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Adult, San Luis Obispo County |
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Adult, San Luis Obispo County |
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Adult, with regenerating tail, San Luis Obispo County |
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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 |
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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 moderately small-sized plethodontid salamander, which breathes through smooth moist thin skin. 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. 4 toes on front and hind feet, also typical of Slender Salamanders. (Other California salamanders have 5 toes on the hind feet.) The digits are individually distinct (more obvious when compared to some Batrachoseps.) Ground color is dark grey to brown or reddish brown. May have a faint dorsal stripe. The venter is lighter in color than the dorsum and finely speckled. |
| 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. nigriventris in some places, where it is larger, more robust with longer limbs, more obvious toes, and a broader neck and head than B. nigriventris. Found under rocks, logs, bark, and other debris. Batrachoseps species, when disturbed, may coil up and remain still, then uncoil quickly and spring away, repeatedly bouncing over the ground. The tail is easily broken off, but it can be regenerated. Probably a sit-and-wait predator. |
| Diet |
| Probably eats a variety of small invertebrates. |
| Reproduction |
| Typically, Batrachoseps females lay eggs in moist places underground. Young hatch fully formed. |
| Range |
| Endemic to California. Found in the Santa Lucia Mountains in northwestern San Luis Obispo county and extreme southwestern Monterey County. |
| Habitat |
| Inhabits 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 due to
molecular studies. |
| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
| None apparent. |
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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.
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.
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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 |
G2 |
Imperiled |
World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List
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IUCN:DD |
Deficient Data |
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