photographic identification cards for idaho amphibians

Photographic Identification Cards for Idaho Amphibians

Prepared byCharles R. Peterson and Henry J. Fabian

Herpetology LaboratoryDepartment of Biological Sciences & Idaho Museum of Natural History

Idaho State UniversityJune 1997

This set of cards is intended to help people identify Idaho amphibians in the field. Weanticipate their use by wildlife and fisheries biologists, students, teachers, natural re-source managers, and any other persons interested in identifying Idaho’s amphibians.We welcome your constructive criticisms concerning how to improve these cards.

Fifteen species of amphibians occur in Idaho: five salamanders and ten frogs or toads(see the checklist card). One of the salamanders and one of the frogs are not nativespecies. There are fourteen identification cards. Most cards contain four or more photo-graphs per species. Advantages of cards include only needing to carry the cards for thosespecies occurring in the area you are visiting and easier comparisons of photos.

We prepared the maps using information from the sources listed below and from ourown experiences. These maps represent our best judgement of current general distributionsof Idaho amphibians. However, our knowledge of the detailed distribution of amphib-ians in Idaho is still quite incomplete. Consequently, your observations could make asignificant contribution to our knowledge of amphibian distributions in Idaho. Pleasemake copies of the accompanying forms to report your observations. A backgroundphotocard is also provided to facilitate taking photographs to document amphibian ob-servations.

These cards were prepared by scanning photographic slides, negatives, or prints at5” x 7”, 300 dpi, 24 bit color depth. Images were processed as necessary using AdobePhotoshop 4.0 and then imported into Adobe Page Maker 6.5. The cards were printed ona Hewlett-Packard Color LaserJet 5M and laminated with UV protective plastic. How-ever, to avoid fading, store the cards away from exposure to sunlight.

Photographic Identification Cards for Idaho Amphibians(continued)

Many persons assisted with this project. Randy Stamm designed and produced the cards.Wes Taylor helped coordinate the production of the cards. Jonathan M. Beck, EdmundD. Brodie, Jr., Charlotte C. Corkran, Michael E. Dorcas, Edson Fichter, Edward D.Koch, William P. Leonard, and Larry West generously allowed us to use some of theirphotographs. Susan Duncan scanned some of the slides. Jonathan M. Beck and David S.Pilliod helped prepare earlier versions of these cards. Jim Munger helped review thedistribution maps. Paul Bartelt, Stephen Burton, and David Pilliod helped review thecaptions. Partial funding was provided by the USDI Bureau of Land Management, theIdaho Division of Environmental Quality, and the USDA Forest Service. Allen Thomas(BLM), Bill Clark and Colleen Sweeney (DEQ), and Russ Thurow (FS) helped arrangefor funding. We are especially grateful to Print Media Services of Computing and Com-munications at Idaho State University for actually producing the cards.

We got most of the distribution information for the maps and identification informationfor the captions from the following references:

Baxter, G.T. and M.D. Stone. 1985. Amphibians and Reptiles of Wyoming. Secondedition. Wyoming Game and Fish Dept.

Corkran, C.C. and C. Thoms. 1996. Amphibians of Oregon, Washington, and BritishColumbia. Lone Pine Publishing.

Linder, A.D. and E. Fichter. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Idaho. The Idaho StateUniversity Press. Pocatello, Idaho.

Groves, C.R. 1994. Idaho’s Amphibians and Reptiles: Description Habitat, and Ecol-ogy. Idaho Department of Fish and Game Nongame Wildlife Leaflet #7.

Groves, C.R., B. Butterfield, A. Lippincott, B. Csuti, and J.M. Scott. 1997. Atlas ofIdaho’s Wildlife: Integrating Gap analysis and Natural Heritage Information. Idaho De-partment of Fish and Game, Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program. Boise, Idaho.

Koch, E.D. and C.R. Peterson. 1995. Amphibians and Reptiles of Yellowstone and GrandTeton National Parks. University of Utah Press.

Leonard, W.P., H.A. Brown, L.C. Jones, K.R. McAllister, and R.M. Storm. 1993. Am-phibians of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington.

Nussbaum, R.A. E.D. Brodie, and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of thePacific Northwest. University Press of Idaho, Moscow.

Reichel, J. and D. Flath. 1995. Identification of Montana’s Amphibians and Reptiles.Montana Outdoors. May/June 1995.

