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Home/Species/ Big Spring Legless Lizard

Anniella campi

Papenfuss and Parham, 2013

Big Spring Legless Lizard

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.960633
Element CodeARACC01040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyAnniellidae
GenusAnniella
Other Common Names
Southern Sierra Legless Lizard (EN)
Concept Reference
Papenfuss, T. J., and J. F. Parham. 2013. Four new species of California legless lizards. Breviora (536):1-17.
Taxonomic Comments
The former A. pulchra was divided into five species by Papenfuss and Parham (2013). Some of the standard English names proposed by Papenfuss and Parham (2013) have been changed in the interest of brevity and descriptive accuracy (Crother 2017).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2016-03-28
Change Date2016-03-28
Edition Date2016-03-28
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent<100-250 square km (less than about 40-100 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 20
Rank Reasons
Small known range in a few canyons that open into the Mohave Desert from the southern Sierra Navada in California; may be restricted to the vicinity of potentially fragile springs in otherwise inhospitable desert habitat; three known localities separated by a maximum distance of not more than 50 km; locally common at one site; better information is needed on distribution, abundance, and threats.
Range Extent Comments
Known range includes three localities along the western edge of the Mohave Desert in Kern and Inyo counties, California (Papenfuss and Parham 2013). Papenfuss and Parham (2013) stated that it is is likely that this species will be found in canyons between known localities at Big Spring and
Nine Mile Canyon. The most widely separated known localities (Nine Mile Canyon and Sage Canyon) appear to be approximately 40 km apart, based on the map in Papenfuss and Parham (2013). Localities with reported elevations are between 1,200 and 1,300 meters (1,230-1,240 meters at Big Spring).
Occurrences Comments
Just a few occurrences are known, and the true number of extant occurrences seems likely to be small.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known, but the apparently restricted and "potentially fragile" habitat may be vulnerable to loss or reduction (e.g., through localized human activities or climate change).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species may be restricted to the vicinity of potentially fragile springs in canyons that open into the Mohave Desert (Papenfuss and Parham 2013). At Big Spring, specimens were collected by raking under debris that had accumulated at the base of Chamisa (Ericameria nauseosa) adjacent to the spring (Papenfuss and Parham 2013).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparral
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modifications——Unknown
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownUnknown
11.2 - DroughtsPervasive (71-100%)UnknownUnknown

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Roadless Areas (2)
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
References (5)
  1. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  2. Papenfuss, T. J., and J. F. Parham. 2013. Four new species of California legless lizards. Breviora (536):1-17.
  3. Parham, J. F., and T. J. Papenfuss. 2009. High genetic diversity among fossorial lizard populations (<i>Anniella pulchra</i>) in a rapidly developing landscape (central California). Conservation Genetics 10: 169-176.
  4. Parham, J.F., M.S. Koo, W.B. Simison, A. Perkins, T.J. Papenfuss. and E.N. Tennant. 2019. Conservation Assessment of the California Legless Lizard (Anniella). Prepared for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Grant Agreement, Sacramento, CA.
  5. Thompson, R.C., A.N. Wright, and B.H. Shaffer. 2016. California Amphibian and Reptile Species of Special Concern. California Legless Lizard Species Account. Oakland, California: University of California Press. https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=190339&inline