| Species | Dicamptodon copei Nussbaum, 1970 |
| Family | Dicamptodontidae (Giant Salamanders) |
| Status | None |
| State Rank | S3S4 |
| Global Rank | G3G4 |
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This is a medium-sized, marbled gold and brown salamander with a rounded snout, indistinct costal grooves and a laterally compressed tail. Adults reach lengths of 113 mm snout-vent length and 195 mm total length. Metamorphosed forms are rare.
Eggs are laid under rocks or logs and are guarded by the female. The eggs are white (unpigmented), laid singly and attached to the nest wall by short pedicels.
Larvae are stream-type with short gills and a low tail fin that ends on the body near the hind limbs. The tips of the digits are black and hard (cornified). Larvae are light brown with minimal dark mottling above. The ventral surface is white in small larvae (less 50 mm snout-vent length) and bluish gray in larger individuals. Granular clusters of tan to yellow pigmentation are present on the dorsal and lateral surfaces. See Photos Page.
Terrestrial forms: Transformed Giant Salamanders are easily distinguished from all other Washington salamanders by the marbled pattern on the head and dorsal surface. Transformed Cope’s Giant Salamanders are rare; almost all individuals found are larval salamanders. The traits that distinguish the two giant salamander species are subtle. The Cope’s Giant Salamander is smaller, has a more narrow head and shorter legs. The first two traits require experience to discern the differences between the two species. To determine relative leg length, the forelimbs are gently pressed backward against the body and the hind limbs are pressed forward against the body (adpressed legs). The toes will not touch or cross in the Cope’s Giant Salamander but will with the Pacific Giant Salamander.
Eggs: The female will be present in the nest chamber guarding the eggs. Nussbaum et al. 1983 provides a description of individual eggs.
Larvae: The short gills and low tail fin distinguish stream-type salamanders from pond-type. Of stream-type larvae, the torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton species) can be easily distinguished by their orange ventral coloration and tiny gills that are barely visible when the salamander is out of water.
Differentiating Cope’s Giant Salamander larvae from Pacific Giant Salamander larvae is challenging, especially for smaller larvae (<50 mm snout-vent length). Range differences can be used; only Cope’s Giant Salamander is found on the Olympic Peninsula north of the Chehalis River (see Distribution maps). Species identification based on location should be indicated in field notes or data submitted to museums or databases. For larvae 50 mm snout-vent length or greater, the following traits can be used to determine species. The head of Cope’s Giant Salamander is similar in width at the base and snout and the head width is less than 1/5 the snout-vent length. Toes do not touch or overlap when legs are adpressed against the body. The tan to yellowish pigmentation on the dorsal surface of the body is clustered into spots and blotches. Whereas the Pacific Giant Salamander has tan to yellowish pigmentation present in indistinct streaks as if someone painted it on the surface with a dry brush. See Key Features Page.
Metamorphosed forms are rare. Similar to other giant salamander species, most activity is probably nocturnal and much time is spent in subterranean microhabitats. Larval forms tend to be common and are the life stage most likely to be observed. Larvae can be observed year round in flowing water bodies and may also be present in higher elevation still-water habitats connected to flowing water bodies. Breeding takes place in the spring, summer and fall with peak activity in the spring and fall. The female guards the eggs for 200 days or more until they hatch. The larval stage is permanent for most individuals with sexual maturity occurring in the larval form (paedomorphosis). Average size at maturity is 65-77 mm snout-vent length but may not take place until the larvae reach 114 mm snout-vent length.
In Washington, Cope’s Giant Salamanders occur primarily west of the Cascade Crest in the Pacific Coast, southern Puget Trough and West Cascades ecoregions. They are the only giant salamander documented north of the Chehalis River in the Olympic Peninsula. See Distribution Map.
For information on the complete range of this species, see NatureServe Explorer.
Cope’s Giant Salamanders are primarily associated with small to medium-sized mountain streams in moist coniferous forests. Giant salamanders are often the dominant vertebrate within streams. Metamorphosed forms are extremely rare.
Larvae and gilled adults can be observed day or night in streams. During the day, they are typically concealed under rocks or woody debris. Occasionally they can be observed moving about in the stream. More typically, one must search for them by gently poking under rocks and woody debris, gently lifting cover objects and/or searching for them visually with the assistance of a glass-bottom viewing bucket or similar item placed in the water. Methods more destructive to the stream bed call for good justification. At night, they are less likely to be sheltered and can be observed moving about in the stream. To capture them, it is necessary in most cases to use a hand-held net or to place a small net across the steam channel. For small larvae, an aquarium net is often sufficient. To prevent introduction or transfer of disease, care should be taken to sterilize any nets that have been used with fish and also to sterilize nets between each stream.
This species occurs throughout its historical range. Local declines and extirpations may have occurred but have not been documented. The main concerns for this species have to do with protection of stream integrity, mainly land uses that elevate stream temperatures and contribute to erosion and increased sedimentation.
Observations that occur in areas that are not indicated on the distribution map can be submitted to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife WSDM database by contacting Lori Salzer by E-mail salzeljs@dfw.wa.gov.
The Cooperative Monitoring Evaluation and Research (CMER) Committee and Adaptive Management Program have funded a Type N Experimental Buffer Treatment Study that addresses the effectiveness of Forest Practice’s prescribed riparian buffers along non-fish bearing streams. Four Forests and Fish Agreement target species (Coastal Tailed Frog [Ascaphus truei] and three species of Torrent Salamanders [Rhyacotriton]) along with Cope’s and Coastal Giant Salamanders (Dicamptodon) are one focus of the study. It is a before-after control-impact designed study that compares one application of the current prescribed buffer to a shorter buffer, longer buffer, and an unharvested reference basin located on timber-managed land. The research will focus on potential changes in amphibian occupancy and abundance before and after timber harvest. The study is intended to inform the current buffer prescription rule for non-fish bearing streams in Washington State. Research is conducted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Program, the Washington Department of Ecology, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and Weyerhaeuser. Study basins are located on private, state, and federally owned lands. Numerous stakeholders support this study including major and minor private landowners, state and federal agencies, tribes, and an environmental caucus.
Activities that alter the integrity of small and medium-sized forested streams are of concern, especially those actions that increase water temperature and sedimentation. Land management practices that fail to protect streams from sedimentation may be particularly problematic for salamander populations that occur in low-gradient streams, as increased silt deposition may eliminate crucial microhabitats. This happens when silt fills spaces between rocks and logs that would otherwise be used as sheltering, hiding and nesting sites.
Bury and Corn (1988b), Corn and Bury (1989), Leonard et al. (1993), Nussbaum et al. (1983), Petranka (1998).
Personal communication: Aimee Macintyre, L.L.C. Jones
Hallock, L.A. and McAllister, K.R. 2009. Cope’s Giant Salamander. Washington Herp Atlas. http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/herp/
Last updated: May 2009