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Adult, San Luis Obispo County |
Adult, San Luis Obispo County |
Adult, San Luis Obispo County |
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Adult, with regenerating tail, San Luis Obispo County |
Comparisons with the sympatric Black-bellied Slender Salamander |
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| The Black-bellied Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps nigriventris, shown above on the bottom, occurs in most of the range of B. incognitus, shown on the top. Their appearance is very similar, but B. incognitus has slightly larger legs, toes and neck. |
Comparisons of B. nigriventris and B. incognitus |
Habitat |
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Habitat, San Luis Obispo County |
Habitat, San Luis Obispo County |
Habitat, San Luis Obispo County |
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San Simeon
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Description |
| Size |
| Adults are 1 1/2 - 1 9/10 inches long (3.8 - 4.8 cm) from snout to vent. |
| Appearance |
| A small thin salamander with 18-20 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.) The digits are individually distinct (more obvious when compared to some other Slender Salamanders.) Ground color is dark grey to brown or reddish brown. There may be a faint dorsal stripe. The venter is lighter in color than the dorsum and finely speckled. |
| Behavior and Natural History |
Breathes through thin moist skin instead of lungs.
Surface acivity has been observed from mid January to early June, but activity probably begins with the first fall precipitation in October or November and may continue after the rains when cool temperatures and moisture are provided by marine fog drip.
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. nigriventris in some areas, where it is the larger, more robust, of the two species, with longer limbs, more obvious toes, and a broader neck and head than B. nigriventris. Found under rocks, logs, bark, and other debris.
Typical of most Slender Salamanders, when disturbed, this salamander may coil up and remain still, relying on cryptic coloring to avoid detection. It might also uncoil quickly and spring away, repeatedly bouncing over the ground, or drop its tail to distract a predator. The tail is easily broken off, but it can be regenerated.
Feeding behavior is not known, but other Batrachoseps species are sit-and-wait predators that use a projectile tongue to catch prey. |
| Diet |
| Probably eats a variety of small invertebrates. |
| Reproduction and Young |
| Reproduction is terrestrial. Little is known about the breeding behavior of this species. Typically, Batrachoseps females lay eggs in moist places underground. Young hatch fully formed. |
| Range |
| Endemic to the central coast of California. Found only in the Santa Lucia Mountains in northwestern San Luis Obispo County and extreme southwestern Monterey County, where the mountains meet the ocean. |
| Habitat |
Inhabits open and closed forests of yellow pine, laurel, sycamore, and oak woodland.
From sea level to near 3,280 ft. (1,000 m.) |
| Taxonomic Notes |
Prior to its description in 2001, B. incognitus was recognized as B. pacificus which has been split into ten species based on
molecular studies. |
| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
| No significant threats are known to this species, but its small range on mostly private property and its similarity to other species make it difficult to survey and get a clear picture of its status. |
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Taxonomy |
| Family |
Plethodontidae |
Lungless Salamanders |
| Genus |
Batrachoseps |
Slender Salamanders |
Species
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incognitus |
San Simeon 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.
incognitus: Latin - unknown, in reference to the unexpected discovery that these populations constitute a distinct
species, and to its small geographic range.
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 nigriventris
Batrachoseps minor
Batrachoseps luciae
Batrachoseps gavilanensis
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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.
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Organization
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Status Listing
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| U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) |
None |
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| California Endangered Species Act (CESA) |
None |
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| California Department of Fish and Game |
None |
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| Bureau of Land Management |
None |
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| USDA Forest Service |
None |
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| Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks |
G2G3 S2S3 |
Imperiled |
World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List
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IUCN:DD |
Deficient Data |
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