Species profile
Coastal Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon tenebrosus
Identify Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) is an IUCN Least Concern amphibian with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 5,541 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Oregon, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- One of North America's largest terrestrial salamanders, reaching up to 13 inches total length.
- Some larvae never metamorphose, remaining aquatic and gilled their entire lives.
- Inhabits cold, fast-flowing streams in old-growth Pacific Northwest forests.
- Can produce a low rattling vocalization when disturbed — extremely rare among salamanders.
- Adults are apex micro-predators that eat mice, small snakes, and other salamanders.
Where Coastal Giant Salamander are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Coastal Giant Salamander
Background
The coastal giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) is a species of salamander in the Dicamptodontidae family (Pacific giant salamanders). It is endemic to the United States and Canada. There are three closely related species to this taxon: D. ensatus (California giant salamander), D. copei (Cope's giant salamander), and D. aterrimus (Idaho giant salamander).
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Coastal Giant Salamander article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other amphibians on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Coastal Giant Salamander?
Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) is an IUCN Least Concern amphibian with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Coastal Giant Salamander?
Coastal Giant Salamander is Dicamptodon tenebrosus.
Is Coastal Giant Salamander regulated for fishing?
Yes — Coastal Giant Salamander has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Coastal Giant Salamander?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Coastal Giant Salamander along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.