The Palensky underpass was designed to help pond-breeding amphibians. What, you ask, is a “pond-breeding” amphibian?
Amphibians are animals that divide their lifespan between time spent in water and time spent on land. A pond-breeding amphibian is a species that lays its eggs in small water bodies, typically attaching an “egg mass” to a branch of a submerged shrub or clump of grass. All pond-breeding amphibians in our region use terrestrial habitats such as forests, woodlands and shrubby natural areas for the rest of their life cycles.
The greater Portland region is home to five species of native pond-breeding amphibians. Get to know them through the descriptions below — but please, not by trying to pick them up. Not only is it stressful to them, their sensitive skin can be harmed by whatever is on our hands — and a few of the local species can secrete mild toxins through their skin, so it could be stressful for you, too.
Northern red-legged frog
These medium-sized frogs have long legs, smooth skin, and are greenish-gray to reddish-brown overall with dark flecks on the back, sides and legs. Their name might seem misplaced until you see their underside — from below, their hind legs are indeed bright red. These frogs breed in mid-late winter, attaching egg masses with 500 to 1,000 embryos to submerged vegetation.
Pacific chorus frog. Photo by Yonathan Uriel via iNaturalist.
Pacific chorus frog
Once called “Pacific tree frogs,” these frogs are about 2 inches long and can change color to match their background, with a palette that ranges from bright green to brown, reddish or gray — even blue sometimes! They have a dark mark that goes from their nostrils to their shoulders and looks like a mask. Some have dark stripes and spots on their backs. These frogs breed in late winter/early spring, producing egg masses the size of a half dollar in shallow ponded areas.
Northwestern salamander. Photo by Justin Chan via iNaturalist.
Northwestern salamander
A large, thickly built brown salamander with a rounded snout. They breed in late winter, attaching thick, grapefruit-sized egg masses to sturdy vegetation.
Long-toed salamander. Photo by Connor Long via Wikimedia.
Long-toed salamander
These smaller salamanders are named for the extremely long toes on their hind feet. Adults have black or brown skin that is smooth and moist with a yellow ragged-edged stripe running from head to tail. It is speckled with white or silver dots along its sides and underside. They breed the earliest of the pond-breeders, laying egg masses similar in size to the chorus frog’s as early as December. The embryos can delay their development until conditions are optimal.
Rough-skinned salamander
Rough-skinned newt
Unlike most salamanders, this species has dry, bumpy skin. They can grow to almost 8 inches in length and should not be handled as they release a toxin when disturbed. These colorful amphibians lay their eggs in ponded areas as well as in streams, ditches, and shallow lakes, normally under single leaves of vegetation.