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Arboreal Salamander Care Sheet

Marc Staniszewski's Arboreal Salamander Care Sheet Juvenile Santa Cruz salamander ( from Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California comprises of just 5 species yet represents some of the most interesting salamanders in the world. The majority of species occur along the western seaboard of the USA (Washington, Oregon and California) and Vancouver Island, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, northern Mexico and a relict population of an extremely rare species in New Mexico. One species occurs in Eastern USA predominantly in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee with relict or isolated populations in surrounding states. All are similarly sized within the 4 - 7 inch (102 - 178mm) range and also have patterning which usually gives them excellent camouflage against the habitats they usually inhabit. They are normally nocturnal although in certain parts of the range (usually in primary undisturbed forest) I have observed these salamanders during daylight in cooler parts of the year. Their stealth and pursuit of prey is unsurpassed in the caudata world. They are equipped with an extensible tongue which they use to snare small invertebrates. Their vision is also excellent. Another unusual trait is the fact that these salamanders sometimes appear to be grazing on algae and/or lichens on tree bark with the outward projecting teeth (gently move a finger along the snout of these salamanders to feel these small projections). Whether they are actually feeding on the plant material or on microbes that live on the vegetation is not currently understood. The generic names comes from their climbing abilities although some species spend much of their life on the ground. They are all equipped with well-developed rounded or square toe-pads which allow excellent grip on tree bark, plant stems, rocks and even glass.

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