Ensatina Salamander

Where they live

• View a map of where they live.
• In Washington State they are found west of the Cascade Mountains to the coast.
• Prefer forested areas, but can be found in clearings and grasslands.
• Stay under rotting logs, but can wander out on wet nights and during breeding season.
• They do not need a permanent water source.

Breeding

• Breeding season is spring and fall, although at higher elevations breeding can happen in the summer.
• Eggs are laid under rotting logs and protected by the female.
• When eggs hatch, small mini-salamanders emerge, skipping the normal aquatic larvae stage. 

Cool Biology Facts

• The males of this species have a swollen upper lip and a longer, skinnier tale than the females.
• If the weather gets too hot or too cold, they will retreat into underground burrows.
• When threatened, will ooze a whitish toxic secretion from their tail and often slash their tails at whatever threatened them.

Threats

• Main issues are habitat destruction and logging which can change the moisture levels in their habitat. View their status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.