Amphibians and Reptiles
Western Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) in Lamar Valley; Jacob Frank; June 2018
Boreal chorus (Pseudacris maculata) frog in Gibbon Meadows; Neal Herbert; May 2014
Rubber boa on the Yellowstone River Trail; Jacob Frank; May 2024
About
Amphibians and reptiles are often overlooked in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in favor of charismatic megafauna such as wolves, bears, and bison. However, amphibians and reptiles are extremely vital parts of Yellowstone’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Amphibians
Many of Yellowstone’s reptiles, birds, mammals, and fish prey on larval and adult amphibians, and amphibians, in turn, eat a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Amphibians are also sensitive to disease, pollution, drought, variations in annual snowpack, and the arrival of nonnative species; these documented sensitivities make them valuable indicators of environmental change. Amphibians often congregate in large numbers for breeding or overwintering. As a result, they can be adversely affected by localized disturbance or the loss of individual breeding or overwintering sites. Amphibian populations that are affected by one or more of these stresses may exhibit changes in their distribution or abundance. These changes can, in turn, have cascading effects on other aspects of the ecosystem.
Declines in amphibian populations are occurring globally in areas where habitat destruction is pervasive, but also in protected areas. About one third of all amphibian species are believed to be threatened with extinction. Yellowstone includes some of the most climatologically and topographically complex landscapes in the lower 48 states and therefore provides a valuable study area to examine how climate may influence amphibian distribution and trends. Information about the status and trends of amphibians here may shed light on declines documented in other high-elevation locations or other protected areas around the West. (National Park Service)
Reptiles
Reptiles are less studied in Yellowstone than amphibians. There are only six confirmed species of reptiles found in Yellowstone: bullsnake, prairie rattlesnake, rubber boa, sagebrush lizard, common garter snake, and terrestrial garter snake. Information and data collected in Yellowstone pertaining to the reptile population are used to document population declines in other high-elevation protected areas of the western United States. (National Park Service)
Helpful Resources
- Amphibians, National Park Service
- Reptiles, National Park Service
- Amphibians vs Reptiles - What's the Difference?, ScienceNotes
- Amphibians and Wetlands of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Photo Exhibit, Idaho Museum of Natural History
- Wetlands, National Park Service
Library Resources
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Amphibians -- Ecology -- Yellowstone National Park.
Amphibians -- Geographical distribution -- Yellowstone National Park.
Amphibians -- Wyoming -- Grand Teton National Park.
Amphibians -- Yellowstone National Park.
Reptiles -- Ecology -- Yellowstone National Park.
Reptiles -- Geographical distribution -- Yellowstone National Park.
Ask a Question
Submit questions to yell_research_library@nps.gov. You can alternatively call the library at (307)344-2264, or visit us in person.
