California Salamanders Expanded Photo Index

A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

Identifying Salamanders Found in California - an Expanded Photo Index

Click on a picture for a larger view

This is an expanded version of the Photo Index of California Salamanders that shows pictures of all of the kinds of native and non-native salamanders found in California along with range maps for each salamander.
You can also look at the page of California Salamander Range Maps for a faster look at what salamanders are found in your area. Some species are variable in appearance, so be aware that a slamander you want to identify might not look exactly like those shown here. Juveniles sometimes look different than adults, and aquatic juveniles are entirely different, so pictures are juveniles are also shown here if I have them.

This very arge page is divided into two main sections -
Aquatic Salamanders - lunged salamanders that live on land and in water and go back into water to breed, and
Terrestrial Salamanders - non-lunged salamanders that live and breed only on land.

You can look through all the pictures to find one that is similar to a salamander you want to identify, or you can try to determine the type of salamander you want to identify, whether it's an aquatic salamander or a terrestrial salamander, then try to determine which category within that group it might fit -

Mole Salamanders - Ambystoma
Giant Salamanders - Dicamptodon
Torrent Salamanders - Rhyacotriton
Pacific Newts - Taricha
Climbing Salamanders - Aneides
Slender Salamanders - Batrachoseps
Ensatina - Ensatina
Web-footed Salamanders - Hydromantes
Woodland Salamanders - Plethodon

- then look at the pictures of the different species and subspecies. When you think you have found one that looks like the salamander you want to identify, check the range map to confirm that your salamander was found within the range of the species you have chosen. (You can enlarge a range map by clicking on it.) Then click the species link to go to the species page for more pictures and information.

If you are unable to make an identification, email me with a picture of the salamander and tell me the location and I'll try to identify it for you.

More Lists and Information About California Salamanders

Aquatic Salamanders - Found in water and on land
Adults of these species live mostly on land where they are active at night, but they also move to water during the breeding season where they lay eggs in water that hatch into small gilled fish-like larvae. The larvae live swimming in the water until they lose their gills then move onto the land to live, breathing with lungs and looking like miniature versions of the adults. Salamander larvae can be distinguished from tadpoles by the presence of gills, which are not found on frog larvae. Occasionally, juveniles do not transform to live on land. They spend their lives living in water, breathing with gills. These neotenic adults (or paedomorphs) look like very large aquatic larvae. Males and females of all of these species are similar enough in appearance that knowing the sex of a salamander will not help to identify a species.
Mole Salamanders - genus Ambystoma
Mole Salamanders live mostly underground except during rainy periods when they come above ground at night to breed and lay eggs in pools of water. Juvenile Mole Salamanders hatch and live in pools of water until they lose their gills and move onto land.
California Tiger Salamander Ambystoma californiense
	Adult	Adult	Adult © Jon Hirt	Adult © Spencer Riffle	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Historically found only in the red areas

Northwestern Salamander Ambystoma gracile
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Found only in the red area

Long-toed Salamanders - Ambystoma macrodactylum
An elongated toe can help to identify Long-toed Salamanders
	The fourth toe on each back foot is longer than third toe. This is not found on other salamander species in California.	© Spencer Riffle

Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum
	Adult	Adult	Adult © Brad Alexander	Juvenile © Jon Hirt	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Found in the dark blue area (Near Monterey Bay)

Southern Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum
	Adult	Adult © Chad Lane	Adult © William Flaxington	Juvenile	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Found only in the red areas

Western Tiger Salamanders are Mole Salamanders that are not native to California. They have been introduced into some Calfiornia lakes and ponds. Individuals found in California are probably derived from several suspecies found across the west, which accounts for the various colors and patterns which can be found. Hybrids between Western Tiger Salamanders and California Tiger Salamanders are also sometimes found in areas where California Tiger Salamanders occur.

Western Tiger Salamander Ambystoma mavortium
	Adult, Mono County © Adam Clause	Adult	Adult, Siskiyou County © Alan Barron	Adult, Siskiyou County © Alan Barron	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.

