Order: Urodela
(Salamanders and Newts)

The following taxonomic list will link you to the individual species.

The family Ambystomatidae is distinguished from other Idaho families of salamanders by the presence of transverse vomerine teeth.  More obvious characteristics are the presence of costal grooves (vertical creases along the body), and the absence of nasolabial grooves (grooves running from the nostril to the lip). There are two representatives of the family Ambystomatidae here in Idaho: the Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) and the Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum).
	Ambystoma macrodactylum Long-toed Salamander
	Ambystoma tigrinum Tiger Salamander

Family: Dicamptodontidae
(Pacific Mole Salamanders)

Until recently, the species in this family were lumped into the family Ambystomatidae.  David Good (1989) proposed that the species Dicamptodon ensatus (which is the species described in Nussbaum et al. 1983) be split into three species.   The new species are D. tenebrosus, and D. aterrimus.    Representatives of this family are the largest terrestrial salamanders in the Pacific Northwest. The species found in Idaho, Dicamptodon aterrimus is the largest Idaho salamander.  Some differences that separate the family Dicamptodonitdae are less apparent costal grooves, and three segments in the fourth toe of the hind foot, as opposed to 4 segments (Stebbins 1985).  Although not a useful distinguishing character, the family Dicamptodontidae has an endemic (Pacific Northwest) origin.
	Dicamptodon aterrimus Idaho Giant Salamander

Family: Plethodontidae
(Lungless Salamanders)

The family Plethodontidae is the largest and most diverse family of salamanders. Lungless salmanders occupy a wide variety of habitats.  In the Pacific Northwest, there are four genera and twelve species (Leonard et al. 1993).  Idaho  has a single representative of this family, the Couer d'Alene Salamander (Plethodon idahoensis).  Until recently this species was considered a subspecies of the Van Dyke's Salamander (Plethodon vandykei), in fact the species is listed as such in Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest by Nussbaum et al. (1983).  Characteristics of Plethodontid salamanders are the presence of nasolabial grooves and parasphenoid teeth, and the absence of pterygoid bones and lungs.
	Plethodon idahoensis Coeur d'Alene Salamander

Family: Salamandridae
(Newts)

This is primarily an old world family with six representatives in North America (Stebbins 1985), one of which can be found in Idaho, Taricha granulosa (Rough-skinned Newt). Characteristics of the family include vomerine teeth in two long rows (Goin and Goin 1971),the absence of a nasolabial groove, no parasphenoid_teeth and no maxillary teeth in the larvae (Nussbaum et al. 1983).
	Taricha granulosa Rough-skinned Newt