Batrachoseps gabrieli

Wake, 1996

San Gabriel Mountains Slender Salamander

G2Imperiled (G2G3) Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100899
Element CodeAAAAD02110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusBatrachoseps
Other Common Names
San Gabriel Slender Salamander (EN)
Concept Reference
Wake, D. B. 1996. A new species of Batrachoseps (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) from the San Gabriel Mountains, southern California. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Contributions in Science (463):1-12.
Taxonomic Comments
This Batrachoseps is strongly differentiated genetically from other member of the genus (Wake 1996).
Conservation Status
Review Date2015-07-13
Change Date2015-07-13
Edition Date2002-01-02
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent250-5000 square km (about 100-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Known from 11 locations in the San Gabriel Mountains, California; population trend uncertain.
Range Extent Comments
San Gabriel Mountains, California; elevations of about 1050-1500 m (Wake 1996, Goodman et al. 1998).
Occurrences Comments
Known from 11 localities (Wake 1996, Goodman et al. 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A medium-sized, slender Batrachoseps with a relatively broad head, long limbs, large feet, and a markedly tapered tail; adults are 4-5 cm SVL (Wake 1996, Petranka 1998).

Diagnostic Characteristics

Differs from other attenuate members of the genus by the combination of its relatively broad head, long limbs, wide feet, tapering tail of moderate length, and distinctive color pattern, including markings of bright pigmentation; differs from all other members of the genus in allozymes and mtDNA (Wake 1996).

Habitat

Has been found under rocks, wood, or fern fronds on a steep northwest-facing talus slope shaded by Quercus chrysolepis and Pseudotsuga macrocarpa, on soil along Soldier Creek at the base of the talus slope, and under rocks and logs 10-15 m from a stream in Rockbound Canyon (Wake 1996).

Ecology

As many as three adults have been found under the same rock, suggesting low aggressiveness or lack of strong territoriality (Wake 1996, Petranka 1998).

Reproduction

Terrestrial breeder.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - MixedWoodland - MixedBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS2Yes
Roadless Areas (8)
California (8)
AreaForestAcres
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
References (6)
  1. Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.
  2. 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]
  3. Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
  4. Goodman, R.H., Jr., S.K. Watanabe, K.P. Condon, and M.N. Pires. 1998. Geographic distribution: <i>Batrachoseps gabrieli</i>. Herpetological Review 29:171.
  5. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  6. Wake, D. B. 1996. A new species of <i>Batrachoseps </i> (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) from the San Gabriel Mountains, southern California. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Contributions in Science (463):1-12.