This is British Columbia's lagest salmander reaching the lenght of 30 cm (14 inches) from nose to tail tip. They are a heavy bodied amphibian belonging to the Ambystomatidae or Mole Salamander Family. This family can be distinguished from other families becausse its teeth form a continuous or broken row across the roof of its mouth.
The Pacific Giant is found in coastal areas from southwestern British Columbia (only in the Chilliwack area) south to Santa cruz, California. It prefers unlogged or well-established second growth douglas fir and broadleaf maple forests on slopes. It uses the damp mosses, downed logs and other debris near cold streams and mountain lakes to hide under by day. It is mostly nocturnal but may be out on a damp day in spring.
This salmander has smooth marbled skin, often black marbling on grey or brownish background. The belly is a paler color with no marbling. As they age, the overall color pales. They have no partotid glands or foot tubercles. When frightened, they make a 'bark', as they are the only salamander in the area with a true voice.
Males can be told from females as their tail is slightly longer and their cloaca tends to be more swollen than the female, especially during breeding season. Males deposit spematophores but it is not known how the females collects them.
Mating occurs from spring owards and the eggs are laid in the springs and tiny headwater streams of large rivers and lakes. About 100 white eggs are laid, each about 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter and attached individually or in small clumps to the undersides of logs and rocks in the water. Each egg has a short stalk that attaches it to the rock and prevents it from being washed away by fast water.
The female stays with the eggs until after they hatch, guarding them against males and predators who may try to eat them. She does not each much during this period. The female only breeds about every third year becasue of the time and energy she has invested in them.
Young hatch out after about 6 months (depending on temperature) at 3 cm long and grows slowly due to the cold water. At 4 cm long, they head out on their own.
Larvae are voracious eaters who live under water, using their feathery gills to breathe and stream-lined bodies to swim through fast water. They feed on aquatic invertebrates such as mayfly and stonefly larva, other amphibian larvae such as the tailed frog, worms, small fish, snails etc.
Terrestrial adults eat worms, slugs, frogs, other forest floor salamanders, small garter snakes, and occassionally small mammals. Pacific Giant Salamanders usually take at least two to three years to transform into adults, if they ever do. Most individuals in British Columbia stay in the larval stage, grow to adult size and even breed in this form. When this occurs, it is called neoteny. They do not breed until they are about six years old.
Adults can dig and have been found as far up trees as 2.5 meters of 8 feet. They have hardened toe nails to help them.
Scientists believe the adults are territorial because they display aggression towards others of its own kind when near home caves. This is why you should leave it where you find it should be be lucky enough to see one in the wild.
Pacific Giant Salamanders face a variety of predators who use the same stream-side habitat:weasels, mink, mergansers, river otters, water shrews, trout, and dolly varden. They use a terrible tasting milky solution that comes out of glands on the top of their tail to help protect them against some of these predators.
In British Columbia, the Pacific Giant Salamander is on the red list. This means it is protected by the BC Wildlife Act (you cannot collect it, keep it or move it elsewhere)and is being recommended to be added to the Canadian endangered or threatened species list.
Experts think that the population of Pacific Giant Salamanders is in decline due to development and industry on their habitat. It has a very narrow range of habitat needs and would be vulnerable to these impacts. As well, historical logging dammed up rivers with debris and lake drainage may have destroyed its habitat and decreased numbers.
Management of this species has been on focussing on the protection of their habitat. These include design of culverts that drain into rivers and lakes. In the past, blockages have stopped their movement.
You can help scientists get a better idea of population and habits of the Pacific Giant by reporting the exact location, date, time, weather etc to it to The Conservation Data Center in BC or your State Department of Ecology.
by Donna Hill B.Sc. B.Ed. 1998