California Salamanders

 
Scientific Names Common Names



 

Below is a complete llst of salamanders occuring naturally in California, including introduced species with well-established populations.
The list is organized by families and ordered by scientific name and also by common name.
Follow the links for information and pictures illustrating each animal and its habitat.

This list is based on the lists published by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. This taxonomy is not universally accepted. For comparison, the names used by two other authorities - Robert Stebbins' Western Field Guide, and the Center for North American Herpetology - are listed to the right.

Listed by Scientific Names
Following the SSAR list Following Robert Stebbins' 2003 Western Field Guide Following the CNAH online list (updated 11/07)
     
Ambystomatidae - Mole Salamanders    
Ambystoma - Mole Salamanders    
  A. californiense - California Tiger Salamander A. californiense - California Tiger Salamander A. californiense - California Tiger Salamander
  A. gracile - Northwestern Salamander A. gracile - Northwestern Salamander A. gracile - Northwestern Salamander
  A. macrodactylum - Long-toed Salamander    
      A. m. croceum - Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander A. m. croceum - Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander A. m. croceum - Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander
      A. m. sigillatum - Southern Long-toed Salamander A. m. sigillatum - Southern Long-toed Salamander A. m. sigillatum - Southern Long-toed Salamander
  A. mavortium - Barred Tiger Salamander (No subspecies recognized)  
      A. m. mavortium - Barred Tiger Salamander  I A. tigrinum - Barred Tiger Salamander A. mavortium mavortium -
Barred Tiger Salamander
      A. m. melanostictum - Blotched Tiger Salamander A. tigrinum - Barred Tiger Salamander A. mavortium melanostictum -
Blotched Tiger Salamander
      A. m. nebulosum - Arizona Tiger Salamander  I A. tigrinum - Barred Tiger Salamander A. mavortium nebulosum -
Arizona Tiger Salamander
     
Dicamptodontidae - Giant Salamanders    
Dicamptodon - Pacific Giant Salamanders    
  D. ensatus - California Giant Salamander D. ensatus - California Giant Salamander D. ensatus - California Giant Salamander
  D. tenebrosus - Coastal Giant Salamander D. tenebrosus - Pacific Giant Salamander D. tenebrosus - Pacific Giant Salamander
     
Plethodontidae - Lungless Salamanders    
Aneides - Climbing Salamanders    
  A. ferreus - Clouded Salamander A. ferreus - Clouded Salamander A. ferreus - Clouded Salamander
  A. flavipunctatus - Black Salamander (No subspecies recognized)  
      A. f. flavipunctatus - Speckled Black Salamander A. flavipunctatus - Black Salamander A. flavipunctatus - Speckled Black Salamander (Full species)
      A. f. niger - Santa Cruz Black Salamander A. flavipunctatus - Black Salamander A. niger - Santa Cruz Black Salamander
(Full species)
  A. lugubris - Arboreal Salamander A. lugubris - Arboreal Salamander A. lugubris - Arboreal Salamander
  A. vagrans - Wandering Salamander A. vagrans - Wandering Salamander A. vagrans - Wandering Salamander
     
Batrachoseps - Slender Salamanders    
  B. attenuatus - California Slender Salamander B. attenuatus - California Slender Salamander B. attenuatus - California Slender Salamander
  B. campi - Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander B. campi - Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander B. campi - Inyo Mountains Salamander
  B. diabolicus - Hell Hollow Slender Salamander B. diabolicus - Hell Hollow Slender Salamander B. diabolicus - Hell Hollow Slender Salamander
  B. gabrieli - San Gabriel Mountains Slender Salamander B. gabrieli - San Gabriel Mountains Slender Salamander B. gabrieli - San Gabriel Slender Salamander
  B. gavilanensis - Gabilan Mountains Slender Salamander B. gavilanensis - Gabilan Mountains Slender Salamander B. gavilanensis - Gabilan Mountains Slender Salamander
  B. gregarius - Gregarious Slender Salamander B. gregarius - Gregarius Slender Salamander B. gregarius - Gregarious Slender Salamander
  B. incognitus - San Simeon Slender Salamander B. incognitus - San Simeon Slender Salamander B. incognitus - San Simeon Slender Salamander
  B. kawia - Sequoia Slender Salamander B. kawia - Sequoia Slender Salamander B. kawia - Sequoia Slender Salamander
  B. luciae - Santa Lucia Mountains Slender Salamander B. luciae - Santa Lucia Mountains Slender Salamander B. luciae - Santa Lucia Slender Salamander
  B. major - Garden Slender Salamander   (No subspecies recognized)
      B. m. aridus - Desert Slender Salamander B. m. aridus - Desert Slender Salamander B. major - Garden Slender Salamander
      B. m. major - Garden Slender Salamander B. m. major - Garden Slender Salamander B. major - Garden Slender Salamander
  B. minor - Lesser Slender Salamander B. minor - Lesser Slender Salamander B. minor - Lesser Slender Salamander
  B. nigriventris - Black-bellied Slender Salamander B. nigriventris - Black-bellied Slender Salamander B. nigriventris - Blackbelly Slender Salamander
  B. pacificus - Channel Islands Slender Salamander B. pacificus - Channel Islands Slender Salamander B. pacificus - Channel Islands Slender Salamander
  B. regius - Kings River Slender Salamander B. regius - Kings River Slender Salamander B. regius - Kings River Slender Salamander
  B. relictus - Relictual Slender Salamander B. relictus - Relictual Slender Salamander B. relictus - Relictual Slender Salamander
  B. robustus - Kern Plateau Slender Salamander B. robustus - Kern Plateau Slender Salamander B. robustus - Kern Plateau Salamander
  B. simatus - Kern Canyon Slender Salamander
B. simatus - Kern Canyon Slender Salamander B. simatus - Kern Canyon Slender Salamander
  B. stebbinsi - Tehachapi Slender Salamander B. stebbinsi - Tehachapi Slender Salamander B. stebbinsi - Tehachapi Slender Salamander
  (B. sp. - Breckenridge Slender Salamander)  * Tentatively included with B. simatus Not recognized
  (B. sp. - Fairview Slender Salamander)  * Tentatively included with B. simatus Not recognized
     