	Adult, Kern County © William Flaxington	Adult, San Diego County © Sean Kelly	Adult, Lake County	Hybrid with California Tiger Salamander	Adult, Arizona	Adult, Arizona	Found in the red areas and possibly elsewhere

Giant Salamanders - genus Dicamptodon
There are two species of Giant Salamanders in California. They both look alike, so use the location to help identify the species. The Coastal Giant Salamander is found north of the Mendocino County line, the California Giant Salamander is south. Giant Salamanders lay eggs in water that hatch into gilled larvae which live at the edge of streams until they lose their gills and move onto land. Aquatic neotenic adults are not uncommon. Adults are occasionally found walking near streams in daylight.
California Giant Salamander Dicamptodon ensatus
	Adult	Juvenile	Adult	Juvenile	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are short. Dorsal fin is on tail, not back.		Found only in the red areas

Coastal Giant Salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Aquatic neotenic adult	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are short. Dorsal fin is on tail, not back.		Found only in the red area

Torrent Salamanders - genus Rhyacotriton
Like the aquatic salamanders Torrent Salamanders have very small lungs and are often found immersed in streams, but they are also similar to terrestrial salamanders in that they spend time out of the water where they need to remain moist. Eggs are laid in streams where they hatch into gilled larvae that live in the water until they lose their gills and move onto land.
Southern Torrent Salamander Rhyacotriton variegatus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult, © Zach Lim	Larvae are aquatic. Gills are very small. Dorsal fin is on tail, not on back		Found only in the red area

Pacific Newts - genus Taricha
Pacific Newts are the salamanders that are most likely to be seen walking around in daylight. They live under surface objects on land or underground but they emerge to move to water in Winter or Spring where they change into an aquatic phase that helps them swim. They are often seen walking or in ponds during their breeding migrations. They breed and lay eggs, then leave the water to live on land where they change back into their terrestrial phase. The eggs hatch into tiny gilled larva which eventually transform and leave the water to live on land. Except for the Red-bellied Newt, the only species that has all-black eyes, the other three species can be hard to identify. Click on this link to find more information to help with Pacific Newt identification, inluding larvae, in areas where more than one species occurs.
Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa
	Terrestrial phase adult	Terrestrial phase juvenile	Terrestrial phase adult	Aquatic phase adult	Larvae are aquatic. Stripes not present. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Found only in the red areas

Red-bellied Newt Taricha rivularis
	Terrestrial phase adult	Unlike the other Pacific Newts which have a yellow patch in their eyes, the eyes of Red-bellied Newts are all black.	Aquatic phase adult	Aquatic phase adult	Larvae are aquatic. Stripes not present. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Found only in the red area

Sierra Newt Taricha sierrae
	Terrestrial phase adult	Adult	Terrestrial phase adult	Aquatic phase adult	Larvae are aquatic. Stripes are present. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Found only in the orange area

Coast Range Newt Taricha torosa
	Terrestrial phase adult	Terrestrial phase adult	Terrestrial phase adult	Aquatic phase adult	Larvae are aquatic. (left) young (right) mature Stripes are present. Gills are long - reduce in size with age. Dorsal fin is on back and tail.		Found only in the red areas

Terrestrial Salamanders - Family Plethodontidae (Found on land, not in water)
The following terrestrial salamanders all live in moist places on land, emerging at night to hunt. They are rarely found active in the daytime. They are typically found under rocks, logs, and other surface objects and they are occasionally seen walking at night. They need to stay moist but they are rarely found in water since they respire through their skin instead of using lungs. They breed and lay their eggs in moist places on land, not in water like the aquatic salamanders. The young hatch fully-formed as a miniature version of the terrestrial adults, but they are sometimes colored differently than adults. Males and females of all of these species are similar enough in appearance that knowing the sex of a salamander will not help to identify a species.

Climbing Salamanders - genus Aneides
Climbing Salamanders have thick toe tips that are specially adapted to help them climb steep surfaces such as rocks and trees.

Black Salamanders - Aneides flavipunctatus complex - Found in several colors and patterns. There are four separate species but they do not correspond exactly to the different colors and patterns. Hatchling juveniles often look very different from the adults with yellow or greenish coloring.
Speckled Black Salamander Aneides flavipunctatus (Spotted Form)
	Adult	Sub-adult	Adult © Zach Lim	Adult and juvenile	Juvenile	Black Salamanders have rounded toe tips	The Speckled Black Salamander is found in the Purple area
(Black Form)
	Adult	Adult	Juvenile
(Frosted Form)
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Sub-adult	Juvenile	Juvenile

Shasta Black Salamander Aneides iecanus
	Adult	Adult	Adult © Jonathan Hakim	Adult © Zach Lim	Adult © Jonathan Hakim	Juvenile © Mark Gary	Found in the Orange areas

Klamath Black Salamander Aneides klamathensis
	Adult	Adult	Adult © Alan Barron	Adult	Sub-adult © Alan Barron	Juvenile © Alan Barron	Found in the Red area

Santa Cruz Black Salamander Aneides niger
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Spencer Riffle	Adult and juvenile	Juvenile © Zachary Lim	Found in the Dark Blue area

Arboreal Salamanders can have varying amounts of spotting on the body - from very fine spots to very large ones - and varying background colors, but they are all the same species. Hatchling and very young juvenile Arboreal Salamanders do not look like the adults, having a very dark background with a wash of light markings, not just spots.
Arboreal Salamander Aneides lugubris
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile	Hatchling © Spencer Riffle	Found only in the red areas

Clouded Salamanders are very similar to Wandering Salamanders in appearance and behavior, so use the range maps to help identify them where both species occur in California. Both species are typically found under the bark of fallen trees.
Clouded Salamander Aneides ferreus
	Adult	Adult	Adult © William Flaxington	Sub-adult	Juvenile	Clouded Salamanders have squared-lff toe tips	Found only in the red area

Wandering Salamander Aneides vagrans
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Sub-adult	Juvenile © Alan Barron	Wandering Salamanders have squared-off toe tips.	Found only in the red area

Slender Salamanders - genus Batrachoseps
Slender Salamanders are small worm-like salamanders with tiny legs that are sometimes not noticed. The different species are hard to identify by appearance, so use the range maps to help identify them since in most areas only one species is found.
Range map of all Slender Salamanders in California:


Physical characteristics that can help to identify Slender Salamanders
	Slender Salmanders have only 4 toes on their hind feet. All other California salamanders have 5 toes on their hind feet.	Slender salamanders have long thin bodies. The tail can be longer that the body but the tail can also be broken off. The legs are very small and they are sometimes not seen. Slender Salamanders are sometimes mistaken for a worm or a tiny snake when the legs are not seen.		In some areas of southern California two species of Slender Salamanders can be found. They can usually be identified by looking at the underside. Left: The Garden Slender Salamander has a light underside. Right: The Black-bellied Slender Salamander has a dark underside.		The Island Slender Salamander also has a light underside. It is found on Santa Cruz Island along with the Black-bellied Slender Salamander (left).
Greenhorn Mountains Slender Salamander Batrachoseps altasierrae
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Ryan Sikola	Adult	Found only in the red area

California Slender Salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Tiny Juvenile	Found only in the red areas

Fairview Slender Salamander Batrachoseps bramei
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Found only in the red area

Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander Batrachoseps campi
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Adam Clause	Adult © Adam Clause	Adult and juvenile, © Ryan Sikola	Found only in the red areas

Hell Hollow Slender Salamander Batrachoseps diabolicus
Hell Hollow Slender Salamander Batrachoseps diabolicus	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Chad M. Lane	Found only in the red area

San Gabriel Mountains Slender Salamander Batrachoseps gabrieli
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult and Juvenile © Adam Clause	Found only in the red areas

Gabilan Mountains Slender Salamander Batrachoseps gavilanensis
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile	Found only in the red area

Gregarious Slender Salamander Batrachoseps gregarius
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Found only in the red area

San Simeon Slender Salamander Batrachoseps incognitus
	Adult	Adult	Adult © Spencer Riffle	Adult © Ryan Sikola	Adult © Spencer Riffle	Juvenile © Ryan Sikola	Found only in the red area

Sequoia Slender Salamander Batrachoseps kawia
	Adult	Adult	Adult © Brad Alexander	Adult	Adult	Adult	Found only in the red area

Santa Lucia Mountains Slender Salamander Batrachoseps luciae
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Ryan Sikola	Juvenile	Found only in the red area

Southern California Slender Salamander - Batrachoseps major
Desert Slender Salamander Batrachoseps major aridus
	Adult © Mario Garcia-Paris	Adult © Mario Garcia-Paris	Adult © Arden Brame (courtesy of Harold De Lisle.)				Found in the bright blue area (Isolated desert canyons in Riverside County only.)

Garden Slender Salamander Batrachoseps major major
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	The underside is light in color.	Adult and juvenile	Found in the red and blue areas


Lesser Slender Salamander Batrachoseps minor
	Adult	Adult © Spencer Williams	Adult © Spencer Williams	Adult © David Wake	Adult © Ryan Sikola	Adult © Spencer Riffle	Found only in the red area

Black-bellied Slender Salamander Batrachoseps nigriventris
	Adult	Adult	Adult © Ryan Sikola	Adult	The underside is dark in color.	Adult and Juvenile	Found only in the red area

Channel Islands Slender Salamander Batrachoseps pacificus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Spencer Williams	Adult	The underside is light in color	Found only in the red areas (Channel Islands only)

Kings River Slender Salamander Batrachoseps regius
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Found only in the red area

Relictual Slender Salamander Batrachoseps relictus
	Adult © William Flaxington	Adult © Robb Schell	Adult © Brad Alexander	Adult © Rob Schell	Adult © Mark Gary	Adult and juveniles © Noah Morales	Found only in the red area

Kern Plateau Slender Salamander Batrachoseps robustus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Noah Morales	Adult	Found only in the red area

Kern Canyon Slender Salamander Batrachoseps simatus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Ryan Sikola	Adult	Hatchling on U.S. ten-cent coin	Found only in the red area

Tehachapi Slender Salamander Batrachoseps stebbinsi
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Ryan Sikola	Found only in the red area

Arguello Slender Salamander Batrachoseps wakei
	Adult © Robert Hansen		Adult © Robert Hansen				Found only in the tiny red area

Ensatina - Ensatina eschscholtzii
The genus Ensatina currently consists of one species - eschscholtzii - with seven different subspecies which can be identified by color and pattern and by range. (Ensatina klauberi is also recognized as a full species by some herpetologists.)
Physical characteristics that can help to identify Ensatina
	Unlike other salamanders, the tail of an Ensatina is constricted at its base	When threatened, Ensatina often assume a defensive stance with the legs and tails raised as they excrete a milky substance from their tail and neck.				Juveniles of some subspecies are similar to adults, but other subspecies juveniles can be very dark, unlike adults, with orange or yellow on the legs and sometimes the tail	Juveniles © Alan Barron
Yellow-blotched Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile	Found in the dark blue areas

Monterey Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile	Found only in the purple area

Large-blotched Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii klauberi
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile	Found in the bright blue area

Oregon Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis (California intergrades)
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile	Found only in the red area

Painted Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii picta
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juveniles © Alan Barron	Juvenile	Found only in the pink area

Sierra Nevada Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult and juvenile	Juvenile	Found only in the orange area

Yellow-eyed Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult without tail	Juvenile	Found only in the yellow areas

Web-footed Salamanders - genus Hydromantes
Web-footed Salamanders are associated with moist rocky areas, including granite and limestone cliffs, caves, and caverns. The rear feet have slightly-webbed toes which aid in climbing steep rock surfaces. They can be easily identified by their location, but in the area around Lake Shasta there are three similar species, so be sure to check the enlarged range map.
Physical characteristics that can help to identify Web-footed Salamanders
	The rear feet have webbed toes	Webbed toes	Webbed toes	The body can be flattened to fit into narrow rock crevices	Adult in rock crack © Spencer Williams
Limestone Salamander Hydromantes brunus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juveniles are greenish yellow	Found only in the red area

Mount Lyell Salamander Hydromantes platycephalus
Mount Lyell Salamander Hydromantes platycephalus	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile	Found only in the red area

Samwel Shasta Salamander Hydromantes samweli
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult and juvenile	Juvenile	Found only in the yellow area See enlarged range map

Shasta Salamander Hydromantes shastae
	Adult © Noah Morales	Adult © Noah Morales	Adult © Spencer Riffle	Adult © Spencer Riffle		Adult © Noah Morales	Found only in the orange area See enlarged range map

Wintu Shasta Salamader Hydromantes wintu
	Adult © Spencer Williams	Adult © Noah Morales	Adult © Noah Morales	Adult © Noah Morales	Adult © Spencer Williams	Juvenile © Noah Morales	Found only in the red area See enlarged range map

Woodland Salamanders - genus Plethodon
Woodland Salamanders found in California are similar in size and appearance, but their ranges are limited where they are only found in woodlands in the extreme northwest part of the state. Use the range maps to help identify them.
Scott Bar Salamander Plethodon asupak
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Alan Barron	Adult, and juvenile © Tim Burkhardt	Juveniles have reddish stripes on the back	Found only in the red area

Dunn's Salamander Plethodon dunni
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Juvenile © Alan Barron	Found only in the red area

Del Norte Salamander Plethodon elongatus
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult and juvenile	Juveniles	Found only in the red area

Siskiyou Mountains Salamander Plethodon stormi
	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult © Spencer Riffle	Juvenile	Found only in the red area

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