|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Desert surrounding the restricted canyon habitat, Riverside County.
|
|
|
|
Palm Canyon habitat, courtesy of Eddie Konno
|
| In the spring of 2006 I was fortunate to hike down into a protected canyon with the California Department of Fish and Game to survey for Desert Slender Salamanders. When we arrived, we could see where water from an unusually large rain storm the previous October had poured down the cliff above the canyon and washed away a great deal of vegetation, including the area where the salamanders have been found. Desert Slender Salamanders certainly continue to survive in this location, since they have been subjected to such flooding over the millenia, but we were unable to locate any. |
|
Description |
| Size |
| Adults are 1 1/4 - 2 inches long (3.1-5 cm) from snout to vent. |
| Appearance |
| A fairly broad-headed and long-legged slender salamander with a relatively short tail. 16-19 costal grooves (usually 18); 3.5-6.5 costal folds between adpressed limbs. 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.) Adults have a pale grey, white or pink coloration dorsally due to a suffusion of silver or brassy flecks. Underside of tail is paler than the dark belly. Young lack the speckling of the adults. |
| Behavior |
| Although it occurs amidst one of the harshest climates in the world, B. m. aridus has been found during every month of the year - even in the middle of summer - which indicates that they are active whenever surface conditions are favorable. |
| Diet |
| Most likely eats a variety of small invertebrates. |
| Reproduction |
| Nothing is known of the reproductive habits of B. m. aridus. Female batrachoseps lay eggs in moist places on land with the young hatching fully formed. It is most likely a communal nester due to such limited habitat. |
| Range |
| Endemic to California. B.m.aridus has one of the most limited geographic distributions of any North American amphibian. Thus far it is only known from two localities on the east slope of the Santa Rosa Mountains: Hidden Palm Canyon (a tributary to Deep Canyon) 2,800 ft., (850 m) and Guadalupe Canyon, 8 km (by air) to the south-east.
|
| Habitat |
| In Hidden Palm Canyon, B.m. aridus inhabits a moist cliff and the talus beneath it, as well as associated springs at the oasis. The cliff has a year-round seep covered in Maidens- Hair Fern, and shaded by California Fan Palms and Willow trees. The habitat surrounding the canyon is dry sonoran desert scrub. |
| Taxonomic Notes |
| Formerly recognized as a full species, Batrachoseps aridus. It has been recommended that B.aridus should be synonymized with Batrachoseps major. |
| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
| The habitat of this salamander is very fragile. The Hidden Palm Canyon site is a State Ecological Preserve that can only be entered with a permit. This salamander is currently protected by California law. |
|
|
Taxonomy |
| Family |
Plethodontidae |
Lungless Salamanders |
| Genus |
Batrachoseps |
Slender Salamanders |
| Species |
major |
Garden Slender Salamander |
Subspecies
|
aridus |
Desert Slender Salamander |
|
Original Description |
Brame, A. H., Jr. "A new species of Batrachoseps (slender salamander) from the desert of southern
California." Contributions in Science. Los Angeles County Museum, 200. 1970
|
|
Meaning of the Scientific Name |
Batrachoseps: Greek - amphibian, frog lizard - describes lizard-like appearance.
aridus: probably refers to the desert habitat surrounding the type locality oasis.
from Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained © Ellin Beltz
|
|
Alternate Names |
Formerly recognized as a full species: Batrachoseps aridus
and before that as Batrachoseps major - Garden Slender Salamander
|
|
Similar Neighboring Salamanders |
Batrachoseps major major - Garden Slender Salamander
|
|
More Information and References |
Natureserve Explorer
California Dept. of Fish and Game
AmphibiaWeb
Brame, A. H., Jr. "A new species of Batrachoseps (slender salamander) from the desert of southern California." Contributions in Science. Los Angeles County Museum, 200. 1970
Thelander, C. G., ed., 1994. Life on the Edge: A Guide to California's Endangered Natural Resources Volume I: Wildlife. Biosystems Books, Santa Cruz, California.
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.
Lannoo, Michael (Editor). Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. University of California Press, June 2005.
|
|
|
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) |
FE |
Endangered |
| California Endangered Species Act (CESA) |
SE |
Endangered |
| California Department of Fish and Game |
None |
|
| Bureau of Land Management |
None |
|
| USDA Forest Service |
None |
|
| Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks |
G4 |
Apparently Secure |
World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List
|
|
|
|
|
