Rocky Mountain tailed frogs breed in clear, cold streams. Larvae are typically found in reaches with cobbles or boulders and are adapted to cling to rocks and scrape diatoms. Adults forage for insects at night.
Limiting factors
This species has a low reproductive rate due, in part, to multi-year larval development and the small number of eggs produced per female. Tailed frogs are vulnerable to sedimentation of streams from roads or forest practices and increased temperatures due to degraded riparian habitat.
Data gaps
Increase basic knowledge of abundance, distribution, and trends through inventory and monitoring. Describe population dynamics. Improve understanding of life history traits, habitat associations (including reliance on upland habitat), and juvenile movement patterns. Develop methods for detecting this species and distinguishing it from A. truei during site surveys. Evaluate the effects of livestock grazing and predation by non-native fish on tailed frogs.
Conservation actions
Identify, protect, and provide connections among key habitat areas, including upland refugia. Maintain the integrity of stream substrates and microclimates at occupied sites. Protect vegetation buffers around occupied sites. Reduce stream substrate disturbance. Retain upland canopy cover. Restrict chemical applications, non-native predators in streams, and livestock grazing.
