California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps attenuatus
![[California Slender Salamander]](/images/102ds.jpg)
Description
Distribution Range
Museum records taken from following institution: NMNH VZHerps.
Typical Elevation
We do not yet have enough records from distinct localities to calculate typical elevation. We need 23 more distinct localities.
Taxonomy
The California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) was originally described in 1833 by Eschscholtz as Salamandrina attenuata. See Amphibian Species of the World.
There are no currently recognized subspecies.
Taxonomic Etymology
Batrachoseps is the combination of two Greek words. βάτραχος means frog or amphibian. σαύρα means lizard. It is likely a reference to lizard like appearance (Beltz 2006).
attenuatus is from the Latin attenuatus which means thinned. It is probably a reference to there very slender appearance (Beltz 2006).
Taxonomy Notes
In 1839 this species was placed in the genus Batrachoseps (Bonaparte).
In Southern California, several populations that were once considered to be this species have since been split from this species and elevated as distinct species. Given that our population appears to be isolated, it would be interesting where ours fit in with the rest of the species in a phylogenetic tree.
Additional Information
Images
Unless otherwise noted, all images are of wild specimens in Shasta County.
Please be kind, do not hotlink images and do not use images without permission of the copyright owner.
![[California Slender Salamander]](/images/102sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Adult. Notice the Costal Grooves along the side. While we probably only have one species of Slender Salamander in Shasta County, the number of Costal Grooves can help identify Slender Salamanders is areas that have more than one species. Posed on log it was found under. Contra Costa County, CA.
![[California Slender Salamander]](/images/103sm.jpg)
Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
There currently are no images to display.
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