Stebbins, R.C. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Houghton MifflinCo., Boston.

CHECKLIST OF IDAHO SALAMANDERS 1

(Version June 1997)

Status/Comments2

Order Urodela Salamanders and Newts

Family Ambystomatidae Mole SalamandersAmbystoma macrodactylum Long-Toed SalamanderAmbystoma tigrinum Tiger Salamander

Family Dicamptodontidae Pacific Mole SalamandersDicamptodon aterrimus Idaho Giant Salamander endemic to northern Rockies

Family Plethodontidae Lungless SalamandersPlethodon idahoensis Coeur d’Alene Salamander SSC, USFWS W; FSR1 S, BLM S

endemic to northern RockiesFamily Salamandridae Newts

Taricha granulosa Roughskin Newt introduced species?

1 Names are generally consistent with Collins, J.T. (1990). Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Third Edition. SSARHerpetological Circular No. 19: 1-41.

2 SSC = State Species of Special Concern; USFWS = US Fish and Wildlife Service; C = Candidate Species; SC = Species of Concern; W = Watch Species; FSR# = Forest ServiceRegion 1 or 4; BLM = Bureau of Land Management; S = Sensitive Species.

Prepared by C.R. Peterson, Herpetology Laboratory, Idaho State University & The Idaho Museum of Natural History, using information from the Idaho Conservation Data CenterHome Page.

CHECKLIST OF IDAHO FROGS AND TOADS 1

(Version June 1997)

Status/Comments2

Order Anura Frogs and Toads

Family Leiopelmatidae(=Ascaphidae) Bell ToadsAscaphus truei Tailed Frog

Family Bufonidae True ToadsBufo boreas Western Toad SSC, USFWS W/SC BLM S, declines in SE Idaho?Bufo woodhousii Woodhouse’s Toad USFWS W

Family Pelobatidae Archaic ToadsSpea intermontana Great Basin Spadefoot = Scaphiopus intermontanus

Family Hylidae True Tree FrogsPseudacris (= Hyla) regilla Pacific Chorus (Tree) FrogPseudacris triseriata maculata Boreal Chorus Frog

Family Ranidae True FrogsRana catesbeiana Bullfrog Introduced; game speciesRana luteiventris Columbia Spotted Frog SSC, C (sw Idaho), FSR4 S, BLM SRana pipiens Northern Leopard Frog SSC, USFWS SC; BLM S; declines in southern Idaho?Rana sylvatica Wood Frog

1 Names are generally consistent with Collins, J.T. (1990). Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Third Edition. SSARHerpetological Circular No. 19: 1-41.

2 SSC = State Species of Special Concern; USFWS = US Fish and Wildlife Service; C = Candidate Species; SC = Species of Concern; W = Watch Species; FSR# = Forest ServiceRegion 1 or 4; BLM = Bureau of Land Management; S = Sensitive Species

Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) eggs. [1/10”, 2.5 mm diameter]Key Characteristics: 85-411 eggs per clutch; may be laid singly or in clusters of 5-100,attached to objects or loose on substrate.

Long-toed Salamander larva. [up to 3.1”, 8 cm total length] Key Characteristics: long,feathery, external gills; 9-12 gill rakers; uniform dorsal coloration. Larvae may need tobe in water for gills to be visible.

Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) adult. [up to 6.25”, 16 cm totallength] Key Characteristics: greenish-yellow dorsal stripe; 4th toe of hindfoot is excep-tionally long.

Long-toed Salamander - dark adult. The dorsal stripe may be faint and/or broken intoblotches in some individuals. Note elongated 4th toes on hind feet.

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Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) eggs. [1/10”, 2.5 mm diameter]Key Characteristics: eggs may be laid singly or in clusters of up to 120, usually linearlyarranged, and usually attached to objects.

Tiger Salamander larva. [may exceed 9”, 22 cm total length] Key Characteristics: long,feathery external gills; 14-24 gill rakers; uniform dorsal coloration. Larvae may need tobe in water for gills to be visible.

Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) adult. [up to 9”, 23 cm total length]Key Characteristics: usually with yellowish blotches or bars; prominent vertical groovesalong side of body between limbs.

Tiger Salamander adults. Dorsal coloration is highly variable; green to black groundcolor; usually with yellowish bars to blotches, but sometimes uniformly colored.

