Relictual Slender Salamander

Range

Small range in the southwestern Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California; specifically on Breckenridge Mountain.

Habitats

This species likes consistently moist environments such as springs and seepages in conifer forests. It often takes shelter under rotting logs and bark debris.

Identification

A small species in its genus, this salamander averages 2.6-4.8 cm in snout to vent length. It is slender and has a tail that's slightly longer than its body. It has scrawny legs, a short snout, and costal grooves. It has a wide dorsal stripe that is usually brown, but can be reddish or gold, and its sides are dark grey to black with white speckles. Its ventrum is pale grey with white speckles.

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