Range in California: Red
Range Map of South Coast
Slender Salamanders
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Adult, eastern Monterey County |
Adult, eastern Monterey County |
Adult, Monterey County |
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Adult, Monterey County |
Adult, eastern Monterey County |
Adult, Monterey County |
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Adult, San Benito County |
Adult, Monterey Bay sand dunes, Monterey County |
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Underside of adult |
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Comparisons with some similar sympatric species. |
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Batrachoseps nigriventris occurs close to the southern range of B. gavilanensis. B. nigriventris has slightly smaller fingers and toes. |
In Southern Santa Cruz County, the range of B. gavilanensis overlaps that of Batrachoseps attenuatus. The two species appear very similar, but here you can see that B. gavilanensis has proportionally larger fingers and toes.
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Batrachoseps luciae and B. gavilanensis occur close to each other, and were once considered the same species. They are identical in appearance. |
Habitat |
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Habitat, Gabilan Mountains,
San Benito County
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Habitat, Monterey County |
Monterey bay coastal sand dunes habitat, Monterey County |
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Description |
| Size |
| Adults are 1 1/2 to 2 3/5 inches long (3.8 - 6.6 cm) from snout to vent, or 3 3/4 to 6 1/2 inches (9.5 - 16.5 cm) in total length. |
| Appearance |
| A small thin salamander with 19-22 costal grooves. Short limbs, a narrow head, long slender body, very long tail, and conspicuous costal and caudal grooves give this species the worm-like appearance typical of most Slender Salamanders. There are four toes on the front and hind feet, which is typical of Slender Salamanders. (Other California salamanders have five toes on the hind feet.) Gray with brownish black ground color and there may be a distinct brownish gray to coppery tan dorsal stripe extending onto the tail and bordered by blackish dots. Small whitish speckling mark the sides. |
| Behavior and Natural History |
Lungless - breathes through smooth moist thin skin. Active on rainy or wet nights when temperatures are moderate, late fall through spring, mostly December to April. Retreats underground when the soil dries or when air temperature drops to near freezing.
A sit-and-wait predator, using a projectile tongue to catch prey.
When disturbed, may coil up and remain still, then uncoil quickly and spring away, repeatedly bouncing over the ground. Tail is easily broken off, but it can be regenerated. |
| Diet |
| Eats a variety of small invertebrates. |
| Reproduction and Young |
| Reproduction is terrestrial. Egg deposition sites are unknown. It is assumed that females lay eggs in moist places underground as with other species of Batrachoseps. Young develop completely in the eggs and hatch fully formed. |
| Range |
Endemic to California. Occurs along the central coast of California from the base of the Santa Cruz mountains at Rodeo Gulch, Santa Cruz County, southward to the eastern margin of the city of Monterey, at Jack's Peak. Occurs inland into the Gabilan and Diablo mountains and the east slope of the Santa Lucia mountains south into northern San Luis Obispo county, and the Temblor Range in Kern County (where salamanders are tentatively assigned to this species.)
Co-exists with B. attenuatus, in Santa Cruz County (Hecker Pass is one location), and B. nigriventris in the southern part of its range (Mustang Ridge and Peachtree Valley). May coexist with B. luciae in Carmel Valley and near Arroyo Seco. |
| Habitat |
Habitats include moist redwood forests, gray pine and mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, chaparral, and open grasslands with scattered oaks. Habitat at the southern end of the range tends to be hot and semi-arid, and populations are localized in moist areas on north-facing slopes. Typically found under rocks, logs, bark, driftwood, and other surface debris.
From sea level to around 5,000 ft. (1,500 m). |
| Taxonomic Notes |
| B. gavilanensis was described in 2001. Salamanders now known as B. gavilanensis were formerly recognized as Batrachoseps pacificus which has been split into ten different species due to molecular studies. |
| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
| No known critical conservation concerns. Common and widespread throughout their range, some of which is relatively undisturbed publicly owned lands. |
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Taxonomy |
| Family |
Plethodontidae |
Lungless Salamanders |
| Genus |
Batrachoseps |
Slender Salamanders |
Species
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gavilanensis |
Gabilan Mountains Slender Salamander |
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Original Description |
Elizabeth L. Jockusch, Kay P. Yanev, and David B. Wake ''Molecular phylogenetic analysis
of slender salamanders, genus Batrachoseps (Amphibia: Plethodontidae), from central coastal
California with descriptions of four new species.'' Herpetological Monographs, #15 2001.
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Meaning of the Scientific Name |
Batrachoseps: Greek - amphibian, frog lizard - describes lizard-like appearance.
gavilanensis: of the Gabilan Mountains (type locality.)
from Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained © Ellin Beltz
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Alternate Names |
Formerly recognized as Batrachoseps pacificus - Pacific Slender Salamander
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Similar Neighboring Salamanders |
Batrachoseps attenuatus
Batrachoseps luciae
Batrachoseps nigriventris
Batrachoseps minor
Batrachoseps incognitus
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More Information and References |
Natureserve Explorer
California Dept. of Fish and Game
AmphibiaWeb
Elizabeth L. Jockusch, Kay P. Yanev, and David B. Wake ''Molecular phylogenetic analysis of slender salamanders, genus Batrachoseps (Amphibia: Plethodontidae), from central coastal California with descriptions of four new species.'' Herpetological Monographs, #15 2001.
Stebbins, Robert C. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.
Behler, John L., & F. Wayne King. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
Bartlett, R. D. & Patricia P. Bartlett. Guide and Reference to the Amphibians of Western North America (North of Mexico) and Hawaii. University Press of Florida, 2009.
Bishop, Sherman C. Handbook of Salamanders. Cornell University Press, 1943.
Lannoo, Michael (Editor). Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. University of California Press, June 2005.
Petranka, James W. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution, 1998.
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The following status listings come from the Special Animals List which is published several times each year by the California Department of Fish and Game.
This salamander is not included on the Special Animals List, meaning there are no significant conservation concerns for it in California according to the California Department of Fish and Game.
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Organization
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Status Listing
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| U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) |
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| California Endangered Species Act (CESA) |
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| California Department of Fish and Game |
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| Bureau of Land Management |
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| USDA Forest Service |
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| Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks |
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World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List
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