Idaho Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon aterrimus) adult. [up to 13”, 33 cm total length]Key Characteristics: Bulky head and body; fine-grained marbling; vertical groovesalong side of body inconspicuous. Terrestrial adults are uncommon.

Idaho Giant Salamander larva. [up to 14”, 35 cm total length] Key Characteristics:small, external gills; brown with yellowish patches on back and sides. Larvae may belocally common and are sometimes neotenic.

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Idaho Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon aterrimus) eggs are similar to those of the Pa-cific Giant Salamander pictured here, guarded by a female. [1/4”, 6.5 mm in diameter]135-200 unpigmented eggs, attached singly, beneath logs or rocks.

Idaho Giant Salamander larva. Small, giant salamander larvae can be distinguished fromAmbystoma larvae by their short gills and mottled, dorsal coloration. Larvae may needto be in water for gills to be visible.

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Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa) adult. [up to 7.9”, 20 cm total length] KeyCharacteristics: rough skin; brown dorsal coloration; yellowish-orange ventral colora-tion. Uncommon; only known from a few ponds in the Moscow area; probably intro-duced.

Rough-skinned Newt larva. [up to 3”, 7.5 cm total length] Key Characteristics: greenish-yellow dorsal surface with light spots along sides and pink or orange ventral surface.When viewed from above, eyes appear along outer margin of head.

Coeur d’Alene Salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) adult. [up to 4”, 10 cm total length]Key Characteristics: yellow patch on throat; yellow, green, orange or red dorsal stripewith uneven edges. Nasolabial groove present.

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A. Coeur d’Alene Salamander adult. The yellow patch on the throat and the shorter 4thtoes on the hindfeet distinguish Coeur d’Alene Salamanders from the superficially simi-lar Long-toed Salamanders.B. Coeur d’Alene Salamander juvenile. There is no free-living larval stage.

Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei) adult female and adult male. [up to 2”, 5 cm snout-ventlength] Key Characteristics: no tympanic membrane (eardrum); 5th toe wider than oth-ers, vertical pupils, smooth to warty skin; variable dorsal coloration (yellow, gray,brown, or reddish); male with “tail.”

Tailed Frog adult male – ventral view. Note “tail” (everted cloaca) and wide 5th toes onhindfeet.

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Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei) eggs. [0.2”, 4-5 mm in diameter] Key Characteristics: 33-98 unpigmented eggs, laid in a string/cluster, on the underside of rocks.

Tailed Frog tadpole. [up to 2.4”, 6 cm total length] Key Characteristics: usually with awhite spot on the tip of tail; coloration variable - black, brown or tan; may be uniformlycolored or mottled. Inset: ventral view. Sucker-like mouth distinguishes this species.

Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana = Scaphiopus intermontanus) adult. [up to2.5”, 6.5 cm snout-vent length] Key Characteristics: vertical pupils; stocky body; bluntsnout; skin relatively smooth and dry

Great Basin Spadefoot - ventral view. The black, sharp-edged “spade” on the undersideof each hind foot is a distinguishing characteristic of this species. Inset: Closeup ofventral surface of right, rear hindfoot, showing “spade.”

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Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana = Scaphiopus intermontanus) eggs. [1/25”,1 mm diameter] Key Characteristics: up to 800 eggs in grape- to plum-sized clusters(15-20 mm) of 20-40 eggs each; usually loosely attached to floating sticks, submergedvegetation, or the bottom (mud or rock).

Great Basin Spadefoot tadpole. [up to 2.75”, 7 cm total length] Key Characteristics:pale tan or gray with brassy flecks, eyes close together, dorsally oriented; prominentnostrils; anteriorly positioned mouth with keratinized beak; heavy bodied.

Woodhouse’s Toad (Bufo woodhousei) adult. [up to 5”, 12.5 cm snout-vent length] KeyCharacteristics: cranial crests - L-shaped ridges of bone between/behind eyes; elon-gated parotoid glands behind eyes; light vertebral stripe; horizontal pupils; dry, wartyskin; 2 tubercles on each hindfoot.

Woodhouse’s Toad adult. Note cranial crests (L-shaped ridges of bone between/behindeyes); elongated parotoid glands behind eyes; and horizontal pupils. Inset: 2 horny tu-bercles on underside of left hindfoot.

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Woodhouse’s Toad (Bufo woodhousei) eggs. [1/25”, 1 mm in diameter] Key Character-istics: up to 25,000 eggs per clutch; laid in two, long, intertwined strands, single gellayer. The strings may be wrapped around submerged vegetation or branches. Difficultto distinguish from Western Toad eggs.

