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BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary


Ascaphus truei
Coastal Tailed Frog


 
Scientific Name: Ascaphus truei Stejneger, 1899
English Name: Coastal Tailed Frog
English Name Synonyms: Pacific Tailed Frog
 
Classification / Taxonomy
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: Nielson, M., K. Lohman, and J. Sullivan. 2001. Phylogeography of the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei): implications for the biogeography of the Pacific Northwest. Evolution 55:147-160.
Classification Level: Species
Species Group: Vertebrate Animal
Species Code: A-ASTR
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Craniata Amphibia Anura Ascaphidae
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G4 (Feb 2016)
Provincial Status: S4 (Jan 2022)
BC List: Yellow
Provincial FRPA list: Y (May 2004)  
Provincial Wildlife Act:
COSEWIC Status: Special Concern (Nov 2011)
SARA Schedule: 1  -  Special Concern (Jun 2003)
General Status Canada: 3 - Sensitive (2005)
   
Ecology & Life History
General Description:
Global Reproduction Comments: Breeds May-October, mostly in fall. Fertilization is internal; male has a tail-like copulatory organ. Clutch size averages 44-75; eggs are laid in July, hatch in August-September. Larval period lasts 2-4 years in mountains and northern areas, 1 year in a few coastal Oregon populations (Bury and Adams 1999) and in lowland streams of California (Wallace and Diller 1998). May not breed until 7-8 years old or 6-8 years after metamorphosis (Nussbaum et al. 1983).
Global Ecology Comments: Adult and subadult frogs usually are less commonly encountered than are larvae. For example, in California, Diller and Wallace (1999) found 693 A. truei larvae but only 32 metamorphosed individuals over four years in 54 of 72 randomly selected streams, though researchers have found higher densities in other areas. Diller and Wallace found 0.04-0.76 larvae per square meter (mean 0.24), whereas Hawkins et al. (1988) recorded mean densities of 0.58 to 4.40 larvae per square meter in three different classes of watersheds near Mt. St. Helens in Washington; two of the three sampled streams contained two larval cohorts.
Migration Characteristics:
(Global / Provincial)		 
    Nonmigrant:
    Local Migrant:
    Distant Migrant:
    Within Borders Migrant: 		N /
N /
N /
na /
Habitats:
(Type / Subtype / Dependence) 		Alpine/Tundra / Alpine/Subalpine Meadow / Unknown
Grassland/Shrub / Meadow / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Riparian Forest / Obligate
Stream/River / Stream/River / Obligate
Global Habitat Comments: Clear, cold swift-moving mountain streams with coarse substrates. Primarily in older forest sites; required microclimatic and microhabitat conditions are more common in older forests (Welsh 1990). Diller and Wallace (1999) reported that canopy cover, temperature, and forest age in managed forests were not significantly different between occupied and unoccupied stream reaches in northern California; however, this probably reflects past timber harvest patterns. May be found on land during wet weather near water in humid forests or in more open habitat. During dry weather stays on moist stream-banks. Lays eggs in long strings under stones in water.
Food Habits: Herbivore:Immature
Invertivore: Adult
Global Food Habits Comments: Larva feed mostly on diatoms. Adults eat a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates.
Global Phenology:
Global Phenology Comments: Adults most active April-October, depending on locality.
Provincial Phenology:
(1st half of month/
2nd half of month)
Colonial Breeder: N
Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): 5/ /
Elevation (m) (min / max): Global: 
Provincial: 
   
 
Distribution
Endemic: N
Global Range Comment: Cascades and the Pacific Coast from southern British Columbia south to northwestern California (Nielson et al. 2001, Stebbins 2003).
 
Authors / Contributors
Global Information Author: Hammerson, G.
Last Updated: May 05, 2004
Provincial Information Author:
Last Updated:
   
References and Related Literature
2001. Tailed Frog. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 2pp.
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.
British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2004. Coastal Tailed Frog in Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52pp.
Bury, R. B., and M. J. Adams. 1999. Variation in age at metamorphosis across a latitudinal gradient for the tailed frog, Ascaphus truei. Herpetologica 55:283-291.
Bury, R. B., and P. S. Corn. 1988a. Responses of aquatic and streamside amphibians to timber harvest: a review. Pages 165-181 in Raedaeke, K., editor. Streamside management: riparian wildlife and forestry interactions. Univ. Washington.
Corn, P. S., and R. B. Bury. 1989. Logging in western Oregon: responses of headwater habitats and stream amphibians. Forest Ecology and Management 29:39-57.
Diller, L. V., and R. L. Wallace. 1999. Distribution and habitat of Ascaphus truei in streams in managed, young growth forests in north coastal California. Journal of Herpetology 33:71-79.
Dupuis, L., and P. Friele. 2004. Implications of the River Continuum Concept to Conservation and Management Efforts: the Case of the Tailed Frog. In T.D. Hooper, ed. Proc. of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conf. March 2-6, 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, BC. 3pp.
Dupuis, L.A. 1998. Tailed Frog. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 6pp.
Forest Practices Code. 1997. Tailed Frog in Species and Plant Community Accounts for Identified Wildlife: Vol. 1. B.C. Minist. For. and B.C. Environ. 184pp.
Green, D.M., and R.W. Campbell. 1984. The Amphibians of British Columbia. Royal B.C. Mus. Handb. No. 45. 101pp.
Hossack, B.R., Adams, M.J., Campbell Grant, E.H., Pearl, C.A., Bettaso, J.B., Barichivich, W.J., Lowe, W.H., True, K., Ware, J.L. and Corn, P.S. 2010. Low prevalence of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibians of U.S. headwater streams. Journal of Herpetology. 44-2. 253:260
Kim, M.A., and J.S. Richardson. 2000. Effects of Light and Nutrients on Grazer-Periphyton Interactions. Pp. 497-501 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Matsuda, B.M., and J.S. Richardson. 2000. Clearcut Timber Harvest and Movement Patterns in Tailed Frogs. Pp. 485-488 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb.,1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Metter, D.E. 1968. Ascaphus and A. truei. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 69:1-2.
Nielson, M., K. Lohman, and J. Sullivan. 2001. Phylogeography of the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei): implications for the biogeography of the Pacific Northwest. Evolution 55:147-160.
Nussbaum, R.A., E.D. Brodie, Jr., and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University Press of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. 332 pp.
Ovaska, K, S. Lennart, C Engelstoft, L. Matthias, E. Wind and J. MacGarvie. 2004. Best Management Practices for Amphibians and Reptiles in Urban and Rural Environments in British Columbia. Ministry of Water Land and Air Protection, Ecosystems Standards and Planning, Biodiversity Branch
Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
Sutherland, G.D., J.S Richardson, and F.L. Bunnell. 2000. Uncertainties Linking Tailed Frog Habitat and Population Dynamics With Riparian Management. Pp. 477-483 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb.,1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
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.
True, K. 2010. California-Nevada Fish Health Centre: assists with amphibian disease surveys. The Fish and Wildlife Journal Web site: http://www.fws.gov/arsnew/regmap.cfm?arskey=26845 [acessed November 2010].
Wahbe, T.R., F.L Bunnell, and R.B. Bury. 2000. Defining Wildlife Habitat for Tailed Frogs. Pp. 489-495 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Wallace, R. L., and L. V. Diller. 1998. Length of the larval cycle of ASCAPHUS TRUEI in coastal streams of the redwood region, northern California. Journal of Herpetology 32:404-409.
Welsh, H. H., Jr. 1990. Relictual amphibians and old-growth forests. Conservation Biology 4:309-19.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2004. Species Summary: Ascaphus truei. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 20, 2024).