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Wildlife of Coastal Rainforests

Plants & Animals that live in the mountains and valleys of the Pacific Northwest must be adapted to a high level of rainfall. The Greater Vancouver Area receives about 2 metres of precipitation each year, mostly in the form of rain. This, combined with a mild temperate climate with average summer temperatures hovering near 18 degrees Celcius and average winter temperatures above zero degrees Celcius, allows the trees to grow rapidly in a moist warm environment. These forests in turn provide a good place for many animals to make their home. .

Click on a wildlife category to find out which plants and animals make their home in this temperate rainforest.

Mammals Birds Fish
Reptiles Amphibians Invertebrates
Plants Ferns & Mosses Fungi

Fish

common name latin name
Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
White Sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus
Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch
Chum Salmon Oncorhynchus keta
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Steelhead Trout Salmo gairdneri
Cutthroat Trout Salmo clarkii
Common Carp (introduced) Cyprinus carpio
Pacific Lamprey Lampetra tridentata

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Amphibians
common name latin name
Salamanders & Newts
Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa
Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum
Northwestern or Brown Salamander Ambystoma gracile
Pacific Giant Salamander (endangered) Dicamptodon ensatus
Western Red-backed Salamander Plethodon vehiculum
Ensatina Ensatina eschsoltzi
Frogs & Toads
Tailed Frog (endangered) Ascaphus truei
Western Toad Bufo boreas
Pacific Tree Frog Hyla regilla
Red-legged Frog Rana aurora
Spotted Frog Rana pretiosa
Northern Leopard Frog (introduced to Coombs) Rana pipiens
Bullfrog (introduced) Rana catesbeiana
Green Frog (introduced) Rana clamitans

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Reptiles
Western Pond Turtle (introduced)
common name latin name
Snakes
Northwestern Garter Snake Thamnophis ordinoides
Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis
Wandering Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans
Turtles
Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta
Red-Eared Slider(introduced) Pseudemys scripta
Clemmys marmorata
Lizards
Northern Alligator Lizard Gerrhonotus coeruleus

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Birds
Perching Birds Shore Birds Water Birds
Birds of Prey Grounds Birds
common name latin name
Perching Birds
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna
Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus borealis
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
Stellar's Jay Cyanocitta stellari
Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis
Common Raven Corvus corax
America Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
Black-capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus
Chestnut-backed Chickadee Parus rufescens
Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus
American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
European Starling (introduced) Sturnus vulgaris
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
House Sparrow (introduced) Passer domesticus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana
Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus
Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus
American Goldfich Carduelis tristis
Spotted Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
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common name latin name
Water Birds
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
Trumpeter Swan(endangered) Cygnus buccinator
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
America Wigeon Anas americana
Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
American Coot Fulica americana
Marbled Murrelet (endangered) Brachyramphus marmoratus
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common name latin name
Birds of Prey
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Western Sreech Owl Ottus kennicotti
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Barn Owl (threatened) Tyto alba
Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca
Barred Owl Strix varia
Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa
Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
Northern Pygmy Owl Glaucidium gnoma

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common name latin name
Ground Birds
Blue Grouse Dendragapus obscurus
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
Ring-necked Pheasant (introduced) Phasianus colchicus
Rock Dove (introduced) Columba livia
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
common name latin name
Shore Birds
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Green Heron Butorides striatus
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Sora Rail Porzana carolina
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens

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Mammals
common name latin name
Rodents
Beaver Castor canadensis
Mountain Beaver Aplodontia rufa
Muskrat Odantra zibethica
Douglas Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii
Grey Squirrel (introduced) Sciurus carolinensis
Townsend Chipmunk Eutamias townsendi
Townsend's Vole Microtus townsendi
Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus
Dogs/Bears
Coyote Canis latrans
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Black Bear Ursus americanus
Kermode Bear Ursus americanus kermodei
Cats
Cougar Felis concolour
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Insectivores
Pacific Water Shrew (endangered)
Townsend Mole Scapanus townsendi
Coast Mole Scapanus orarius
Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus
Big Brown Bat Eptesisus fuscus
Keen's Long-eared Bat Myotis keenii
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus
Yuma Bat Myotis yumanensis
Western Long-eared Bat Myotis evotis
California Myotis Myotis californicus
Long-legged Myotis Myotis volans
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivaganscinereus
Townsend's Big-eared Bat Plectus townsendii
Other
Mink Mestela vison
River Otter Lutra canadensis
Short-tailed Weasel Mustela erminea
Raccoon Procyon lotor
Oppossum (introduced) Didelphis virgiviana
Eastern Cottontail (introduced) Sylvilagus floridanus
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
Spotted Skunk Spilogale gracilis
Black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus subsp. columbianus

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Invertebrates

common name latin name
Aquatic Habitats
Crayfish Orconectes virilis
Sideswimmer or Scud Gammarus sp.
Daphnia Daphnia pulex
Pond Snail
Fresh Water Clam
Predacious Diving Beetle
Backswimmer
Water Boatman
Water Scorpion
Giant Water Bug
Water Strider
Caddisfly
Stonefly
Dragonfly
Damselfly
Water Mite
Field Habitat
Garden Cross Spider Argiope sp.
Crab Spider
Jumping Spider
Harvestman Phalangium sp.
Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianus
Crane Fly
Anise Swallowtail
Painted Lady Butterfly Cynthia cardui
Cabbage White Butterfly (introduced)
Earthworm Lumbricus sp.
Black Field Cricket
Forest Habitat
Yellow-spotted Millipede Harpaphe haydeniana haydeniana
Brown Millipede
Mosquito
Ground Beetles
Lady Beetle
Woodbug Or Sowbug Trachelipus rathkei
Ten-lined June Beetle
Tent Caterpillars
Red Centipede Lithobius sp.
Carpenter Ant
Paper Wasp
Honey Bee (introduced)
Bumble Bee
Wolf Spider

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Plants
common name latin name
Trees
Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla
Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis
Shore Pine Pinus contorta variety contorta
Western Yew Taxus brevifolia
Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata
Red Alder Aluna rubra
Bigleaf Maple Acer macrophyllum
Black Cottonwood Populus balsamifera subspecies trichocarpa
Paper Birch Betula papyrifera
Pacific Crabapple Malus fusca
Arbutus Arbutus menziesii
Pacific Dogwood Cornus nuttallii
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common name latin name
Shrubs
Salal Gaultheria Shallon
Red Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium
False Azaela Menziesia ferruginea
Labrador Tea Ledum groenlandicum
Twinflower Linnae borealis
Black Twinberry Lonicera involucrata
Western Honeysuckle Lonicera ciliosa
Red Elderberry Sambucus racemosa
Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Sitka Mountain Ash Sorbus sitchensis
Saskatoon Amelanchier alnifolia
Indian Plum Oemleria cerasiformis
Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus
Himalayan Blackberry (introduced) Rubus discolor
Hardhack Spirea douglasii subspecies douglasii
Red Osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera
Cascara Rhamnus purshiana
Beaked Hazelnut Corylus cornuta variety californica
Vine Maple Acer circinatum

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common name latin name
Flowers
Western Trillium (endangered) Trillium ovatum
False Lily of the Valley Maianthemum dilatatum
Tiger Lily (endangered) Lilium columbianum
Common Camas Camassia quamash
Spring Gold Lomatium utriculatum
Siberian Miner's Lettuce Claytonia sibirica
Shepherd's Purse (introduced) Capsella bursa-pastoris
Fringecup Tellima grandiflora
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Red Columbine Aquilegia formosa
Common Vetch (introduced) Vicia sativa
Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium
Enchanter's Nightshade Circaea alpina
Cow Parsnip Heracleum lanatum
Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica
Common Foxglove(introduced) Digitalis purpurea
Pineapple Weed (introduced) Matricaria discoidea
Vanilla Leaf Achlys triphylla
Queen's Cup Clintonia uniflora
Phantom Orchid Cephalanthera Austinae
Pacific Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosa
Bunchberry Cornus canadensis
Sweet-scented Bedstraw Galium triflorum
Skunk Cabbage Lysichiton americanum

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Ferns, Mosses, Horsetails & Lichens

common name latin name
Ferns
Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum
Deer Fern Blechnum spicant
Sword Fern Polystichum munitum
Shield Fern Dryopteris expansa
Licorice Fern Polypodium glycyrrhiza
Maidenhair Fern Adiantum pedatum
Parsley Fern Cryptogramma crispa
Horsetails
Common Horsetail Equisetum arvense
Scouring Rush Equisetum hyemale
Mosses
Fan Moss Rhizomnium glabrescens
Cattail Moss Isothecium myosuroides
Oregon Beaked Moss Kindbergia oregana
Step Moss Hylocomium splendens
Tongue Moss Plagiothecium undulatum
Curly Heron's Bill Moss Dicranum fuscencens
Lichens
Frog Pelt Peltigera Neopolydactyla
Ragbag Platismatia glauca
Forking Bone Hypogymnia inactiva
Beaded Bone Hypogymnia enteromorpha
Old Man's Beard Usnea hirta
Witch's Hair Alectoria vancouverensis
Horsehair Bryoria capillaris

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Fungi

common name latin name
Turkey Tails
Orange Peel Fungus Aleuria aurantia
Velvet top Boletus mirabilus
Chanterelle Cantherellus cibarus
Crested oval fungus Clavunlina cristata
Artists conk Ganoderma applanatum
Rosy gomphidius Gomphidius subroseus
Lack Lustre Laccaria Laccaria laccata
Fried Chicken Mushroom Lyophyllum decastes
Honey Mushroom Armillaria mellea
Horn of Plenty Craterellus cornucopoides
Hemlock Varnish Mushroom Ganoderma tsugae
Lobster Mushroom Hypomyces lactifluorum
Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus
Gypsy Mushroom Rozites caperata
Cauliflower Fungus Sparassis crispa
Slippery Jack Suillus luteus
Pine Mushroom Tricholoma magnivelare
Man on Horseback Tricholoma flavovirens
Shrimp Mushroom Russula xerampelina
Blue Chanterelle Polyozellus multiplex

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