San Gabriel Slender Salamander

A moderate-sized slender salamander identified by having four digits on the hind limb and having a relatively broad and well demarcated head, long limbs and large hands and feet, and a tapering tail. The species has a distinctive color pattern consisting of bright coppery markings arranged as a pair of parallel streaks over the shoulders and in the pelvic region and spots or blotches on the tail. The ground color is black and the venter of the trunk is shiny dark black with a few small, widely scattered, indistinct white spots that are absent along the midline. The tail is shorter and less cylindrical than is typical of nearby and sympatric (Batrachoseps nigriventris) species.This species has no close relatives. Data from allozymes and mitochondrial DNA sequences have been interpreted as indicating that the species has been separated from other species in the subgenus Batrachoseps for on the order of 8 to 13 million years. See another account at californiaherps.com (http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/b.gabrieli.html).

Known only from the upper reaches of the San Gabriel River system on the south slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains, southern California.

Almost nothing is known. The species has been found in the vicinity of rocky talus slopes in lightly to heavily forested regions.

The species apparently was not observed by scientists prior to 1982 and was not recognized as new until later. It occurs on land within the Angeles National Forest but relatively near places visited by people for recreational purposes. There do not appear to be any threats, but the known geographic range is very small and activities such as road or campground construction could inadvertantly destroy habitat.

Not known.

The San Gabriel slender salamander (Batrachoseps gabrieli) is a species of salamander. It has a worm-like body, a large head and large limbs, and an elongate cylindrical tail of less than 1.5 times its body length. An adult salamander is between 3 and 5 cm long. It has a black dorsum with white, coppery, and orange blotches, and an immaculate black venter. It may have red spots on tail.

B. gabrieli is similar to the related species B. pacificus and B. nigriventis.

This species is only known from the San Gabriel Canyon system, and typically lives above 1,000 meters in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County.