Woodhouse’s Toad tadpole. [up to 1”, 2.5 cm total length] Key Characteristics: darkbrown to black mottling on body; tail musculature dark above, light below; round bodywith a jutting snout.

Western Toad (Bufo boreas) adult. [up to 5”, 12.5 cm snout-vent length] Key Character-istics: no cranial crests (L-shaped ridges of bone between/ behind eyes); nonelongatedparotoid glands behind eyes; light vertebral stripe; horizontal pupils; dry, warty skin; 2tubercles on each hindfoot.

Adult male Western Toad clasping a female in amplexus (breeding embrace); female islaying eggs. Dorsal coloration is variable - brown, gray, or green. Individuals can lightenor darken their ground color. Females reach larger sizes than males. Inset: underside ofright hindfoot with 2 horny tubercles.

Western Toad (Bufo boreas) eggs. [1/25”, 1.5 mm in diameter] Key Characteristics: upto 16,000 eggs per clutch; laid in two, intertwined strands, many feet in length; two gellayers. These strings of eggs may be laid on the bottom or wrapped around objects suchas sedges or branches.

Western Toad tadpoles. [up to 1”, 25 mm total length] Key Characteristics: usually verydark; dark tail musculature; rounded body; intestines usually not visible; relatively slowswimming; often found in dense aggregations (hundreds to thousands of individuals).

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Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) adult. [up to 1.9”, 4.7 cm snout-vent length] KeyCharacteristics: long toes, tipped with large, round toe pads; limited webbing; conspicu-ous dark mask.

Pacific Treefrog adult. Dorsal coloration highly variable - green, gray, brown, bronze, orreddish. Individuals can lighten or darken. There often is a “Y” mark between the eyes.Inset: underside of left hindfoot; note toe pads and limited webbing.

Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) eggs. [1/20”, 1.3 mm diameter] Key Characteris-tics: 400-750 eggs per clutch; laid in clusters (up to 4 cm in diameter) of 9-70 eggs,loosely attached to objects or laid on substrate. Inset: calling male.

Pacific Treefrog tadpole. [up to 2.2.”, 55 mm total length] Key Characteristics: eyeslaterally placed, projecting beyond the margin of the head when viewed from above;brown dorsally, white ventrally; dorsal fin less arched than Boreal Chorus Frog tadpole.

Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata maculata) adult. [up to 1.5”, 3.8 cm snout-vent length] Key Characteristics: long toes, but small toe pads; limited webbing; usually3 dark stripes or rows of spots on back; pointed snout.

Boreal Chorus Frog adults. Both green and brown individuals occur. They can lighten ordarken.

Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata maculata) eggs. [1/25”, 1 mm diameter] KeyCharacteristics: 150-1500 eggs per clutch; laid in clusters of 30-75, attached to vegeta-tion or branches. Usually difficult to find. Inset: calling male.

Boreal Chorus Frog tadpole. [up to 1.2”, 30 mm total length] Key Characteristics: eyeslaterally placed, projecting beyond the margin of the head when viewed from above;brown dorsally, white ventrally; dorsal fin more arched than Pacific Treefrog; intestinesvisible.

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Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) adult. [up to 3.5”, 9 cm snout-vent length]Key Characteristics: dorsal black spots with “fuzzy” edges; white lip stripe; full web-bing between hind toes; skin somewhat bumpy; pointed snout; upturned eyes.

Columbia Spotted Frog adult - ventral view. The adults of this species can be distin-guished from other Idaho frogs by the yellow or red coloration on the underside of thelegs and belly. The juveniles, however, usually lack the red or yellow ventral coloration.

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Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) eggs. [1/10”, 2.3 mm in diameter] Key Char-acteristics: 200-1300 eggs per clutch; a clutch is softball-sized (up to 8”, 20 cm indiameter) and floats at the surface. These egg masses are usually easy to find. Manyfemales may deposit their eggs at the same site, as shown here.

Spotted Frog tadpole. [up to 3.1”, 80 mm total length ] Key Characteristics: brownishgreen above, flecked with gold; medially located eyes; intestines visible. Recently hatchedSpotted Frog tadpoles are black. Inset: metamorphosing spotted frog.

