Range in California: Red
Range Map of Southern Sierra
Nevada Slender Salamanders
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Adult, Kern County |
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Adult, Kern County, 2,400 ft. |
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Juvenile, Kern County, 2,400 ft. |
Adult, Kern County, Cottonwood Creek |
Adult, Kern County, Cottonwood Creek |
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Habitat, 1,500 ft., Kern County |
Habitat, 2,400 ft., Kern County |
More pictures of Slender Salamanders from upper Kern Canyon.
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Description |
| Size |
| Adults are 1 5/8 - 2 1/5 inches long (4-5.5 cm) from snout to vent. |
| Appearance |
| A somewhat flattened slender salamander, with a narrow head and long tail (1.5 times SVL). 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.) 20-21 costal grooves; 7-9 costal folds between adpressed limbs. Sides and ventral surface dark, flecked with a lighter color. May be striped dorsally. |
| Behavior |
| Little is known about the natural history of this salamander. Most Batrachoseps are active on rainy or wet nights when temperatures are moderate, retreating underground when the soil dries or when the air temperature drops to near freezing. When disturbed, they 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. Batrachoseps are generally sit-and-wait predators. |
| Diet |
| Probably eats a variety of small invertebrates. |
| Reproduction |
| Nothing is known of the reproduction of B. simatus within Kern Canyon. Like other low to mid- elevation Batrachoseps, it is assumed that this species lays eggs on land between December and February. Young would presumably hatch in early spring, fully formed. On June 13, at an elevation of 6300 ft. on Breckenridge Mt., twenty-two slender salamanders (tentatively regarded as B. simatus) were found in a communal nest site with nearly 150 eggs.
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| Range |
Endemic to California. Batrachoseps simatus is found in the Kern River Canyon from Stork Creek, 450 m. to Erskine Creek, 1200 m. All known locality records appear to be from the south side (north face) of the canyon. Outpost localities include the Squirrel Meadow vicinity on Breckenridge Mt. (6300 Ft.), as well as one puzzling low-elevation site at Cottonwood Creek
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| Habitat |
| Favored habitat is north-facing riparian zones in narrow canyons shaded with willows and cottonwoods and wooded hillsides supporting oaks and pines.
Individuals are usually found beneath rocks, logs, bark and leaf-litter during periods of high moisture. One B. simatus (found by T. Burkhardt and S.Winegarner) came from within the spray-zone of a waterfall. |
| Taxonomic Notes |
There has been no question as to the validity of this taxon since it was originally described. B. simatus is genetically and morphologically distinct from other members of the nigriventris-group. Animals from Erskine Creek; the east end of Squirrel Meadow, 6300 Ft. on Breckenridge Mt; and one low elevation site differ slightly from Kern Canyon populations, but are currently regarded as B. simatus.
Breckenridge Mountain Slender Salamander.
Animals from the upper canyon in the Fairview area are distinct and may prove to be one or more new species.
Fairview Slender Salamander.
Animals from Cottonwood Creek, shown above, are also different and are tentatively regarded as B. simatus. |
| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
| Currently protected by California law. |
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Taxonomy |
| Family |
Plethodontidae |
Lungless Salamanders |
| Genus |
Batrachoseps |
Slender Salamanders |
Species
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simatus |
Kern Canyon Slender Salamander |
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Original Description |
Brame and Murray, 1968 - Sci. Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles Co., No. 4, p. 15
from Original Description Citations for the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America © Ellin Beltz
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Meaning of the Scientific Name |
Batrachoseps: Greek - amphibian, frog lizard - describes lizard-like appearance.
simatus: Latin - having the nature of a pug-nose, referring to the facial appearance.
from Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained © Ellin Beltz
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Alternate Names |
None
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Similar Neighboring Salamanders |
Batrachoseps relictus
Batrachoseps robustus
Batrachoseps stebbensi
Batrachoseps gregarious
Batrachoseps sp. Fairview/Upper Kern Canyon
Breckenridge Mountain Batrachoseps
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More Information and References |
Natureserve Explorer
California Dept. of Fish and Game
AmphibiaWeb
Salamander Diversity in the Kern Valley Region
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.
Thelander, C. G., ed. Life on the Edge: A Guide to California's Endangered Natural Resources Volume I: Wildlife.
Biosystems Books, Santa Cruz, California. 1994.
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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) |
ST |
Threatened |
| California Department of Fish and Game |
None |
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| Bureau of Land Management |
None |
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| USDA Forest Service |
USFS:S |
Sensitive |
| Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks |
G2 |
Imperiled |
World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List
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IUCN:VU |
Vulnerable |
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