Ensatina - Ensatinas    
  E. eschscholtzii - Ensatina    
      E. e. croceater - Yellow-blotched Ensatina E. e. croceater - Yellow-blotched Ensatina E. e. croceater - Yellow-blotched Ensatina
      E. e. eschscholtzii - Monterey Ensatina E. e. eschscholtzii - Monterey Ensatina E. e. eschscholtzii - Monterey Ensatina
      E. e. klauberi - Large-blotched Ensatina E. e. klauberi - Large-blotched Ensatina Ensatina klauberi - Large-blotched Ensatina
(Full species)
      E. e. oregonensis - Oregon Ensatina (Intergrades in California) E. e. oregonensis - Oregon Ensatina E. e. oregonensis - Oregon Ensatina
      E. e. picta - Painted Ensatina E. e. picta - Painted Ensatina E. e. picta - Painted Ensatina
      E. e. platensis - Sierra Nevada Ensatina E. e. platensis - Sierra Nevada Ensatina E. e. platensis - Sierra Nevada Ensatina
      E. e. xanthoptica - Yellow-eyed Ensatina E. e. xanthoptica - Yellow-eyed Ensatina E. e. xanthoptica - Yellow-eyed Ensatina
     
Hydromantes - Web-toed Salamanders    
  H. brunus - Limestone Salamander
H. brunus - Limestone Salamander H. brunus - Limestone Salamander
  H. platycephalus - Mount Lyell Salamander H. platycephalus - Mount Lyell Salamander H. platycephalus - Mount Lyell Salamander
  H. shastae - Shasta Salamander H. shastae - Shasta Salamander H. shastae - Shasta Salamander
  (H. sp. - Owens Valley Web-toed Salamander)* Included with H. platycephalus Not recognized
     
Plethodon - Woodland Salamanders    
  P. asupak - Scott Bar Salamander (Discovered after publication.) P. asupak - Scott Bar Salamander
  P. dunni - Dunn's Salamander P. dunni - Dunn's Salamander P. dunni - Dunn's Salamander
  P. elongatus - Del Norte Salamander P. e. elongatus - Striped Del Norte Salamander P. elongatus - Del Norte Salamander
  P. stormi - Siskiyou Mountains Salamander P. e. stormi - Siskiyou Mountains Salamander P. stormi - Siskiyou Mountains Salamander
     
Rhyacotritonidae - Torrent or Seep Salamanders    
Rhyacotriton - Torrent Salamanders    
  R. variegatus - Southern Torrent Salamander R. variegatus - Southern Torrent Salamander R. variegatus - Southern Torrent Salamander
     
Salamandridae - Newts    
Taricha - Pacific Newts    
  T. granulosa - Rough-skinned newt (No subspecies recognized)  
      T. granulosa - Rough-skinned Newt T. granulosa - Rough-skinned Newt T. g. granulosa - Northern Roughskin Newt
  T. rivularis - Red-bellied Newt T. rivularis - Red-bellied Newt T. rivularis - Redbelly Newt
  T. torosa - California Newt    
      T. t. sierrae - Sierra Newt     (Taricha sierrae - Sierra Newt) T. t. sierrae - Sierra Newt T. t. sierrae - Sierra Newt
      T. t. torosa - Coast Range Newt    (Taricha torosa - California Newt) T. t. torosa - Coast Range Newt T. t. torosa - Coast Range Newt
     
     
I = Introduced - not native to California    
* = Not yet described or not yet included on the SSAR list, but considered to be unique by other authorities. These names may be encountered elsewhere.    
     