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) eggs. [up to 1/25”, 1.5 mm diameter] Key Char-acteristics: up to 6,000 eggs per clutch in a flattened sphere (up to 3.9”, 10 cm in width);egg mass is usually attached to vegetation in shallow water. Many females may deposittheir eggs at the same site, as shown here.

Northern Leopard Frog tadpole. [up to 3.3”, 8.5 cm total length] Key Characteristics:brown or gray dorsally, with metallic flecks; light or transparent ventrally; intestinesvisible; tail fins translucent; eyes dorsally located. Inset: lateral view of leopard frogtadpole.

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) adult. [up to 4”, 10 cm snout-vent length] KeyCharacteristics: dark oval spots with a light halo; green or brown back-ground color;white ventral coloration.

Northern Leopard Frog adult – ventral view. Note white ventral coloration.

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Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) eggs. [1/20”, 1.3 mm diameter] Key Characteristics: up to20,000 eggs per clutch; spread out in a large thin, sheet over 12” (30 cm) in diameter;eggs sink onto submerged vegetation before hatching.

Bullfrog tadpole. [up to 6”, 15 cm] Key Characteristics: back and tail olive to greenishyellow with small black spots; light belly; overwinters in tadpole stage. Inset: dorsolat-eral view of bullfrog tadpole. Note spots.

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Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) adult. [up to 7.9”, 20 cm snout-vent length] Key Character-istics: large body; short fold extends from eye over and behind conspicuous tympanum(ear drum); pale green to dark olive ground color; spots or dark mottling may be present;belly cream to yellow, sometimes with dark marbling.

Bullfrog adult – ventral view. Note light ventral coloration.

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) adult. [up to 2”, 5 cm snout-vent length] Key Characteris-tics: dark mask with light lip line; ground color brown, gray, or blue-greenish; may havespots. Webbing does not extend to tip of toes. Rare in Idaho.

Wood Frog adult – ventral view. Note white ventral coloration and mottling.

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Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) eggs. [1/12”, 2.0 mm diameter] Key Characteristics: up to3,000 eggs per clutch; clutches are baseball-sized (up to 2.7”, 7 cm in diameter). Manyfemales may deposit their eggs at the same site.

Wood Frog tadpole. [up to 2”, 5 cm] Key Characteristics: dark olive or brownish dor-sally; ventral surface cream colored with pinkish iridescence; short snout; large dorsallylocated eyes; tail almost twice as long as body.

Background Photocard for Amphibians

Observer(s)

Species

Date Time

State County

Location

Habitat

Remarks

1 3 5 7 9 11 cm

Instructions for Using the Background Photocard*for Amphibians

Providing a photograph with reports of amphibians greatly increases the value ofthe observations by allowing confirmation of the identity of the species seen. Itcan also be deposited with the Idaho Museum of Natural History as a voucherphotograph. The purpose of this card is to provide a ruled, gray background forphotographing amphibians and a format for recording important data concerningthe observed animals.

Record the information directly on the card using a nonpermanent (erasable) finemarking pen so that the card can be reused. Include the following information:your name, the species, the date (day-month-year), time (note AM/PM or usemilitary time), state, county, specific location, habitat, and remarks. Be as accu-rate as possible. Try to describe the site so that someone else could relocate itfrom your directions. For example, in a small pond, 30 yards north of HighwayX, 4.5 miles N and 3.3. miles east of a known landmark (junction, the center of atown, etc.). Include the exact coordinates if you know them (latitude and longitude,UTMs, or Range, Township, Section, quarter section, etc.). Accurate localityinformation can greatly enhance the value of your observations. Under habitat,describe the major cover type (forested [needleleaf, broadleaf, or mixed], non-forested [alpine, grassland, shrubland, or barren], riparian and wetlands [forestedor scrub-shrub riparian, marsh, pond, or lake], or developed land [agricultural orurban]). Include any other relevant information under remarks.

This card will work best with cameras having macro or close focusing lenses.Adults, juveniles, and larvae can be placed on the card and photographed outof the water. Consider photographing the ventral and lateral as well as thedorsal surfaces. Photograph egg masses in the water with the photocard placedbeside them.

*The format for this card was adapted from a card designed by David L. Martin.

Herpetology LaboratoryDepartment of Biological Sciences and Idaho Museum of Natural History

Box 8007, Idaho State UniversityPocatello, ID 83209

(208) [email protected]

photographic identification cards for idaho amphibians

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