Representative Richard Jarvis (R-Meridian) has introduced a bill to make the Idaho Giant Salamander the State Amphibian. The IGS is the largest terrestrial salamander in the Pacific Northwest. Some differences that separate the family Dicamptodonitdae from those small little baby salamanders found in Washington and Oregon, besides the size, are less apparent costal grooves and three segments in the fourth toe of the hind foot, as opposed to 4 segments (Stebbins 1985).
Now I am a big of fan of amphibians as the next guy (and by "amphibian" I mean those ectothermic vertibrates whose skin is usually smooth and need external moisture, who lack scales, hair, and feathers, have three-chambered hearts and lack claws on their toes), but do we really need an official state amphibian? And if we do, shouldn't it be those cute Boreal Chorus Frogs and not that ugly-ass IGS? I've included a photo of each. (The IGS is that horrible monster, the BCFs are those little cute guys and Representative Jarvis is wearing the red tie.) You decide and then let the representative know what you think of his bill.
To read the full text of the bill: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/H0389Bookmark.htm.
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