Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
![[Ensatina]](/images/121ds.jpg)
Description
Physical
A small stocky salamander with a relatively large head, adults reach a size of approximately 7.5cm (3 inches) snout to vent. Typically has 12 to 13 costal grooves, and a distinctive tail constriction at the base of tail that readily distinguishes this species from any other species. Young can be quite small, the costal grooves and tail constriction may not be readily visible.
Ensatinas have four toes on the front feet, five on the rear.
Ensatinas are member of the Plethodonidae family, which is a chiefly New World family of salamanders that lacks lungs. They breathe through their skin. Extreme care should be taken when observing these salamanders to avoid chemical contamination of their skin. If at all possible, do not use lotions or bug spray and keep any handling to a minimum.
Color and Pattern
A highly variable species. All specimens have yellow, greenish yellow, or orange on all four limbs from the base of the limb to the elbow, color seems to be more vibrant in young. Brown to nearly black above, often with light speckling. Small orange blotches may be visible on adults, especially in the south eastern part of the county where they are more heavily influenced by the Sierra Nevada Ensatina.
Sexual Dimorphism
Males have longer more slender tails than females.
Habitat
Like all western lungless salamanders, Ensatinas are a terrestrial species that avoids submersion in water.
Primarily a forest salamander, Ensatinas like well forested areas with rotting bark and leaf litter they can use for cover, often found near streams. They avoid warm and dry conditions, taking refuge underground or in rotting stumps when the climate is too hot or dry.
Ensatinas are easiest to locate in the spring or fall when it has recently rained.
Diet
Ensatinas feed on invertebrates such as sowbugs, spiders, and a variety of insects.
Distribution Range
General range map taken from CWHR, modified.
Museum records taken from following institutions: CAS Herps, MVZ Herps.
Throughout most of Shasta County except the drier eastern part, absent from the lower Sacramento River Valley.
Typical Elevation
Based on records in our database, in Shasta County the Ensatina is typically found at elevations from 330m to 1492m (1081ft to 4893ft). Minimum elevation we have a record for is 325m (1066ft). Maximum elevation we have a record for is 1633m (5357ft).
Reproduction and Young
Typically breeds in the spring, may breed in the early summer and/or fall in some areas. Lays eggs in clusters of 8 to 16 eggs typically in rotting logs or burrows, females are maternal and guard the eggs until they hatch, which can take up to six months.
Like other lungless salamanders, no larval stage takes place outside the eggs. The eggs hatch into smaller versions of adults.
Taxonomy
The Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii) was originally described in 1850 by Gray as Ensatina eschscholtzii. See Amphibian Species of the World.
Our population is largely an intergrade form between two subspecies, the Oregon Ensantina (Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis) and the Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis). Some specimens in the extreme south eastern portion of the county may qualify as “pure” Sierra Nevada subspecies.
The Oregon Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis) was originally described in 1856 by Girard as Heredia oregonensis. See Amphibian Species of the World.
The Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) was originally described in 1875 by Jiménez de la Espada as Urotropis platensis. See Amphibian Species of the World.
Pronunciation
The assumed IPA pronunciation of this species: /ɛn sɑ ˈti nɑ/ /ɛs ˈʃoʊlt zi/
Taxonomic Etymology
Ensatina comes from the Latin ensatus which means sword shaped. The Latin suffix -ina apparently is a way of feminizing a noun. The name Ensatina may be a reference to their teeth (Beltz 2006).
eschscholtzii honors Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz (Beltz 2006).
oregonensis - the Latin suffix -ensis indicates of or from a place. The type specimen for this subspecies was collected in Puget Sound, WA which was at the time part of the Oregon Territory.
platensis - the Latin suffix -ensis indicates of or from a place. When originally described, the type specimen for this subspecies was erroniously thought to have been collected in Montevideo, Uruguay, which is near the Río de la Plata (Beltz 2006).
Taxonomy Notes
Additional Information
Notes
The CWHR range map data for this species has been modified. The CWHR range included the valley floor, which is incorrect. To get the range showed, first I subtracted the range of the California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii) as it is lower elevation species. Then I manually modified the result to encompass all museum records that fell outside the result. This solution is not as good as proper niche modeling would likely produce, but it is a lot better than the original range.
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.
![[Ensatina]](/images/12sm.jpg)
![[Ensatina]](/images/95sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Very young, quite probably bred earlier this year. Boulder Creek Drainage, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
![[Ensatina]](/images/121sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Adult. Notice the constriction at the base of tail that readily identifies this species. Tamarack Road, Shasta County, CA.
Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
![[Ensatina habitat]](/images/13sm.jpg)
![[Ensatina habitat]](/images/122sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
An adult Ensatina was found under one of the rocks in the foreground. Tamarack Rd, Shasta County, CA.
Similar Species
Adult Ensatinas can be readily distinguished from other Shasta County salamanders by the distinctive constriction at the base of their tail. Young Ensatinas however may not yet express that distinctive trait. The characteristics below deal with young Ensatinas.
Shasta Black Salamander and Black Salamander
Young Shasta Black Salamanders (Aneides iëcanus) and Black Salamanders (Aneides flavipunctatus) tend to have a greenish tint, a more triangular head, and a much longer tail in proportion to the body. While yellow may be present at the base of the limbs, if present it generally consists of small dots and is nowhere as extensive as in the Ensatina where it generally extends almost to the joint with lower limb.
Shasta Salamander
Young Shasta Salamanders (Hydromantes shastae) do not have the distinctive yellow or green on upper part of limbs and frequently have yellow on the tail.
Long-toed Salamander
Long-toed Salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) have a distinctive bright yellow irregular dorsal stripe and yellow spots on the head.
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