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Batrachoseps attenuatus
The California slender salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) is a lungless salamander that is found primarily in coastal mountain areas of Northern California, United States as well as in a limited part of the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, California, in patches of the northern Central Valley of California, and in extreme southwestern Oregon. What makes this amphibian notable is that this species resides primarily in a limited range within California as one of a handful quasi-endemic amphibians in the state.
Seen in the oak habitat of Mt Diablo.The state of Oregon has taken seriously their duty to protect the California slender salamander. In 2002, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife adopted a rule to protect nongame wildlife by making it illegal to hunt, trap, pursue, kill, take, catch, angle for, or have in possession, either dead or alive, whole or in part, a California slender salamander. In 2003, the Natural Heritage Advisory Council to the Oregon State Land Board identified the California slender salamanders residing in Winchuck Slope as part of Oregon's natural heritage that needed to be conserved
This salamander was slender and had huge eyes and two cute little hand and 2 legs. When I saw it i almost mistook it for an earthworm. It was half buried ,vertically with it's tail sticking out. These are lungless. Red cells lack nuclei which is similar to mammals and they can live up to 8 yrs. Common predators are scrub jays and ring-necked snakes.
Spotted on Mar 6, 2018
Submitted on Mar 6, 2018
12 Comments
Mark, it could be easy to dig them by mistake .In the open spaces where the grass is green you can come across lots of them. Scrub jays and ring-necked snakes eat them. Sometimes they are camouflaged and look so much like earthworms that it would be quite easy for a person to mistake it for one. They can live up to 8 yrs. Amazing for something that small.
Thank you Project Noah ,for the nomination. :)
Therefore another interesting fact is that California Slender salamanders havr red blood cells with No Nucleii.
Also,n general, red blood cells in mammals lack a cell nucleus when mature, and the red blood cells of other vertebrates have nuclei. The only known exceptions are salamanders of the Batrachoseps genus and fish of the Maurolicus genus with closely related species.
Yes Maria,the the California slender salamander, doesn’t have lungs or gills as an adult. Commonly called lungless salamanders, they breathe through their skin and the thin membranes in the mouth and throat.
Interesting - I had not heard of lungless salamanders
It would be easy to dig them by accident then ?!
Interesting spotting, Hema...well done!
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Awesome spotting Hema! Be sure t spell out the full genus name in the scientific name field so that it comes up in searches. It also helps people learn to recognize the name.
Thnx :)
Amazing spotting, Hema. I would've thought it was just a small garden lizard, or perhaps an earthworm too. Great photos and info.