Dunn’s Salamander is a shy little amphibian you’re not likely to see unless you know exactly where to look. Found only in the Pacific Northwest, this lungless salamander breathes through its skin and mouths of moisture-rich forests to survive. It’s a great example of how specialized and secretive some of our native amphibians can be — and how important specific habitats are to their survival.
Size & Physical Appearance
Dunn’s Salamander is a small species, usually growing between 2.5 to 5 inches long from snout to tail tip. Its body is slender with relatively long legs and a noticeable, rounded tail.
The color varies, but most individuals have a dark brown to black body with a yellowish, greenish, or even golden stripe running down the back (what biologists call a dorsal stripe). The stripe can be broken or solid and sometimes fades toward the tail. The sides are often mottled with lighter specks. Juveniles tend to have a cleaner, more pronounced stripe, while adults may look a bit more muted.
There are no dramatic visual differences between males and females, but during the breeding season, males might have slightly swollen glands near their chins.
Habitat and Range
Dunn’s Salamander is found only in parts of the Pacific Northwest, specifically in northwestern Oregon and extreme southwestern Washington. It’s considered an endemic species, meaning it lives nowhere else in the world.
This salamander loves cool, damp environments. You’ll often find it near seeps, springs, wet talus slopes, or wet forest floors, especially in older coniferous or mixed forests with lots of ground cover like moss, rocks, and logs. It favors coastal and lower mountain elevations, usually below 3,000 feet.
Because it lacks lungs, Dunn’s Salamander relies entirely on moist skin to breathe, making humidity and cool temperatures essential.
Diet
Like many small, terrestrial salamanders, Dunn’s Salamander feeds on tiny invertebrates. Its diet includes a mix of springtails, mites, spiders, ants, beetles, and other soil-dwelling creatures. It hunts mostly at night or during damp daytime conditions.
These salamanders use a sit-and-wait strategy, often lurking under a log or rock until prey comes close, then striking quickly with a sticky tongue.
Lifespan
In the wild, Dunn’s Salamanders can live up to 10 years or more, although exact data is limited due to their elusive lifestyle. In captivity, with perfect care and steady moisture, similar species in the same genus (Plethodon) have been known to live over a decade.
Identification Tips
Dunn’s Salamander can be confused with several other Western Plethodon species, especially the Western Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon vehiculum). Here’s how to tell them apart:
- Dunn’s Salamander: Typically has a yellow or golden dorsal stripe that may break up or fade, granular side speckling, and a rounded (not keeled) tail.
- Western Red-backed Salamander: Has a brighter red, unbroken dorsal stripe and a more keeled (narrow and knife-edged) tail.
Also look for habitat clues: Dunn’s prefers moister, mountainous areas near springs and talus slopes, while red-backeds are more flexible in drier woodlands.
Fun Fact
Dunn’s Salamander, like all Plethodontid (lungless) salamanders, uses a method called “cutaneous respiration” — breathing entirely through its skin and the lining of its mouth. That means it has to stay moist at all times. If it dries out, it can’t breathe and will die. That’s why they hide under rocks, logs, or deep forest litter and rarely venture into the open on dry days.
Wrap-Up
Dunn’s Salamander might not be the flashiest amphibian out there, but it’s a fascinating little creature adapted perfectly to its damp forest home. If you’re lucky enough to find one, take a moment to appreciate its role in the complex web of life on the forest floor. And always remember — look, don’t touch. These slippery forest dwellers are sensitive to skin oils and environmental changes, so it’s best to observe them with care and leave them right where they belong.