AmphibiaWeb - Batrachoseps gregarius
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(Translations may not be accurate.)

Batrachoseps gregarius Jockusch, Wake & Yanev, 1998
Gregarious Slender Salamander
Subgenus: Batrachoseps
family: Plethodontidae
subfamily: Hemidactyliinae
genus: Batrachoseps

© 2006 William Flaxington (1 of 9)
Conservation Status (definitions)
IUCN Red List Status Account Least Concern (LC)
NatureServe Use NatureServe Explorer to see status.
CITES No CITES Listing
National Status None
Regional Status None
Access Conservation Needs Assessment Report .

   

 

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
View Bd and Bsal data (11 records).

Description
A small slender salamander identified by having four digits on the hind limb, a narrow head that is poorly demarcated from the neck, short limbs with very small digits, and a long, slender tail. The species usually has a light dorsal stripe that contains streaks of light pigment, but the overall impression is of a dark brown to black animal. The lateral and ventral surfaces have a rich speckling of tiny white dots. The head is narrower and the hands and feet smaller with less discrete digits than neighboring and sympatric species with which it is easily confused (Batrachoseps diabolicus, B. kawia, B. regius, B. relictus).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: United States

U.S. state distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: California

 

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
View Bd and Bsal data (11 records).
Known from the western Sierra Nevada of central California, where it is found in dense coniferous forests in the northern part of its range (Madera County) to the Sierran foothills further south (to central Kern County), where it occurs in oak-woodland and even in grassland at low elevations in areas with harsh (hot and dry) summer climate.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Active in moist fall, winter and spring months when it is found under logs, rocks and surface debris at high elevations. At low elevations it is found under large rocks in open grassland. Locally abundant. Eggs are laid in the fall at low elevations, but during the spring at high elevations. Eggs are laid communally, and the eggs are either left unguarded, or with only a few females in attendance for clutchs that must have been laid by many individuals (Jockusch and Mahoney 1997).

Trends and Threats
The species is relatively widespread, and local populations, although very spotty in its distribution, are locally dense. The geographic range is relatively large and the species occurs in several national forests and in Sequoia National Park. The greatest threats are posed by habitat destruction, especially removal of oaks from low elevation woodland areas.

Relation to Humans
No known relation to humans, but frequently observed.

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities
Intensified agriculture or grazing

Comments
This species was described in 1998 and was previously known as Batrachoseps attenuatus (until 1980) (Yanev 1979) and then as Batrachoseps nigriventris (Jockusch Wake and Yanev 1998). It is similar in morphology to both of these species, but differs greatly from the former in biochemical traits. It differs from its close relative B. nigriventris in proteins and mitochondrial DNA sequences, but because both species vary geographically in morphology it is not possible to diagnose the two species on morphological grounds. However, B. gregarius is the only member of the genus to have well marked mental glands in sexually active males. It is also typically smaller than B. nigriventris.

See another account at californiaherps.com.

References

Jockusch, E. L., Wake, D. B. and Yanev, K. P. (1998). ''New species of slender salamanders, Batrachoseps (Amphibia: Plethodontidae), from the Sierra Nevada of California.'' Contributions in Science, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, (472), 1-17.

Jockusch, E. L., and Mahoney, M. J. (1997). ''Communal oviposition and lack of parental care in Batrachoseps nigriventris (Caudata: Plethodontidae) with a discussion of the evolution of breeding behavior in plethodontid salamanders.'' Copeia, 1997, 1966-1982.

Yanev, K. P. (1979). ''Biogeography and distribution of three parapatric salamander species in coastal and borderland California.'' The California Islands: Proceedings of a multidisciplinary symposium. D. M. Power, eds., Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA., 531-550.



Originally submitted by: David B. Wake (first posted 1999-03-15)
Edited by: David B. Wake (2004-04-05)

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2004 Batrachoseps gregarius: Gregarious Slender Salamander <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/5284> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Mar 28, 2024.



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Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 28 Mar 2024.

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