Stanley Park Ecology Society News

Isn’t this little lad … or lady great! The Ensatina is a lungless salamander found along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to the Baja region of Mexico. They are hard to find when it’s cold or when the dry summers begin because they prefer nice, moist crevices among rotting logs or roots. They can also live anywhere from 10-15 years if their luck stays true. It looks like this little salamander has had a pretty lucky go of it so far as it still has its tail, something it drops pretty quickly if it’s grabbed by a predator.
You can see that Robyn is handling this critter properly in that she isn’t holding it in her hand, nor is she trying to pick it up. The reason this is so important is because as a lungless salamander, the Ensatina breathes through its skin - which means that the grease from your fingers could plug those breathing pores! So if you are lucky enough to spot one of these creatures in Stanley Park, be sure not to touch it - and send us a photo!