Listed by Common Names
Following the SSAR list Following Robert Stebbins' 2003 Western Field Guide Following the CNAH online list (updated 11/07)
     
Mole Salamanders    
Northwestern Salamander Northwestern Salamander Northwestern Salamander
Tiger Salamanders    
Arizona Tiger Salamander  I Arizona Tiger Salamander Arizona Tiger Salamander
Barred Tiger Salamander  I Barred Tiger Salamander Barred Tiger Salamander
Blotched Tiger Salamander Barred Tiger Salamander Blotched Tiger Salamander
California Tiger Salamander Barred Tiger Salamander California Tiger Salamander
Long-toed Salamanders    
Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander
Southern Long-toed Salamander Southern Long-toed Salamander Southern Long-toed Salamander
     
Pacific Giant Salamanders    
California Giant Salamander California Giant Salamander California Giant Salamander
Coastal Giant Salamander Pacific Giant Salamander Pacific Giant Salamander
     
Lungless Salamanders    
Climbing Salamanders    
Arboreal Salamander Arboreal Salamander Arboreal Salamander
Clouded Salamander Clouded Salamander Clouded Salamander
Santa Cruz Black Salamander Black Salamander Santa Cruz Black Salamander
Speckled Black Salamander Black Salamander Speckled Black Salamander
Wandering Salamander Wandering Salamander Wandering Salamander
     
Slender Salamanders    
Black-bellied Slender Salamander Black-bellied Slender Salamander Blackbelly Slender Salamander
California Slender Salamander California Slender Salamander California Slender Salamander
Channel Islands Slender Salamander Channel Islands Slender Salamander Channel Islands Slender Salamander
Desert Slender Salamander Desert Slender Salamander Garden Slender Salamander
Gabilan Mountains Slender Salamander Gabilan Mountains Slender Salamander Garden Slender Salamander
Garden Slender Salamander Garden Slender Salamander Garden Slender Salamander
Gregarious Slender Salamander Gregarius Slender Salamander Gregarious Slender Salamander
Hell Hollow Slender Salamander Hell Hollow Slender Salamander Hell Hollow Slender Salamander
Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander Inyo Mountains Salamander
Kern Canyon Slender Salamander Kern Canyon Slender Salamander Kern Canyon Slender Salamander
Kern Plateau Slender Salamander Kern Plateau Slender Salamander Kern Plateau Salamander
Kings River Slender Salamander Kings River Slender Salamander Kings River Slender Salamander
Lesser Slender Salamander Lesser Slender Salamander Lesser Slender Salamander
Relictual Slender Salamander Relictual Slender Salamander Relictual Slender Salamander
San Gabriel Slender Salamander San Gabriel Mountains Slender Salamander San Gabriel Slender Salamander
San Simeon Slender Salamander San Simeon Slender Salamander San Simeon Slender Salamander
Santa Lucia Mountains Slender Salamander Santa Lucia Mountains Slender Salamander Santa Lucia Slender Salamander
Sequoia Slender Salamander Sequoia Slender Salamander Sequoia Slender Salamander
Tehachapi Slender Salamander Tehachapi Slender Salamander Tehachapi Slender Salamander
     

Ensatina
   
Large-blotched Ensatina Large-blotched Ensatina Large-blotched Ensatina
Monterey Ensatina Monterey Ensatina Monterey Ensatina
Oregon Ensatina Oregon Ensatina Oregon Ensatina
Painted Ensatina Painted Ensatina Painted Ensatina
Sierra Nevada Ensatina Sierra Nevada Ensatina Sierra Nevada Ensatina
Yellow-blotched Ensatina Yellow-blotched Ensatina Yellow-blotched Ensatina
Yellow-eyed Ensatina Yellow-eyed Ensatina Yellow-eyed Ensatina
Web-toed Salamanders    
Limestone Salamander Limestone Salamander Limestone Salamander
Mount Lyell Salamander Mount Lyell Salamander Mount Lyell Salamander
Shasta Salamander Shasta Salamander Shasta Salamander
     
Woodland Salamanders    
Del Norte Salamander Striped Del Norte Salamander Del Norte Salamander
Dunn's Salamander Dunn's Salamander Dunn's Salamander
Scott Bar Salamander (Discovered after publication) Scott Bar Salamander
Siskiyou Mountains Salamander Siskiyou Mountains Salamander Siskiyou Mountains Salamander
     
Torrent Salamanders    
Southern Torrent Salamander Southern Torrent Salamander Southern Torrent Salamander
     
Newts    
Red-bellied Newt Red-bellied Newt Redbelly Newt
Rough-skinned Newt Rough-skinned Newt Rough-skinned Newt
California Newts    
Coast Range Newt Coast Range Newt Coast Range Newt
Sierra Newt Sierra Newt Sierra Newt
     
I  = Introduced    
     
     


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