Scotts Bluff National Monument - Amphibians

Scotts Bluff National Monument is located on the high plains of western Nebraska. Precipitation is very limited, averaging 14.5 inches per year. Humidities are usually low, therefore the evaporation rate is high. These two factors together severely limit the available habitat for amphibians to the wetlands along the North Platte River and the three irrigation canals which cross Monument land. The number of amphibian species and the number of amphibian individuals is low. At the present time only five species have been inventoried. They include tiger salamander, Great Plains toad, Woodhouse toad, striped chorus frog, and northern leopard frog.