Clouded Salamander – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Overview

Species Common Name Clouded Salamander
Species Scientific Name Aneides ferreus
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Coast Range

Oregon’s Coast Range, known for its dramatic scenery, is extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. It follows the coastline and extends east through coastal forest to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions

Klamath Mountains

The Klamath Mountains ecoregion covers much of southwestern Oregon, including the Umpqua Mountains, Siskiyou Mountains, and interior valleys and foothills between these and the Cascade Range. The Rogue watershed has the largest population of any coastal watershed in Oregon (Jackson County, Josephine County, and a portion of Curry County). Several popular and scenic rivers run …

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.

Special needs

Clouded salamanders prefer forest habitat or burned areas. They are often found among talus, debris, or in large, decaying logs.

Limiting factors

Clouded salamanders have a restricted range, occurring primarily in Oregon. The availability of microhabitat features, namely large logs, that meet temperature and moisture requirements is believed to be a key limiting factor.

Data gaps

Assess distribution and abundance. Develop methods to survey this species in a variety of habitat types and features (logs, talus, etc.). Examine habitat associations in forests, including the effects of fires on this species. Assess sensitivity to herbicides and other chemical contaminants. Investigate dispersal capabilities, factors promoting movement, and home range size. Increase knowledge of reproductive habits, longevity, and over-wintering behavior.

Conservation actions

Retain patches of intact habitat, including large logs, during forest management activities. Identify areas of high salamander density and leave them undisturbed as 'seed populations' from which remaining habitat can be recolonized as it recovers from alteration. Provide adequate riparian buffer strips (see Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation recommendations) and downed wood.

Key reference or plan

Salamander Abundance and Amphibian Species Richness in Riparian Buffer Strips in the Oregon Coast Range