Diversity and range of amphibians of the Yukon territory

Abstract

Four amphibian species occur in the Yukon: Western Toad (Bufo boreas; first verified record in 1961), the Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata, first record in 1995), the Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris, first record in 1993), and the Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica; first record in 1933). The Western Toad is restricted to the Liard Basin in five geographically separated areas. Breeding sites have been located on the lower Coal River and vicinity. The Boreal Chorus Frog has been documented from a small area of the lower La Biche River valley near the Yukon-British Columbia-Northwest Territories border. The Columbia Spotted Frog occurs in two widely separated areas, at Bennett Lake in the southwest and in the Liard Basin in the southeast. The Wood Frog is widespread below treeline. Limited survey efforts continue to hinder our knowledge of amphibian distribution.