Long-toed Salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum
![[Long-toed Salamander]](/images/154ds.jpg)
Description
Distribution Range
General range map taken from CWHR, modified.
Museum records taken from following institutions: CAS Herps, CAS-SUA, MVZ Herps.
Found in the eastern portion of Shasta County.
Typical Elevation
We do not yet have enough records from distinct localities to calculate typical elevation. We need 2 more distinct localities.
Taxonomy
The Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) was originally described in 1850 by Baird as Ambystoma macrodactyla. See Amphibian Species of the World.
The subspecies that occurs in our area is the Southern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum).
The Southern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) was originally described in 1961 by Ferguson as Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum. See Amphibian Species of the World.
Taxonomic Etymology
Ambystoma appears to be a mis-spelling of Amblystoma, a combination of two Greek words. αμβλύς means blunt. στόμα means mouth. It may be a reference to their blunt face shape.
macrodactylum is a combination of two Greek words. μακρός means long. δάκτυλος means finger or toe. It is a reference to the elongated toes these salamanders have.
sigillatum is from the Latin sigillatum and means adorned with symbols or figures. It is likely a reference to the vivid and intricate patterning adults of this subspecies have (Beltz 2006).
Additional Information
Images
Unless otherwise noted, all images are of wild specimens in Shasta County.
Please be kind, do not hotlink images and do not use images without permission of the copyright owner.
![[Long-toed Salamander]](/images/155sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Belly of a recently transformed Long-toed Salamander. Siskiyou County, CA
![[Long-toed Salamander]](/images/154sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Recent Transform, the characteristic yellow pigment is just starting to come in. Siskiyou County, CA
Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
![[Long-toed Salamander habitat]](/images/156sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Long-toed Salamanders breed in this high elevation pool adjacent to Medicine Lake, along with Western Toads. Siskiyou County, CA
![[Sponsor ShastaHerps.org]](/images/SherpBanner2.png)
