Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Shasta Salamander

Hydromantes shastae

Gorman and Camp, 1953

Shasta Salamander

G3Vulnerable Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1202567
Element CodeAAAAD09040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusHydromantes
Concept Reference
Bingham, R. E., T. J. Papenfuss, L. Lindstrand, III, and D. B. Wake. 2018. Phylogeography and species boundaries in the Hydromantes shastae complex, with description of two new species (Amphibia; Caudata; Plethodontidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Cambridge, Massachusetts 161:403-427.
Taxonomic Comments
The Shasta salamander was split into three separate species (Hydromantes shastae, H. wintu, and H. samweli) by Bingham et al. (2018).
Conservation Status
Review Date2015-05-22
Change Date2015-05-22
Edition Date2007-04-24
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. J. R. Macey, T. J. Papenfuss, and E. Scheuering
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent100-1000 square km (about 40-400 square miles)
Rank Reasons
This is a geographically restricted species known only in a small region of northern California. It is often associated with limestone but may not be as habitat-restricted as previously thought. Populations may be threatened by a rise in Lake Shasta water level.
Range Extent Comments
This species is endemic to California in a fairly small area in the Cascade range near human-made Shasta Lake, Shasta County. Most locations where this species have been found are at elevations between 800 - 2000 ft. (244 - 610 meters) (Nafis 2021).
Threat Impact Comments
Construction of Shasta Dam, road building, and mining negatively impacted Hydromantes shastae (sensu lato) in the past (Wake and Papenfuss 2005). Road construction, quarrying for limestone, and raising the elevation of Lake Shasta are potential threats (California Department of Fish and Game 1990). Impoundment of Lake Shasta destroyed some habitat; a rise in water level could wipe out some extant populations. Most of the range is on national forest lands that have little timber value (Wake and Papenfuss 2005). Some populations are small and isolated and so are vulnerable to destruction by relatively small amounts of habitat disturbance (Wake and Papenfuss 2005).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Known mainly from limestone outcrops; known from three of four major limestone belts in the area (Kennet Formation, McCloud Limestone, and Hosselkus Limestone (Lewendal 1995). A population also has been found in a volcanic rock outcrop. Several recently discovered sites are on steep shady slopes in montane hardwood-conifer communities 2.4 to 6.4 km from the nearest limestone formations and devoid major rock outcrops; with the exception of one salamander found on rocky substrate, all salamanders were on litter/duff substrate (i.e., the forest floor) (Lindstrand 2000). Usually in cool, wet ravines and valleys; recorded from both forested and nonforested areas; most commonly in oak-sabine (digger) pine woodland, also in Douglas-fir woodland and ponderosa/Jeffrey pine-oak at higher elevations; often in moist limestone fissures or caves, sometimes under nearby logs and talus in wet weather (Bury et al. 1980, Stebbins 2003). Eggs have been found attached to rock surfaces in crevices in damp limestone caves.

Reproduction

Lays a grapelike cluster of 9-12 eggs in late summer. Female broods eggs. There is no aquatic larval stage.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - MixedWoodland - MixedBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——Moderate - low
1.3 - Tourism & recreation areas——Moderate - low
3 - Energy production & mining——Moderate - low
3.2 - Mining & quarrying——Moderate - low
7 - Natural system modifications——Low (long-term)
7.2 - Dams & water management/use——Low (long-term)

