Kings River Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps regius
A relatively small member of its genus, this salamander has a wide, flattened head with a boxy snout, and a tail about 1.5x longer than its body. It can reach a maximum o…
How to identify
A relatively small member of its genus, this salamander has a wide, flattened head with a boxy snout, and a tail about 1.5x longer than its body. It can reach a maximum of 4.5 cm in snout to vent length. Its skinny legs are set far apart and it has costal grooves. It is primarily greyish brown, often with a wide reddish brown dorsal stripe. It has white and brown speckling all over.
Range
Small range on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in central California.
Habitat
Specifically found in the temperate coniferous forests of Summit Meadow and riparian pine/oak woodlands and chaparral surrounding Kings River. It will hide among rocks on talus slopes, under logs, and in leaf litter. Often found near ferns and mosses on north-facing slopes.
Variations
Some have the dorsal stripe, while others are more greyish all over.
Similar species
Quite similar to several other *Batrachoseps* species, including the California slender salamander (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*), black-bellied slender salamander (*Batrachoseps nigriventris*), and Santa Lucia Mountains slender salamander (*Batrachoseps luciae*).
Name and etymology
Genus
Batrachoseps
Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).
Origin
Sources
- Bonaparte, 1841. Iconogr. Fauna Italica, Vol. 2, Fasc. 26, fol. 131, not paged
Batrachoseps. Bonaparte, 1841 - Iconogr. Fauna Italica, Vol. 2, Fasc. 26, fol. 131, not paged
Species epithet
regius
Latin for regal, or the king, referencing the King River of California.
Origin
Sources
- Jockusch, Wake and Yanev, 1998 Contribs. Los Angeles County Museum
Batrachoseps regius. Jockusch, Wake and Yanev, 1998 Contribs. Los Angeles County Museum
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Range
Small range on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in central California.
Habitat
Specifically found in the temperate coniferous forests of Summit Meadow and riparian pine/oak woodlands and chaparral surroun…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap