A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

Batrachoseps incognitus - San Simeon Slender Salamander

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Range in California: Red

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Salamanders in California

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Adult, San Luis Obispo County

Adult, with regenerating tail, San Luis Obispo County

Slender Salmanders (genus Batrachoseps) have only 4 toes on their hind feet. All other California salamanders have 5 toes on their hind feet.

Comparisons with the sympatric Black-bellied Slender Salamander

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

Habitat, San Luis Obispo County

San Simeon, San Luis Obispo County

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. 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.

There are four toes on the front and hind feet, which is typical of all Slender Salamanders. (Other California salamanders have five toes on the hind feet.) The digits of this species are individually distinct (they are easier to see when compared to other Slender Salamanders with smaller digits.)

Behavior and Natural History

A member of family Plethodontidae, the Plethodontid or Lungless Salamanders.
Lungless Salamanders breathe through their skin which requires them to live in damp environments on land and to move about on the ground only during times of high humidity. (In California, they do not inhabit streams or bodies of water, but they are capable of surviving for some time if they fall into water.)
Lungless salamanders are distinguished by their naso-labial grooves, which are vertical slits between the nostrils and upper lip that are lined with glands used in chemoreception. All California Lungless Salamanders lay eggs in moist places on land. The young hatch from the egg directly into a tiny terrestrial salamander with the same body form as an adult. (They do not hatch in the water and begin their lives as tiny swimming larvae breathing through gills, as occurs with other types of salamanders.)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.

Here's a Diagram of the Batrachoseps Complex showing the relationships between species.

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.

Taxonomy
Family	Plethodontidae	Lungless Salamanders
Genus	Batrachoseps	Slender Salamanders
Species	incognitus	San Simeon Slender Salamander
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.
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
Alternate Names
Formerly recognized as Batrachoseps pacificus - Pacific Slender Salamander.
Similar Neighboring Salamanders
Batrachoseps nigriventris Batrachoseps minor Batrachoseps luciae Batrachoseps gavilanensis
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., and McGinnis, Samuel M. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California: Revised Edition (California Natural History Guides) University of California Press, 2012. Stebbins, Robert C. California Amphibians and Reptiles. The University of California Press, 1972. Stebbins, Robert C. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003. Behler, John L., and F. Wayne King. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992. Powell, Robert., Joseph T. Collins, and Errol D. Hooper Jr. A Key to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. The University Press of Kansas, 1998. 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.

Conservation Status
The following status listings come from the Special Animals List which is published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Organization	Status Listing
U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)	None
California Endangered Species Act (CESA)	None
California Department of Fish and Wildlife	None
Bureau of Land Management	None
USDA Forest Service	None
Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks	G2G3 S2S3	Imperiled
World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List	IUCN:DD	Deficient Data

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