National Park Service
Alaska Region
Inventory and Monitoring Program

Click here to see a Map of observations for 2001-2003

Please remember that it is illegal to collect wild amphibians of any kind in Alaska without a scientific permit. Bug repellent, suntan lotion and other common chemicals on hands may be harmful since they breathe through their skin. A few species are highly poisonous/toxic to humans, and handling them may be harmful to you, as well.

WESTERN TOAD Bufo boreas boreas
Boreal toad

	Adult western toad. Note bumpy skin and dominate parotoid glands on the back of the head. Approximately 6-12.5 cm in length.
	Ventral side of a western toad adult. This one was found in a bucket on the beach in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The spotted underbelly makes this species easy to differentiate from other species.
	Western toad tadpole 2.5-5 cm in length, black on top, lighter underneath. They forage in large schools and emerge as toadlets in July-August.
	Toadlet found Sep 29, 2003 in the Dyea area in Klondike Goldrush NHP. Note the size compared to the keys.
	Western toad egg clutch in typical string form attached to a rock.

HABITAT
Grassland and woodlands near fresh water (breeds in ponds, lakes, streams, rain pools); most often in open areas. Found in coastal forests. Terrestrial. Differs from the endangered western toad of the lower 48 (B. boreas) by its northern range. The "boreal" toad is apparently misnamed. It seems to prefer glacial streams, beaches, lagoons and upland sites, and is typically not found in the boreal forest.
IDENTIFICATION
Size: 6-12.5 cm (2.5-5 in.) long snout to vent. Only 1 cm when metamorphosing. Appearance: Has many warts; usually brown or green; noticeable parotoid glands; usually conspicuous white stripe down middle of back (not present or as conspicuous in recently morphed young– only 6mm. (0.75 cm) long). Male: Thumb base is dark and enlarged. Bumpy mottled skin. Toads typically crawl from place to place, whereas frogs hop.
EGGS
Laid in strings of 12,000-16,500 eggs, frequently found around vegetation. Often in shallow water.
TADPOLES
2.5-5 cm (1-2 in.) long or smaller; dark body and tail (brown, black, or gray), tail musculature is uniformly dark, body has uniform dark color; when viewing laterally, snout forms a long slope. May be found in manmade ditches, gravel pits, and waste areas.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Diurnal. Can secrete an irritating poison from the skin and parotoid glands if disturbed. Voice was thought to be just a “soft birdlike clucking” when molested by humans or other toads, but Bob Armstrong of Discovery Southeast recently recorded western toads in Juneau "singing" with a musical quality to the calls.

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NORTHWESTERN SALAMANDER Ambystoma gracile

	Adult northwestern salamander. Gray-brown color and smooth skin apparent. Approximately 20-22 cm in length. Note rib-like coastal(costal) grooves.
	Northwestern salamander adult from Chichagof Island near Pelican, AK.
	Northwestern salamander larvae. 7.5-15 cm in length.
	Northwestern salamander egg drawing showing three eggs.

HABITAT
Coastal forests, next to fresh water (ponds or lakes); under logs or rocks.
IDENTIFICATION
Size: 20-22 cm (7-8.7 in.) (total length-nose to tip of tail). Appearance: Gray/brown color, smooth skin, coastal grooves, large granular parotoid glands, pitted granular area also on ridge of tail; back could have flecks of green or yellow.
EGGS
Laid in large globular clusters of 30-270 eggs (often 60-140), masses usually 5-15.2 cm (2-6 in) in diameter, masses sometimes have green color from symbiotic algae, attached to vegetation, submerged trees in slow moving streams, ponds, or lakes (usually permanent).
LARVAE
7.5-15 cm (3-6 in) long; body is brown, olive-green or light yellow on top, sides are blotched (sooty) with yellow spots; glandular strip on tail fin.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Nocturnal; metamorphosis from larvae stage to adult is thought to take two years in Alaska.

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ROUGH-SKINNED NEWT Taricha granulosa

	Adult rough-skinned newt in threat posture display. 13.3-20 cm long. “Rough” look to skin (except for breeding male). Does not have coastal grooves as found in northwestern and long-toed salamander.
	Adult newt found on a small island in Sitka Sound by K. Griffin in 2003.
	Rough-skinned newt larvae. Note small size. Can reach 7.5 cm.
	Drawing of rough-skinned newt egg.

HABITAT
Most aquatic newt, found in spruce and hemlock forests around permanent ponds or lakes, or slow-moving streams that have large amounts of vegetation. Coastal forests. May have been transplated to many of the islands in SE Alaska by humans.
IDENTIFICATION
Size: 13.3-20 cm (5.25-8 in) long (total length-nose to tip of tail). Appearance: “Rough” look to skin (except for breeding male), orange/yellow on ventral surface, does not have coastal grooves as found in northwestern and long-toed salamander. Male: Smooth skin, flat tail, swollen forelimbs, dark pads on feet, swollen vent.
EGGS
Laid singly, eggs are in large single gelatinous envelope; large capsular chamber; attached to vegetation, usually slow-moving streams or still water; usually hard to find, sometimes attached between parts of vegetation.
LARVAE
Reaches 7.5 cm (3 in.); trunk may have two rows of spots that run length of body(in some cases form light stripe).
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
May secrete a highly poisonous substance when distressed or handled (potentially fatal to humans and other mammals if whole animal is ingested). Diurnal. Metamorphosis from larval stage to adult is thought to take two years in Alaska.