—

Roadless Areas (3)
California (3)
AreaForestAcres
Devils RockShasta-Trinity National Forest16,209
East GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest27,894
Kettle Mtn.Shasta-Trinity National Forest4,589
References (31)
  1. AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2005. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/.
  2. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  3. Bingham, R. E., T. J. Papenfuss, L. Lindstrand, III, and D. B. Wake. 2018. Phylogeography and species boundaries in the <i>Hydromantes shastae</i> complex, with description of two new species (Amphibia; Caudata; Plethodontidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Cambridge, Massachusetts 161:403-427.
  4. Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.
  5. Bury, R. B., C. K. Dodd, Jr., and G. M. Fellers. 1980. Conservation of the Amphibia of the United States: a review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., Resource Publication 134. 34 pp.
  6. California Department of Fish and Game (CDF&G). 1990. 1989 annual report on the status of California's state listed threatened and endangered plants and animals. 188 pp.
  7. Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
  8. Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
  9. Gorman, J. 1964. Hydromantes brunus, H. platycephalus, H. shastae. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 11:1-2.
  10. Gorman, J. and Camp, C.L. 1953. A new cave species of salamander of the genus Hydromantes from California, with notes on habits and habitats. Copeia. 1953:39-43.
  11. Hansen, R. W., and T. J. Papenfuss. 1994. "Shasta Salamander." Pages 256-257 in C. G. Thelander, editor. Life on the Edge: A Guide to California's Endangered Natural Resources. Volume I: Wildlife. Biosystems Books, Santa Cruz, California.
  12. Herman, A.E. 2003. Aspects of the ecology of the Shasta salamander, Hydromantes shastae, near Samwell Cave, Shasta County, California. Unpublished Master's thesis, Humboldt State University. Arcata, California, USA.
  13. Highton, R. 2000. Detecting cryptic species using allozyme data. Pages 215-241 in R. C. Bruce, R. G. Jaeger, and L. D. Houck, editors. The biology of plethodontid salamanders. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York. xiii + 485 pp.
  14. Lanza, B., and S. Vanni. 1981. On the biogeography of plethodontid salamanders (Amphibia, Caudata) with a description of a new genus. Monitore Zool. Ital. 15:117-121.
  15. Lewendal, P. 1995. Habitat-use by the Shasta salamander, <i>Hydromantes shastae</i>. Report to the California Department of Fish and Game, Region 1, Redding, CA. Shasta Land Management Consultants, Redding, CA. 32 pp.
  16. Lindstrand, L., III. 2000. Discovery of Shasta salamanders in atypical habitat. Calfornia Fish and Game 86(4):259-261.
  17. Nafis, G. 2021. California Herps - A guide to the amphibians and reptiles of California. Available at: http://www.californiaherps.com/ (accessed 13 April 2021).
  18. Nauman, R. S., and D. H. Olson. 2004a. Surveys for terrestrial amphibians in Shasta County, California, with notes on the distribution of Shasta salamanders. Northwestern Naturalist 85:35-38.
  19. Nauman, R.S. and Olson, D.H. 2004b. Distribution of the Shasta salamander (Hydromantes shastae), with notes on the habitat of Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii) and black salamanders (Aneides flavipunctatus) in Shasta County, California. Northwestern Naturalist.
  20. Olson, D. H, . and P. C. Lewendal. 1999. Survey protocol for the Shasta salamander (<i>Hydromantes shastae</i>). Pages 65-101 in: D.H. Olson, editor. Survey protocols for amphibians under the survey and management provisions of the Northwest Forest Plan, Version 3.0, October 1999. USDA Forest Service R5/R6 and USDI Bureau of LandManagement, Oregon, Washington, California, USA.
  21. Papenfuss, T., and Brouha, P. 1979. "The status of the Shasta salamander (<i>Hydromantes shastae</i>): Shasta-Trinity National Forest comprehensive species management plan and a species status report."
  22. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  23. Smith, H. M., and D. B. Wake. 1993. <i>Hydromantes </i>Gistel, 1848 (Amphibia, Caudata): proposed designation of <i>Salamandra genei</i> Temminck &amp; Schlegel, 1838 as the type species. Bull. Zool. Namen. 50(3):219-
  24. Stebbins, R. C. 1972. California Amphibians and Reptiles. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
  25. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  26. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  27. Thomas, J. W., Ward, J., Raphael, M.G., Anthony, R.G., Forsman, E.D., Gunderson, A.G., Holthausen, R.S., Marcot, B.G., Reeves, G.H., Sedell, J.R. and Solis, D.M. 1993. Viability assessments and management considerations for species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. The report of the Scientific Analysis Team. USDA Forest Service, Spotted Owl EIS Team, Portland Oregon. 530 pp.
  28. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2015. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; 90-day findings on 25 petitions, notice of petition findings and initiation of status reviews. Federal Register 80(181):56423-56432.
  29. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2021. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Three Salamander Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species. Federal Register 86(85):23869-23872.
  30. Wake, D. B., and T. J. Papenfuss. 2005. <i>Hydromantes shastae</i> Gorman and Camp, 1953. Shasta salamander. Pages 784-785 in M. Lannoo, editor. Amphibian declines: the conservation status of United States species. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  31. Wake, D. B., L. R. Maxson, and G. Z. Wurst. 1978. Genetic differentiation, albumin evolution, and their biogeographic implications in plethodontid salamanders of California and southern Europe. Evolution 32:529-539.