Order Caudata Genus Batrachoseps | Phylum Chordata Family Plethodontidae Scientific name Batrachoseps nigriventris Rank Species | |
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Similar Slender salamander, Salamander, Channel Islands slender s, Garden slender salamander, San Gabriel slender s | ||
Em black bellied slender salamander surprise
The black-bellied slender salamander, Batrachoseps nigriventris, is a small species of salamander that is endemic to California.
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Distribution
This salamander prefers California chaparral and woodlands habitats of Coast live oak - Quercus agrifolia and California sycamore - Platanus racemosa.
Description
The black-bellied slender salamander is about 3.1 to 4.3 cm long. It has a worm-like body, a small head and small limbs, and a long cylindrical tail, often twice the length of its body.
The black-bellied slender salamander can have a black, tan, reddish, brown or beige dorsum often with a contrasting broad mid-dorsal stripe of similar colors. It has a purplish or black venter with fine light speckling over the entire surface.
This species will coil its body and tail when handled; it is fragile and easily injured. Batrachoseps nigriventis looks similar to the related species Batrachoseps pacificus and Batrachoseps gabrieli.