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(COLOMBIA) SPOTTED FROG Rana luteiventris
formerly Rana pretosia

	Adult Columbia spotted frog photographed in Canada along the Chilkoot trail. Note the upturned eyes, and lack of a black eye mask as on a wood frog.
	Adult spotted frog. 3.1-8.1 cm. Has red color on ventral surface and black spots on back with a white or cream jaw stripe.
	Smooth skin. Ventral surface is red with white. Thumb base is dark and enlarged in male.
	Spotted frog egg clusters laid among aquatic vegetation. Usually free-floating.

HABITAT
Seldom found away from permanent rivers, lakes, ponds or streams; often in vegetation surrounding bodies of water. Coastal forests.
IDENTIFICATION
Size: 4.4-10 cm (1.75-4 in.) long (snout to vent). Appearance: Red color on ventral surface (usually legs and stomach); black spots on back; inconspicuous banding on legs, white or cream stripe on jaw. Smooth skin.
Male: Thumb base is dark and enlarged. Eyes tend to be rotated towards the top of the head.
EGGS
Laid in masses of 7.5-20 cm (3-8 in.) diameter containing 150-2000 eggs, usually in shallow water floating freely on surface among vegetation, 1-2 gelatinous envelopes.
TADPOLES
7.5-10 cm (3-4 in) long; dark with gold flecks, underside has bronze sheen, dorsal fin begins at tail-body junction, forms arch.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Very active. Voice is a “low basslike tone,” frequently calls underwater.

WOOD FROG Rana sylvatica

	Adult wood frog. Note light-colored stripe below the eye and prominent black eye mask.
	Adult wood frog. Note size relative to hand. 3.1- 8.1 cm and grey coloration.
	Subadult wood frog found along the shore of Lake Clark in 2002.
	Wood frog egg clusters on aquatic vegetation. Near surface, either floating freely or attached to vegetation.

HABITAT
Can be found far from water, in open forest, grassland, tundra and muskeg; most widespread of Alaskan amphibians.
IDENTIFICATION
Size: 3.1-8.1 cm (1.25-3.25 in.) snout to vent. Appearance: Has dark “eye mask” that is flanked by a white or cream jaw stripe. Smooth skin. Coloration is variable. Some individuals have light stripe along spine. Ventral surface is white or cream.
Male: Thumb base is dark and enlarged.
EGGS
Laid in 6.2-15 cm (2.5-6 in.) clusters, 100-3000 eggs per cluster (780 average), in shallow areas of ponds, lakes, or slow-moving streams, near surface either floating freely or attached to vegetation, many clusters often located in close proximity; two gelatinous envelopes.
TADPOLES
5 cm (2 in.) long; uniformly dark dorsum, high dorsal fin, few markings on fins, dark body, dusky with green sheen, underside cream color with hints of pink.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Abundant and active at temperatures slightly above freezing. These hardy frogs have been observed frozen for extended periods of time and later revived due to complex ‘antifreeze’ in their blood. This ability allows them to survive in the arctic regions of Alaska and Canada. Breeds April-June in interior Alaska. Voice is a “rapidly repeated duck-like staccato.” Often heard in ponds and marshes in April and May.

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LONG-TOED SALAMANDER Ambystoma macrodactylum

	Long-toed salamander adult
	Long-toed salamander adult

HABITAT
adults may be found during the day under rocks, decaying logs, or other debris, or even underground, near bodies of water; ponds, lakes, or sometimes even streams; they are sometimes found in habitats modified by human activity, such as borrow pits; adults tend to remain close to the breeding pond, but they have been found almost a kilometer away from their presumed breeding area.
IDENTIFICATION
5-14 cm (2-5.5 in.) long. Smooth skin: Slender body; Black or dusky color, yellow, green, or tan wavy or patchy dorsal stripe, silvery belly; coastal grooves present; one long toe on each hind foot; may have white flecks on sides and feet.
EGGS
Laid singly or in clusters of 5-100, in shallow water, pond bottoms, lakes, or slow streams, or attached to vegetation, detritus, or submerged trees; egg capsule is surrounded by a double membrane.
LARVAE
1.5-7cm (0.6-7.25 in.) long; Olive to brown-grey mottled with black and brown with a silvery belly.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Prefer small worms and insects as food; almost entirely nocturnal; most active in April and May during breeding; juveniles may be seen in September, as they seek hibernation sites.

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OTHER SPECIES
(accidentals and rare)

ALASKA WORM SALAMANDER Batrachoseps caudatus
From a historical record around Yakutat, Alaska. May be suspect. At least one collected individual exists.

GARTER SNAKE Thamnophis ordinoides
Considered rare and probably accidental in SE Alaska.

PACIFIC CHORUS FROG Pseudacris regilla
formerly PACIFIC TREEFROG Hyla regilla
Released into Ward Lake, near Kechikan, and later became established in the area.

