Wandering Salamander
Aneides vagrans
Silhouette: Benjamin Monod-Broca · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAmphibia (Amphibians)
- OrderCaudata (Salamanders)
- FamilyPlethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)
- GenusAneides (Climbing Salamanders)
- SpeciesAneides vagrans (Wandering Salamander)
About the Wandering Salamander
The wandering salamander (Aneides vagrans) is species of climbing salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It has a disjunct distribution, with one population in northern California and another on Vancouver Island. It is unclear whether this distribution is natural or the result of unintentional human introductions. While it can be found terrestrially, the species is known for its habitation of the forest canopy, particularly in the crowns of coast redwood trees. When disturbed, individuals of this species may leap from trees, gliding and controlling their descent in the air with various physical adaptations.
The wandering salamander is a long, slender salamander that grows to a snout-vent length of approximately 80 millimetres (3.1 in) and a total length of 130 millimetres (5.1 in). Its base color ranges from brown to light grey, with lighter bronze-grey mottling distributed across its dorsal surface. Juveniles also have a coppery-bronze stripe down the spine. The species has between 14 and 16 costal grooves, though 15 is most common. The head is broader and more triangular in males than in females. Like other plethodontid salamanders, they possess a pair of naso... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Wandering Salamander in Redwood National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Redwood National Park
Klamath Black Salamander
Aneides klamathensis
Clouded Salamander
Aneides ferreus
Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps attenuatus
Del Norte Salamander
Plethodon elongatus
Dunn's Salamander
Plethodon dunni
Coastal Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon tenebrosus
Rough-skinned Newt
Taricha granulosa
Northwestern Salamander
Ambystoma gracile
Southern Torrent Salamander
Rhyacotriton variegatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Pacific Rim National Park Reserve | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Olympic National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Wandering Salamander in Redwood National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Wandering Salamander sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 64 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Wandering Salamander in Redwood National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Wandering Salamander in Redwood National Park in our monthly data.