Range in California: Red
Range Map of South Coast
Slender Salamanders
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Adult, eastern Monterey County |
Adult, eastern Monterey County |
Underside of adult |
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Adult, Monterey County |
Adult, San Benito County |
Adult, Monterey County |
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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. |
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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 - 2 3/5 inches long (3.8 - 6.6 cm) from snout to vent, 3 3/4 - 6 1/2 inches ( 9.5 - 16.5 cm) in total length. |
| Appearance |
| A moderately small-sized plethodontid salamander, which breathes through smooth moist thin skin. 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. 4 toes on front and hind feet, also typical of Slender Salamanders. (Other California salamanders have 5 toes on the hind feet.) Gray with brownish black ground color and may have a distinct brownish gray to coppery tan dorsal stripe extending onto the tail and bordered by blackish dots. Small whitish speckling on the sides. |
| Behavior |
| Active on rainy or wet nights when temperatures are moderate, fall through spring. Retreats underground when the soil dries or when air temperature drops to near freezing. Co-exists with B. attenuatus, in Santa Cruz County, and B. nigriventris in the southern part of its range. May coexist with B. luciae in Carmel Valley. Found under rocks, logs, bark, driftwood, and other debris. 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. A sit-and-wait predator. |
| Diet |
| Eats a variety of small invertebrates. |
| Reproduction |
| Females lay eggs in moist places underground. Young hatch fully formed. |
| Range |
| Endemic to California. Occurs along the central coast of California from the base of the Santa Cruz mountains, southward to the eastern margin of Monterey, then inland into the Gabilan and Diablo mountains and the east slope of the Santa Lucia mountains south into northern San Luis Obispo county. |
| Habitat |
Habitats include moist redwoods, gray pine and mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, chaparral, oak grasslands.
Sea level to around 5,000 ft. ( 1,500 m). |
| Taxonomic Notes |
| Previously recognized as Batrachoseps pacificus which has been split into ten different species due to molecular studies. |
| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
| None |
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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.
Bishop, Sherman C. Handbook of Salamanders. Cornell University Press, 1943.
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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