populations, an Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
isolate, a group in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and a group in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and Washington. In 1989 genetic studies showed D. copei to be a distinct subspecies, and the D. ensatus populations to consist of three subspecies: the Idaho Giant Salamander
Idaho Giant Salamander
The Idaho Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon aterrimus, is a species of salamander. There are three closely related species to this taxon: D. ensatus, , D. copei and D...
(Dicamptodon aterrimus) in Idaho, and two highly divergent species with a narrow hybrid zone in California, the 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...
(Dicamptodon tenebrosus) (ranging from northern California to Washington) and the 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...
(Dicamptodon ensatus) (limited only from Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County is the name of two counties in the United States:* Santa Cruz County, Arizona* Santa Cruz County, California...
to Mendocino County in California).
Specimens are up to 30 cm (12 in) long, and are found in the Western USA and South Western British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Except for their size, they are similar to the mole salamander
Mole salamander
The mole salamanders are a group of salamanders endemic to North America, the only genus in the family Ambystomatidae...
family (Ambystomatidae) in which they were originally included.
While most salamanders are silent, the Pacific giant salamander is one of several salamanders that have vocal abilities. When startled, the salamander may respond with a croaky sounding cry similar to that of a barking dog. Members of this family can either be terrestrial or aquatic when adults.
Taxonomy
- Genus Dicamptodon
- Idaho Giant SalamanderIdaho Giant SalamanderThe Idaho Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon aterrimus, is a species of salamander. There are three closely related species to this taxon: D. ensatus, , D. copei and D...
(Dicamptodon aterrimus) - Cope's Giant SalamanderCope's Giant SalamanderCope'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...
(Dicamptodon copei) - California Giant SalamanderCalifornia Giant SalamanderThe 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...
(Dicamptodon ensatus) - Coastal Giant SalamanderCoastal Giant SalamanderThe 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...
(Dicamptodon tenebrosus)
- Idaho Giant Salamander
External links
- Tree of Life: Dicamptodontidae
- http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-lifeform=any&rel-taxon=contains&where-taxon=Dicamptodon&rel-namesoup=matchphrase&where-namesoup=&rel-location=matchphrase&where-location=&rel-county=eq&where-county=any&rel-state=eq&where-state=any&rel-country=eq&where-country=any&where-collectn=any&rel-photographer=contains&where-photographer=&rel-kwid=equals&where-kwid=&max_rows=24Dicamptodon] at CalPhotos