RED-LEGGED FROG Rana auroa
Was introduced to Chichagof Island, and is apparently established locally.

NOTE: Under the state's Endangered Species Program, there are no reptiles or amphibians listed as endangered. Four marine turtles occur in Alaskan waters, although rarely, and these are covered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

However, it is illegal to collect, kill, or retail any live Alaskan amphibians. It is also highly illegal to release captive amphibians into the wild. Even collected wild specimens should not be re-released. They may contaminate wild populations with diseases they encountered in captivity.

OCCURRENCES/RANGES
For a map of these Parks click here

BOREAL TOAD - Known to occur in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park. Expected in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve and Wrangell-St.Elias National Park & Preserve. Occurs near Sitka National Historic Park, but has not been found there.

NORTHWESTERN SALAMANDER - Documented from one observation on the outer coast of Glacier Bay NP & Pres. Expected in Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park.

ROUGH-SKINNED NEWT - Known to occur on several islands in Sitka Sound near Sitka NHP. May occur in Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park. Could occur in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, but not likely.

COLUMBIA SPOTTED FROG - Commonly found on the Canadian side of Chilkoot Pass and White Pass. Not documented in Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park on the US side. Expected to occur in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, most likely in the Alsek / Tatshenshini area.

WOOD FROG - Documented in most of the National Parks in Alaska. Found in Katmai NP & Pres., Lake Clark NP & Pres., Denali NP & Pres., Yukon-Charley Rivers N Pres., and Wrangell-St.Elias National Park & Preserve. Expected to occur in all Parks, though less common in the SE parks. Known to occur along the Alsek / Tatshenshini Rivers in Glacier Bay NP & Pres.Observations in the far NW Alaska Arctic Parks including; Gates of the Arctic NP & Pres, and Kobuk Valley NP, but not in Cape Krusenstern NM, Noatak N Pres., or Bering Land Bridge N Pres.

LONG-TOED SALAMANDER - Could occur in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and in Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park, though all are doubtful.

PHOTO CREDITS

Glacier Bay wood frog by Chad Soiseth, National Park Service, Glacier Bay NP & Pres.
Wood frog adult and egg mass, Copyright©2001 John White
Wood frog subadult by Dan Young, National Park Service, Lake Clark NP & Pres
Spotted frog larvae, Copyright©1999 William Leonard
Spotted frog eggs/ bottom, Copyright©1992 William Leonard
Spotted frog adult, Copyright©1998 William Leonard
Swimming Columbia spotted frog by Beth Koltun, National Park Service, Alaska Support Office
Boreal toadlet by Meg Hahr, National Park Service, Klondike Goldrush NHP
Boreal toad eggs, Copyright©1998 Joyce Gross
Boreal toad tadpole by Timothy M. Troccoli, National Park Service, Glacier Bay NP & Pres.
Western toad ventral side by Dan VanLeeuwen, National Park Service, Glacier Bay NP & Pres.
Displaying rough-skinned newt, Copyright©1998 Harry Greene
Rough-skinned newt by Gene Griffin, National Park Service, Sitka NHP
Northwestern salamanders by Dr. Robert Thomas and Margaret Orr, California Academy of Sciences
Northwestern Salamander larvae and rough-skinned newt by Matthew Hunter
Northwestern salamander from Chichagof Island by Chohla Dick, Glacier Bay NP&Pres., 2001

Drawings by Jennifer McGrath, National Park Service, Alaska Support Office

CITATIONS & LINKS

First Statewide Conference on Alaskan Amphibians, http://www.stikine.org/akherps2004

MacDonald, S. O. 2003. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Alaska, A Field Handbook, Version 1.0. University of Alaska Museum. http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/enri/herps/

Hodge, Robert Parker. 1976. Amphibians and Reptiles in Alaska, the Yukon Territories and Northwest Territories Anchorage: Alaska Northwest Publishing Company

Stebbins, Robert C. 1985. Western Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Richter, Klaus. 2000. How to Identify Salamanders and Frogs in Puget Sound Lowlands.

King County, Washington, Department of Natural Resources, Water and Land Division. http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/amphibian/index.htm

Tadpoles of the United States and Canada: A Tutorial and Key. Ronald Altig, Roy W. McDiarmid, Kimberly A. Nichols and Paul C. Ustach. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/tadpole/

NPSpecies—National Park Service Species Database, 2003. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/apps/npspp/index.htm

Alaska Natural Heritage Program, University of Alaska, Expected Species Lists for Alaska's National Parks, 2001.

Please remember that it is illegal to collect wild amphibians of any kind in Alaska without a scientific permit. Bug repellent, suntan lotion, and other common chemicals on hands may be harmful to amphibians as they breathe through their skin. Additionally, several species may be poisonous/toxic to humans and handling them may be harmful to you, as well.

Please report reliable sightings within the National Parks of Alaska appropriate National Park.

A sample field form may be downloaded here. (PDF)

Questions or comments:

Blain Anderson
Inventory and Monitoring Program
NPS Amphibian Inventory
Address: 240 W. 5th, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: (907) 644-3547,
e-mail: Blain_Anderson@nps.gov