California Reptiles & Amphibians

Hydromantes shastae - Shasta Salamander

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Range in California: Red

Dot-locality Range Map

Adult, Shasta County

Adult and juvenile, Shasta County

Adult, Shasta County

Juvenile, Shasta County

Adult, Shasta County

Flattened body

Underside of adult, Shasta County

Webbed toes

Habitat, Shasta County

Habitat, 1,500 ft., Shasta County

Habitat, Shasta County

Description

Size

Adults measure 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches long (4.4 - 6.3 cm) from snout to vent length, and from 3 - 4 1/3 inches (7.5 - 11 cm) in total length.

Appearance

A small plethodontid salamander with a short tail, webbed feet, a flattened body, and a very long mushroomlike tongue capable of extending out up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) from the front of the mouth. Lungless, breathing through thin moist skin.
13 costal grooves, and nasolabial grooves. Dark reddish brown above, mottled with grayish green to tan specks, with some yellow on the tail. Venter is grayish.

Behavior

Active at night during fall, winter, and spring rains. Can be found under surface objects during daytime. Adapted to climb easily over smooth rock surfaces, using webbed feet and the tail as an aid.

Diet

Probably feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.

Reproduction

Little is known about breeding behavior. Adults apparently lay eggs in moist limestone shelters in late summer and brood them until they hatch in late fall. Young hatch fully formed.

Range

Endemic to California in a small area near Shasta Lake, Shasta County.

Habitat

Found around cliff faces, vertical cavern walls and level ground in mixed forests of Douglas fir, pines, and oaks. Lives in moist caves and rock cracks. Mostly associated with limestone outcrops, but one population is found in a volcanic outcrop. Not as adapted for crack dwelling as other Hydromantes species; has less toe webbing and body is less flat. From 1,000 - 3,000 ft. in elevation (300 - 900 meters)

Taxonomic Notes

Originally discovered but not officially described in the early 1900's by Eustace Farlong. Re-discovered by Joseph Gorman
in 1953. H. shastae is one of only three species (thus far) of Hydromantes in the United States, all of which are endemic to California, including H. brunus, and H. platycephalus. The only other members of the genus Hydromantes (now called Speleomantes by some researchers) occur in Italy and southern France. They are the only plethodontid salamanders found outside of the Americas. Why Hydromantes is found only in Europe and California is an amazing biogeographical mystery.

It has been proposed that Hydromantes shastae consists of two species. Click here for more information.

Conservation Issues (Conservation Status)

Listed as a threatened species by the state. This salamander's limited habitat is threatened by increased recreation around shata Lake, limestone quarrying, and raising of lake water levels.

Taxonomy
Family	Plethodontidae	Lungless Salamanders
Genus	*Hydromantes*	Web-toed Salamanders
Species	*shastae*	Shasta Salamander
Original Description
Gorman and Camp, 1953 - Copeia, p. 39 from Original Description Citations for the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America © Ellin Beltz
Meaning of the Scientific Name
Hydromantes: Greek - water/soothsayer or prophet. shastae: Shasta County, California, the type locality. from Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained © Ellin Beltz
Alternate Names
None
Related California Salamanders
Mt. Lyell Salamander Limestone Salamander
More Information and References
Natureserve Explorer California Dept. of Fish and Game AmphibiaWeb Gorman, J. and Camp, C. L. (1953). "A new cave species of salamander of the genus Hydromantes from California, with notes on habits and habitats." Copeia, 1953, 39-43. Thelander, Carl G., editor in chief. Life on the Edge - A Guide to California's Endangered Natural Resources - Wildlife. Berkeley: Bio Systems Books, 1994. 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. Jones, Lawrence L. C. , William P. Leonard, Deanna H. Olson, editors. Amphibians of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Audubon Society, 2005.

Conservation Status
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.
Organization	Status Listing
U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)	None
California Endangered Species Act (CESA)	ST	Threatened
California Department of Fish and Game	None
Bureau of Land Management	BLM:S	Sensitive
USDA Forest Service	USFS:S	Sensitive
Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks	G1	Critically Imperiled
World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List	IUCN:VU	Vulnerable