Amphibians
Coeur d'Alene Salamander
Plethodon idahoensis · also called Coeur d'Alene salamanders
Pressed flat against a wet rock face inside the spray zone of a northern Rockies waterfall, a Coeur d’Alene salamander holds its position using both feet and tail, entirely unbothered by a mist that never quite gives its skin the chance to dry.
Overview
The Coeur d’Alene salamander, Plethodon idahoensis, is a lungless salamander native to mountain forest habitat near waterfalls, seeps, and streams across the northern Rocky Mountains. Its close dependence on the constant moisture of waterfall spray zones and specialised climbing ability make it one of the more habitat-specific salamanders found in the interior Pacific Northwest.
A life lived in permanent mist
Rather than tolerating occasional dry spells the way many terrestrial salamanders must, the Coeur d’Alene salamander has instead settled into one of the few places in its mountain habitat that almost never dries out at all, trading range for reliability.
Status
Least Concern — present and stable across suitable waterfall and seep habitat throughout its narrow northern Rocky Mountain range.
Coeur d'Alene Salamander: common questions
Why does the Coeur d'Alene salamander live near waterfalls?
A Coeur d'Alene salamander is closely associated with the spray zone of waterfalls, seeps, and splash pools because the constant moisture generated by falling or seeping water keeps rock surfaces from ever fully drying out, providing exactly the consistently damp conditions this lungless salamander needs to breathe through its skin.
How does the Coeur d'Alene salamander stay on wet, vertical rock?
The Coeur d'Alene salamander is well adapted to clinging to wet, often near-vertical rock surfaces, using both its feet and a gripping tail to maintain a secure hold in habitat that would be treacherous footing for many other salamander species.
How large is the Coeur d'Alene salamander's range?
A Coeur d'Alene salamander occupies a relatively narrow range centred on the Coeur d'Alene and Bitterroot mountain areas of Idaho, Montana, and adjacent British Columbia, a much more limited distribution than several of its more widespread Plethodon relatives found elsewhere in North America.
Where does the Coeur d'Alene salamander live?
The Coeur d'Alene salamander is native to mountain forest habitat near streams, waterfalls, and seeps across the northern Rocky Mountains, generally remaining within the constantly moist spray zone these water features create.