Santa Cruz Black Salamander

Range

Aneides niger is a species that lives only in the Santa Cruz Mountains on the lower part of the San Francisco Peninsula in California. It can be found from sea level to about 800 m elevation.

Habitats

Aneides niger prefers moist habitats in lowland and foothill forests, especially near streams with a lot of shade. It often stays in or near water.

Identification

Aneides niger is a black salamander with a moderate size and a robust body. The snout-vent lengths of males vary from 68.8 to 85.7 mm, while those of females vary from 58.3 to 73.7 mm. They belong to the Aneides flavipunctatus complex and share morphological features with them. They have large heads that widen behind the eyes, giving them a triangular shape. The head width of males ranges from 10.5 to 16.3 mm, while the head length of females ranges from 8.9 to 10.9 mm. They have strong jaws and noticeable muscles behind their eyes. They also have nasolabial grooves. Aneides niger generally have uniform shiny black coloration across the entire body.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians