Washington Checklist
Vertebrates,
except birds
Extracted from The Burke Museum, Seattle
AMPHIBIANS
Washington is home to 26 species of amphibians, including
14 species of salamanders, 10 native species of frogs, and
2 species of non-native frogs. Two species of salamanders
occur only in Washington and nowhere else in the world!
Many of the other local amphibians are unique to the
Pacific Northwest. In fact, three entire families of
amphibians (Dicamptodontidae, Rhyacotritonidae, and
Ascaphidae) are endemic to the northwest; most of these
salamanders are highly specialized for living in the clear,
cold streams of Pacific Northwest forests.
Order Caudata (salamanders)
Family Ambystomatidae (Mole salamanders)
Ambystoma gracile, Northwestern
salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum, Long-toed
salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum, Tiger salamander
Family Dicamptodontidae (Giant salamanders)
Dicamptodon copei, Cope's giant
salamander
Dicamptodon tenebrosus, Coastal giant
salamander
Family Plethodontidae (Lungless salamanders)
Ensatina eschscholtzii, Ensatina
Plethodon dunni, Dunn's salamander
Plethodon larselli, Larch Mountain
salamander
Plethodon vandykei, Van Dyke salamander
Plethodon vehiculum, Western red-backed
salamander
Family Rhyacotritonidae (Torrent salamanders)
Rhyacotriton cascadae, Cascade torrent
salamander
Rhyacotriton kezeri, Columbia torrent
salamander
Rhyacotriton olympicus, Olympic torrent
salamander
Family Salamandridae (Newts)
Taricha granulosa, Rough-skinned newt
Order Anura (frogs)
Family Ascaphidae (Tailed frog)
Ascaphus truei, Tailed frog
Family Bufonidae (True toads)
Bufo boreas, Western toad
Bufo woodhousei, Woodhouse toad
Family Hylidae (Treefrogs)
Hyla (Pseudacris) regilla, Pacific
treefrog
Family Pelobatidae (Spadefoot toads)
Scaphiopus intermontanus, Great Basin
spadefoot toad
Family Ranidae (True frogs)
Rana aurora, Northern red-legged frog
Rana cascadae, Cascades frog
Rana catesbeiana, Bullfrog (introduced)
Rana clamitans, Green frog (introduced)
Rana luteiventris, Columbia spotted frog
Rana pipiens, Leopard frog
Rana pretiosa, Oregon spotted frog
REPTILES
Washington is home to 25 native species of reptiles,
including 6 species of native turtles (2 freshwater turtles
and 4 sea turtles), 7 species of lizards, and 12 species of
snakes. Besides the native reptiles, several species of
freshwater turtles have been introduced to Washington. None
of the native reptiles is found only in Washington.
Order Testudines (turtles)
Family Chelydridae (snapping turtles)
Chelydra serpentina, snapping turtle
(introduced)
Family Emydidae (pond turtles)
Chrysemys picta, painted turtle
Clemmys marmorata, western pond turtle
Family Cheloniidae (sea turtles)
Caretta caretta, loggerhead turtle
Chelonia mydas, green turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea, pacific ridley
Family Dermochelyidae (leatherback turtle)
Dermochelys coriacea, leatherback turtle
Order Squamata (lizards and
snakes)
Family Boidae (boas)
Charina bottae, rubber boa
Family Colubridae (common snakes)
Coluber constrictor, racer
Contia tenuis, sharp-tailed snake
Diadophis punctatus, ringneck snake
Hypsiglena torquata, right snake
Lampropeltis zonata, California mountain
kingsnake
Masticophis taeniatus, striped whipsnake
Pituophis melanoleucus, gopher snake
Thamnophis elegans, western terrestrial
garter snake
Thamnophis ordinoides, northwestern
garter snake
Thamnophis sirtalis, common garter snake
T. s. concinnus,
red-spotted garter snake
T. s. fitchi, valley
garter snake
T. s. pickeringi, Puget
Sound garter snake
Family Viperidae (vipers and pit vipers)
Crotalus viridis, western rattlesnake
Family Phrynosomatidae (spiny lizards)
Phrynosoma douglassii, short-horned
lizard
Sceloporus graciosus, sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis, western fence
lizard
Uta stansburiana, side-blotched Lizard
Family Scincidae (skinks)
Eumeces skiltonianus, western skink
Family Anguidae (alligator lizards)
Elgaria coerulea, northern alligator
lizard
Elgaria multicarinata, southern alligator
lizard
MAMMALS
Order Didelphimorphia (opossums)
Didelphidae
Common Opossum, Didelphis virginiana
Order Insectivora (shrews and
moles)
Soricidae
Pacific Water Shrew, Sorex bendirii
Masked Shrew, Sorex cinereus
Pygmy Shrew, Sorex hoyi
Merriam's Shrew, Sorex merriami
Dusky Shrew, Sorex monticolus
Northern Water Shrew, Sorex palustris
Preble's Shrew, Sorex preblei
Trowbridge's Shrew, Sorex trowbridgii
Vagrant Shrew, Sorex vagrans
Talpidae
Shrew-mole, Neurotrichus gibbsii
Pacific Mole, Scapanus orarius
Townsend's Mole, Scapanus townsendii
Order Chiroptera (bats)
Vespertilionidae
Pallid Bat, Antrozous pallidus
Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus
Spotted Bat, Euderma maculatum
Silver-haired Bat, Lasionycteris
noctivagans
Western Red Bat, Lasiurus blossevilli
Hoary Bat, Lasiurus cinereus
California Myotis, Myotis californicus
Long-eared Myotis, Myotis evotis
Keen's Myotis, Myotis keenii
Small-footed Myotis, Myotis leibii
Little Brown Myotis, Myotis lucifugus
Fringed Myotis, Myotis thysanodes
Long-legged Myotis, Myotis volans
Yuma Myotis, Myotis yumanensis
Western Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus
hesperus
Western Big-eared Bat, Plecotus
townsendii
Order Carnivora (carnivores)
Canidae
Coyote, Canis latrans
Gray Wolf, Canis lupus
Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes
Felidae
Lynx, Lynx canadensis
Bobcat, Lynx rufus
Mountain Lion, Puma concolor
Mephitidae
Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis
Western Spotted Skunk, Spilogale gracilis
Mustelidae
Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris
River Otter, Lontra canadensis
Wolverine, Gulo gulo
Marten, Martes americana
Fisher, Martes pennanti
Short-tailed Weasel (Ermine), Mustela
erminea
Long-tailed Weasel, Mustela frenata
Mink, Mustela vison
Badger, Taxidea taxus
Otariidae
Northern Fur Seal, Callorhinus ursinus
Steller Sea Lion, Eumetopias jubatus
California Sea Lion, Zalophus
californianus
Phocidae
Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga
angustirostris
Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina
Procyonidae
Raccoon, Procyon lotor
Ursidae
Black Bear, Ursus americanus
Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos
Order Cetacea (porpoises,
dolphins, and whales)
Suborder Mysticeti
Balaenidae
Black Right Whale, Eubalaena glacialis
Balaenopteridae
Minke Whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis
Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus
Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Eschrichtidae
Gray Whale, Eschrictius robustus
Suborder Odontoceti
Delphinidae
Short-Beaked Saddleback Dolphin,
Delphinus delphis
Short-finned Pilot Whale, Globicephala
macrorhynchus
Grampus, Grampus griseus
Pacific White-sided Dolphin,
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Northern Right-Whale Dolphin,
Lissodelphis borealis
Killer Whale, Orcinus orca
False Killer Whale, Pseudorca crassidens
Striped Dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
Rough-toothed Dolphin, Steno bredanensis
Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Kogiidae
Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps
Dwarf Sperm Whale, Kogia sima
Phocoenidae
Harbor Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena
Dall's Porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli
Physeteridae
Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus
Ziphiidae
Baird's Beaked Whale, Berardius bairdii
Hubbs Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon carlhubbsi
Pacific Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon
stejnegeri
Cuvier's Beaked Whale, Ziphius
cavirostris
Order Artiodactyla (split-hooved
mammals)
Cervidae
Elk, Cervus elaphus
Moose, Alces alces
Mule Deer / Black-tailed Deer, Odocoileus
hemionus
White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus
Caribou, Rangifer tarandus
Bovidae
Mountain Goat, Oreamnos americanus
Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis
Order Rodentia (rodents)
Aplodontidae
Mountain Beaver, Aplodontia rufa
Sciuridae
Hoary Marmot, Marmota caligata
Yellow-bellied Marmot, Marmota
flaviventris
Woodchuck, Marmota monax
Olympic Marmot, Marmota olympus
Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus
carolinensis
Western Gray Squirrel, Sciurus griseus
Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger
Beechey Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus
beecheyi
Columbian Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus
columbianus
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel,
Spermophilus lateralis
Piute Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus
mollis
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel,
Spermophilus saturatus
Townsend's Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus
townsendii
Washington Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus
washingtoni
Yellow-pine Chipmunk, Tamias amoenus
Least Chipmunk, Tamias minimus
Red-tailed Chipmunk, Tamias ruficaudus
Townsend's Chipmunk, Tamias townsendii
Douglas Squirrel, Tamiasciurus douglasii
Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Northern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys
sabrinus
Castoridae
Beaver, Castor canadensis
Geomyidae
Mazama Pocket Gopher, Thomomys mazama
Northern Pocket Gopher, Thomomys
talpoides
Heteromyidae
Ord's Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ordii
Great Basin Pocket Mouse, Perognathus
parvus
Dipodidae
Western Jumping Mouse, Zapus princeps
Pacific Jumping Mouse, Zapus trinotatus
Muridae
• Arvicolinae
Red-backed Vole, Clethrionomys gapperi
Sagebrush Vole, Lemmiscus curtatus
Gray-tailed Vole, Microtus canicaudus
Long-tailed Vole, Microtus longicaudus
Montane Vole, Microtus montanus
Creeping Vole, Microtus oregoni
Meadow Vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus
Richardson's Vole (Water Vole), Microtus
richardsoni
Townsend's vole, Microtus townsendii
Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus
Heather Vole, Phenacomys intermedius
Northern Bog Lemming, Synaptomys borealis
• Murinae
House Mouse, Mus musculus
Norway Rat, Rattus norvegicus
Black Rat, Rattus rattus
• Sigmodontinae
Bushy-tailed Woodrat, Neotoma cinerea
Northern Grasshopper Mouse, Onychomys
leucogaster
Deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus
Deer mouse, Peromyscus keeni
Western Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys
megalotis
Erethizontidae
Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum
Myocastoridae
Coypu (Nutria), Myocastor coypus
Order Lagomorpha (hares,
rabbits, and pikas)
Ochotonidae
Pika, Ochotona princeps
Leporidae
Pygmy Rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis
Snowshoe Hare, Lepus americanus
Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus
californicus
White-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus townsendii
European Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus
Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
Nuttall's Cottontail, Sylvilagus
nuttallii