BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Aneides vagrans
Wandering Salamander
| Scientific Name: | Aneides vagrans |
|---|---|
| English Name: | Wandering Salamander |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3 |
| Date Status Assigned: | December 30, 2016 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 23, 2022 |
| Reasons: | Wandering Salamander is found only on Vancouver Island, adjacent small islands and one location on the Sunshine Coast. This entirely terrestrial species faces threats of logging and development within its range. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | F = 20,000-200,000 square km |
| Range Extent Estimate (km2): | 36,187 |
| Range Extent Comments: |
Using observations from iNaturalist (Accessed Februray 21, 2022) a range extent of 36,187 km was calculated using a convex polygon. From COSEWIC 2014l: In B.C., it is largely restricted to low-elevation forests on Vancouver Island, 18 adjacent small offshore islands, and two mainland sites in the vicinity of Trout Lake near Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast. 60% of the species global range is in Canada. Calculated from known observations between 1981 and 2013 the range extent is equal to 35,200 km2. If observations prior to this date were included then the range would be 37,800 km2. The Wandering Salamander has a small global range split between coastal parts of northwestern California and extreme southwestern British Columbia. It is absent from intervening areas in Washington and Oregon.The most likely explanation for the disjunct distribution of the Wandering Salamander is dispersal to Vancouver Island from California via natural log-rafting on north-flowing ocean currents during post-glacial times. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | EF = 26-500 |
| Area of Occupancy Estimate (km2): | 115-218 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: |
From COSEWIC 2014l: The calculated index area of occupancy from known observations between 1981 and 2013 is 460 km2. If observations prior to 1981 were included then the index area of occupancy is increased to 872 km2. Based on iNaturalist records (Accessed 21 February 2022) the AOO is 408km2 (102 4km2 grids) and the dates are 2014 to 2022. The values are likely underestimates as survey effort is incomplete and detectability is low. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | D = 81 - 300 |
| Comments: | Many occurrences throughout Vancouver Island and the smaller, surrounding islands. There is one record north of Sechelt on the mainland coast. There are likely many more occurrences due to low detectability and incomplete survey effort (COSEWIC 2014l). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Comments: | Most of the range and occurrences are on unprotected provincial or private forestry lands. Approximately 9% of the species? range and 17% of the known records on Vancouver Island are within protected areas (COSEWIC 2014l). |
| Population Size: | F = 10,000 - 100,000 individuals |
| Comments: | Based on the wide distribution of the species across its range and its abundance at a few sites, it is likely that there are >10,000 adults (COSEWIC 2014l). |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | B = High |
| Comments: |
The primary threats faced by Wandering Salamander are logging, which continues to alter and fragment habitats across Vancouver Island, and severe and prolonged droughts predicted to become more common under climate change scenarios (COSEWIC 2014l). Residential and commercial development will frequently result in natural areas and wetland degradation and drainage as well as fragmentation. It also increases roads which are a threat by fragmenting habitats as well as result in direct mortality. Although this species does not directly depend on wetlands, moist areas are used. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | There appears to be a reduced current area of occupancy when comparing the AOO that includes observations prior to 1981, trend can not be ascertained without determing if those sites that are listed prior to 1981 are extant. |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Comments: | Aneides vagrans take approximately three years to mature, lay 5-25 eggs which the female stays with all winter not feeding so often does not breed every year (Matsuda et. al. 2006). |
| Environmental Specificity: | C=Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce. |
| Comments: | An entirely terrestrial salamander inhabiting low-elevation coastal Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock forests of various ages (Matsuda et al. 2006). This species depends upon cutaneous respiration and therefore is restricted to moist microhabitats (COSEWIC 2014l). |
| Other Rank Considerations: | There has been questions as to the origins of the Wandering Salamander because of the gap between the B.C. population and the one in California, however it is considered native unless evidence proves otherwise. This population pattern has been seen in other species (especially plants) and fragmentation during the Pleistocene glaciation is one explanation. |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Gelling, L. and L. Ramsay |
| Date: | February 22, 2022 |
| References | |
|
COSEWIC. 2014l. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Wandering Salamander Aneides vagrans in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xi + 44 pp.
|
|
|
Matsuda, B.M., D.M. Green and P.T. Gregory. 2006. Royal BC Museum handbook amphibians and reptiles of British Columbia. Royal B.C. Mus., Victoria, BC. 266pp.
|
|
|
Ryder, G.R. and R.W. Campbell. 2004. First occurrence of wandering salamander on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Wildlife Afield 1:5-6.
|
|
Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2022. Conservation Status Report: Aneides vagrans. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jul 16, 2025).