AMPHIBIANS OF GLENDORA
Compiled by Dick Swinney
copyright October 2006
Observations from 1960 to 2007
Observations by author unless otherwise noted

Both scientific and common names used in this publication, follow the names set forth in 2000 of Scientific and Standard ;English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, published by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. In addition, I am using the modification of the above system as used by Robert C. Stebbins in Western Reptiles and Amphibians, third ed., copyright 2003. This deals exclusively with the western states and the publication is one of the most recent books available to the average reader. The order used here also follows the specific taxonomic organization of Stebbins, third edition.

Class Amphibia - Amphibians
Order Caudata - Salamanders and Newts
Family Salamandridae - Newts
Taricha torosa torosa - Coast Range Newt
North area - Uncommon, once abundant throughout the San Gabriel Valley near aquatic environments, its habitat has been greatly reduced due to development. Flood channels have been greatly modified to prevent flooding and conserve water which has often negatively impacted their survival. Heavy collecting has also contributed to their present reduced populations. Paul Keiser, caretaker of the BDD during the 1940’s and 50’s, recalled once seeing a huge mass of newts crawling over the dam spillway. It was not uncommon to see visitors carrying buckets full of newts out of BDC prior to 1962.
Special Note: adult newts may not leave their terrestrial hideouts (in underground burrows, under rocks and in rotting logs) during years of very low rainfall, determination of their population density isn’t possible during these dry years. Young newts normally do not return to the water until sexual maturity,
Big Dalton Cnyn. drainage - currently present in Pavil Cnyn. and BDC, Pine Cnyn. has enough water in average years to support populations. Newts would be expected in wet years in Monroe Cnyn. since it feeds into BDD where water is almost always present.
Wildwood Cnyn. - Approx. 20 newts observed in 2003 by author.
Little Dalton Cnyn. - Fairly common in upper cnyn. bottom area above the LMM in 2000 by Dave Hutcheson; 1 imm. and 1 larval newt observed in LDC on Oct. 1, 2006 by author at 0.6 mi. N. of GMR & LDC jnct.
Gordon Cnyn. - Several observed in the upper cnyn. by Bill Nichols, 1978 or 79.
South Hills - No record

Family Plethodontidae - Lungless Salamanders
Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii i- Monterey Ensatina
North area - active during the winter and spring months when rains have increased ground moisture levels. Most active at night where they may be found at the surface during times of adequate moisture. Retreat to subteranian environments during the dry months. Do not breed in or frequent the aquatic environment. Lay their eggs in moist underground areas.
They are not often found by the average visitor unless one actively looks under logs and rocks during the appropriate seasons, most apt to observe them at night when they may come to the surface, fairly commonly encountered on mountain roads during rainy nights. More likely to be found in areas of heavy ground litter(leaves,
logs,etc.) which is most common in areas of gentle slopping topography.
South Hills - no records
Aneides lugubris - Arboreal Salamander
North area: uncommon, 1 adult in Pavil Cnyn. at 0.7 mi. E. of BDC bottom, summer, 1965, by the author, in hollow at base of Umbellularia californica (California Bay) tree near stream, moist conditions,morning; 1 adult on BDC Rd. at 0.9 mi. N.E. of GMR, night, rainy, by author, released, spring, date uncertain; 1 immature at 1.4 mi. N.E. of GMR at BDC stream side, night,rainy, in winter of 1985 by author, photographed and released; 1 adult on Feb. 12, 1994 in decaying Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak) log, at 1.1 mi. N.E. of GMR, retained in the author’s collection.
South Hills - no record.
Batrachoseps major - Garden Slender Salamander
Common throughout, may be found in residential areas.
Batrachoseps attenuatus - California Slender Salamander
Common throughout, may be found in residential areas.

Order Salientia - Frogs and Toads
Family Bufonidae - True Toads
Bufo boreas halophilus - California Toad
North area: common, abundance fluctuates greatly, relating to the presence of surface water, years of high rainfall normally have higher than normal populations of toads. The late trend by the L.A. County Flood Control District to prevent the holding of water in the Big and LDDB whenever possible has a direct correlation to the yearly toad populations.
On 8/16/77, thousands of this year’s hatch of B. boreas on Big Dalton and GMR’s in evening near the two debris basins due to heavy, first rain of the season, found on the roads as well, were several small to medium sized bullfrogs,1 Coast- range Newt (adult) and several mature California Toads, 3 in. of rain fell over 3 days. The years of 2005 and 2006 recorded high populations of toads in both the Little and BDDB’s.
South Hills: nor record

Family Hylidae - Treefrogs
Hyla cadaverina - California Treefrog
North area - abundance fluctuates greatly relating to the availability of surface water,
population numbers of these frogs for 2005 & 2006 is possibly the highest since I began observing in 1960; restricted to Little and BDC drainages.
South Hills - No record
Hyla regilla - Pacific Treefrog
North area - common to abundant near standing or running water in years of normal rainfall.
South Hills -uncommon, less water sources available

Family Ranadae - True Frogs
Rana aurora draytoni - California Red-Legged Frog
North area: 1 in upper BDC by John Lucas in the 1970’s
South Hills: no record

Rana catesbeiana - Bullfrog (American Bullfrog)
North area:
Current status: no records since 1994
Fairly common during the late 1970’s to 1994 in the BDC drainage.Water was commonly held in the BDDB during the spring, summer and fall months which provided breeding grounds for the frogs. Water is very seldom stored here any longer during these times. At their peak during this period, young bullfrogs were common all the way upstream to the BDD. No bullfrogs have been observed by the author here since 1994.
South Hills: no record



Recommended reference:
Robert C. Stebbins. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, third ed., Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 2003