The tadpole stage may last two to four years depending on stream productivity and water temperature. Metamorphosed individuals feed primarily on terrestrial insects. Juvenile frogs may disperse to new streams before they reach sexual maturity at 7 or 8 years of age. Breeding occurs in early fall. Unlike most frogs, fertilization is internal.
Adults are very philopatric remaining near one breeding site their entire lives.
Dispersal abilities are likely poor due to their philopatric nature and presumed limited juvenile dispersal. Distribution Tailed frogs occur west of the Cascade Range, from northwestern California north to British Columbia. They also occur in northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. It may occur on near-shore coastal islands but does not occur on Vancouver Island or the Queen Charlotte Islands. Breeding and nursing streams are critical habitat for breeding adults and tadpoles.