First-Ever Photo of Newly Hatched California Giant Salamanders Captured

National Park Service fisheries biologist Michael Reichmuth captured the first-ever photograph of newly hatched California giant salamander larvae in the wild on September 10, 2025, in California's upper Olema Creek. While surveying juvenile coho salmon, Reichmuth noticed the one-inch-long creatures with external gills and tiny developing legs. Patrick Kleeman, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, confirmed the species' identity from the photo. The larvae still had pale yolk sacs attached, indicating recent hatching. The California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) is an elusive, poorly understood species considered a 'Species of Special Concern' by California and near threatened by the IUCN. The sighting provides valuable data on nesting habitat and larval development. Researchers are crowdsourcing observations via iNaturalist through the One Tam partnership to map the salamander's distribution and inform conservation efforts.