Kern Plateau Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps robustus
A robust *Batrachoseps* salamander with a wide, flattened head and a short snout. Its tail is the same length as its body, and it has a dorsal groove down the center of i…
How to identify
A robust *Batrachoseps* salamander with a wide, flattened head and a short snout. Its tail is the same length as its body, and it has a dorsal groove down the center of its back, as well as costal grooves on its sides. It has skinny legs and large bulging eyes. It is primarily dark grey to black with fine bronze speckling and/or brown and black mottling. It averages 5-6 cm in snout to vent length.
Range
Endemic to a small area in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
Habitat
Occupies a variety of habitats within its small range, including high-elevation forests and semiarid pine/brush regions. They do not require environments with permanent moisture. They are often found under rocks, in and around rotting logs, or under fallen bark debris.
Variations
Some have a wide reddish brown stripe down the center of the back and tail.
Similar species
Most analogous to the Inyo Mountains salamander (*Batrachoseps campi*), which has a neighboring range. It shares morphological features with other slender salamanders, including the California slender salamander (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) and gregarious slender salamander (*Batrachoseps gregarius*), but has different coloration.
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
robustus
Latin for large body.
Origin
Sources
- Wake, Yanev, and Hansen, 2002 Copeia 4:1016. 1028.
Batrachoseps robustus. Wake, Yanev, and Hansen, 2002 Copeia 4:1016-1028.
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Range
Endemic to a small area in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
Habitat
Occupies a variety of habitats within its small range, including high-elevation forests and semiarid pine/brush regions. They…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap