(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

TAXONOMY

NAME - SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT

OTHER COMMON NAMES - SALAMANDER, SLENDER and DESERT

ELEMENT CODE -

CATEGORY - Amphibians

PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,

CLASS AND SUBCLASS - AMPHIBIA,

ORDER AND SUBORDER - CAUDATA,

FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - PLETHODONTIDAE,

GENUS AND SUBGENUS - BATRACHOSEPS,

SPECIES AND SSP - ARIDUS,

SCIENTIFIC NAME - BATRACHOSEPS ARIDUS

AUTHORITY -

TAXONOMY REFERENCES -

COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Desert Slender Salamander

Batrachoseps aridus Brame, 1970

KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Amphibian

PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Amphibia
ORDER: Caudata FAMILY: Plethodontidae

The desert slender salamander is a moderately small species of
Batrachoseps (slender salamanders) (01), belonging to the largest
family of salamanders, Plethodontidea (lungless salamanders) (02,03).
The desert slender salamander measures less than 102 mm (4 in) in
total length (02). The largest specimen measured 48.4 mm (1.9 in)
standard length (SL) (range 30.3 mm to 48.4 mm, mean 37.4 mm, N=14)
(01,02) and 47.8 mm (1.9 in) tail length (02); the tails are usually
shorter than SL (02). The species is not sexually dimorphic except
for the larger size of females and the papillate vents of males
(01,02). The species is distinguished from other species of
Batrachoseps by its ventral coloration of blackish maroon on the
belly and gular area and flesh colored tail venter (01); has a
proportionally longer head, SL 41.-4.7 (mean 4.4) times snout-gular
fold lengths (01); proportionally longers limbs, SL 4.0-4.8 (mean
4.4) times right hing limb lengths; and limbs when appressed to sides
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

of body, leaving 3.5-6.5 (mean 5.0) intercostal
folds uncovered (01, 02). Other distinguishing features include a
0-2-3-2 hand and foot phalangeal formula; a proportionally
broader head (compared to other Batrachoseps), standard lengths
5.7-7.4 (mean 6.5) times head; 16-19 (mean 17) costal groves per
side (01).
The desert slender salamander has a dorsum of blackish maroon,
with an indistinct lighter dorsal band composed of silver to brassy
iridophores interspersed with larger patches of metallic golden
orange iridophores visible from snout tip, top and sides of head,
along trunk, to four-fifths the length of the tail (01). Ventrally
the gular area and trunk are a darker blackish maroon than dorsally,
with numerous silvery iridophores on the neck and some scattered on
the gular area (01). The tail venter is flesh colored (pale pinkish
brown) (01). Silver to brassy iridophores are also found dorsally on
the upper arms and legs and scattered on the forearms (01). The eyes
are large and the iris is a deep blackish maroon with brassy
iridophores (01).
The desert slender salamander was first discovered in 1969 (02)
by Russell Murphy, a California Department of Fish and Game warden,
in lower desert slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside Co.,
California, while constructing small waterholes for wildlife (04).
It was first described in 1970 by Arden H. Brame (01). Batrachoseps
aridus is a primitive species evolving earlier and probably from
a common ancestor of B. stebbinsi (01) or it may be a relict of
B. pacificus (03). Four species of Batrachoseps (B. aridus, B.
stebbinsi, B. pacificus, and B. simatus) may be fragmentations
of a once widespread species (01). Morphologically, it is closer
to B. stebbinsi than to the other species, having a proportionally
broader head, longer limbs, and bigger feet than all species of
Batrachoseps (01).
Specimens may be found at the Los Angeles County Museum
(LACM #56271-56273, #56276, #56570-56580). Photographs and a
complete description, as well as detailed comparisons with other
Batrachoseps, can be found in Brame, 1970 (01), and a photograph can
be found in Boynton, 1971 (04).

Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

STATUS

Coded Status

E: Federal Endangered

COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Desert slender salamander (Batrachoseps aridus) has
been designated an Endangered species pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87
Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as amended. The species has
this status wherever found including the State of California.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to
import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase
any wild animal (alive or dead including parts, products, eggs,
or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.

RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:

USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
lands.
BLM -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control (43 CFR 4140). Also
responsible for management/recovery on Bureau of Land
Management lands.

All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.

STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

STATE: California
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: California Dept. of Fish and Game
STATE STATUTE: California Endangered Species Act; Fish and
Game Code Chapter 1.5, Art. I, Sect. 2050.

The California Environmental Quality Control Act (CEQA)
(PRC 2100 et seq.) recognizes Federally listed Threatened and
Endangered species as among those species requiring environmental
impact assessments be made for actions that may detrimentally affect
them. See: Guidelines for Implementation of CEQA, CA Admin. Code,
Ch. 3, Sec. 15380.

INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
This species is listed in the 1986 IUCN Red List of
Threatened Animals.

ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None

73/06/04:38 FR 14678/ - Listed as endangered

Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS

HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
INLAND AQUATIC

LAND USE -
Shrub and Brush Rangeland
Streams and Canals
Nonforested Wetland

NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES

NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC

Riverine, intermittent RB1

COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The desert slender salamander (Batrachoseps aridus) is
restricted to a spring-fed canyon in an arid desert habitat in
Riverside Co., California (01), and possibly to similar nearby
areas. The flora of the type locality (lower eastern slope of Black
Hill, elevation 500 feet) consists of cholla, agave (Agave deserti),
barrel cactus (Echinocactus acanthodes), prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia
sp.), mojave yucca (Yucca shidigera), burrobush (Ambrosia dumosa),
creosote, manzanita, juniper, and mesquite. The canyon floor
flora consists of sugar bush (Rhus ovata), narrowleaf willow
(Salix exigua), Washington fan palms (Washingtonia filifera),
creosote (Larrea divaricata), mesquite (Propsopis juliflora), and
grasses (galleta grass, Hilaria rigida); and on the north and west
facing, shaded canyon walls, mosses, algae, squaw-waterweed
(Baccharis sergiloides), stream orchid (Epipactis gigantea), and
maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-Veneris) may be found (01,02 07).
Sixty to 80 percent of the ground is bare of perennial vegetation
(02). The species is found at certain times of the year beneath the
sheet-like limestone deposits where a continuous water seepage
occurs. They can be found beneath rocks or in rock talus at lower
levels of the cliffs or at the base of the north and west facing
cliffs. Sugar bush is abundant in these areas and the soil under the
limestone sheet and talus is coarse sand and small granite rocks
(01). Normally dry waterfalls and steep canyon walls are found above
and below salamander habitat (02).
Amphibians and reptiles associated with the habitat include
the red-spotted toad (Bufo punctatus), Calif. tree frog (Hyla
cadaverina), western skink (Eumeces skiltonianus), chuckwalla
(Sauromalus obesus), and speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus
mitchelli) (02). Birds and mammals include cactus wren
(Campylorhyrhus brunneicapillus), black-throated sparrow
(Amphispiza bilineata), bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), desert
wood rat (Neotoma lepida), and antelope ground squirrel
(Ammospermophilus leucurus) (02,07).
The climate of the area is characterized by low erratic
rainfall, strong vernal winds, and high summer temperatures (02).
Rainfall probably averages 10 cm (3.94 in) per year, with occasional
heavy annual precipitation of 22.5 cm (8.9 in) to 39.4 cm (15.5 in)
(02). Temperature average a low of 15 deg. C and a high average of 25
deg. C (02). Freezing temperatures occur less than two nights per
year and the mean January maximum temperature is 16 deg. C with a
mean low of 7 deg. C (1974-1977) (02).

Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

FOOD HABITS

TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE

LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Arthropods
General Crustaceans

Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS

G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae

LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G
G Aquatic Features: Springs [flowing]
G Terrestrial Features: Talus
G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops

Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

LIFE HISTORY

FOOD HABITS:
The desert slender salamander (Batrachoseps aridus) likely
subsists on arthropods. Flies (Drosophila sp.) and ants are known
as part of the diet. The emergence and abundance of arthropods'
affect on the activity and population size of the salamander are
unknown (02).

HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
All Batrachoseps are sedentary (03). Hendrickson (05,03)
found movement in adult B. attenuatus to be within a range of
1.5 meters (two years of observations) and 59 percent were found
repeatedly under the same object. During a season of activity,
individuals were found to favor a single object in another study
(06,03). Support for a limited home range is evidenced by individual
species of Batrachoseps having survived in isolated patches of
suitable habitat, as surrounding habitats became unsuitable (03).
The total habitat area of the salamander at Hidden Palms Canyon is
less than 0.2 ha (0.5 acres) (02).

PERIODICITY:
Optimum surface activity of B. aridus is probably from late
February to early April, when salamanders can be found more readily
beneath rocks and dirt clogs (07). From April through November,
surface activity is likely restricted by weather conditions such as
heat and rain. During November through January, surface activity is
probably precluded at night by below freezing temperatures (07).
During April through February, the salamander is more likely to be
found well within the cracks and crevices of the limestone sheeting
(07).

MIGRATION PATTERNS:
The species is non-migratory (02,03).

COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
The desert slender salamander is a reclusive species. It
requires moist conditions to maintain moist skin, through which it
breathes (02). It spends most of its life in the porous soil,
fractures in the bedrock or limestone sheeting, where water seepage
provides the moisture (01,02). Occasionally, it may be found above
ground, under loose rocks or other objects by day or exposed at night
(02). The most important structural component of the habitat is the
porous limestone sheeting covering portions of the canyon wall. This
sheeting was formed and fed by seepage within the passages, created
by decayed roots or the formation of the limestone itself (02). The
moisture to the species' habitat is supplied from a 182 ha (440 acre)
watershed at Hidden Palms Canyon (02). The soil under the limestone
sheet and talus is coarse sand and small granite rocks (01).
Specific water and soil characteristics are unknown.

REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Since the species has a restricted home range, the reproductive
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

site requirements are assumed to be the same as the cover/shelter
requirements above.

REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Courtship and egg laying probably occur very shortly before
egg laying. Eggs of B. aridus have never been observed. Based
on other species of Batrachoseps, eggs may be layed soon after heavy
winter rains (Nov. to Jan.) (02). However, the semi-aquatic species,
B. pacificus relictus, at the southern end of the Sierra range
appears to deposit eggs later in the spring or summer (02).

PARENTAL CARE:
Parental care is not known and is unlikely.

POPULATION BIOLOGY:
No information is known about the population biology of the
salamander.

SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
The western skink (Eumeces skiltonianus), found in the
vicinity, is a possible predator of B. aridus. The ringneck
snake (Diadophis puntatus) may be a predator; although it has
not been seen in the immediate area of B. aridus, it is found in
similar terrain and elevation (02,07,08).

OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
To avoid dry surface conditions, Batrachoseps probably competes
for "burrows" (03). The desert slender salamander exhibits an
unusual defensive posture by winding itself in a watchspring-like
coil (07,08). Unlike other Batrachoseps, it holds its tail straight
up or curved above the body, resembling an earthworm or annelid worm
(07,08). This type of defensive display probably causes the predator
to strike at the tail thinking it is a worm. The tail would then
separate from the body, sparing the salamander (07,08).

Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow
Beneficial Developing/maintaining/protecting wetlands
Beneficial Controlling water levels
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Groundwater drawdown
Existing Groundwater drawdown
Adverse Irrigating
Existing Irrigating
Adverse Erosion
Existing Erosion

COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The main reasons for the desert slender salamander's status are
its restricted range, small population size, and dependence on moist
habitat conditions (02). A 178 ha (440 acre) watershed above the
approximately 0.4 ha (1 acre) box canyon habitat in Hidden Palm
Canyon, supplies the required moisture to the habitat. Ground water
pumping or water diversion projects in the watershed could indirectly
impact the salamander habitat (02). Eighty percent of the watershed
is privately owned (02). Erosion caused by severe storms (as
occurred in 1976) can cause severe habitat deterioration (02). The
species has a very limited distribution, making it vulnerable to any
single catastrophic event (02).
Future threats include development in the watershed which could
adversely affect the water seepage or water quality in the habitat.
Should recreational activity or access to the area increase, this
could lead to direct habitat disturbance or increase the
potential for unrestrained collecting.

APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Recovery Plan for the
Desert Slender Salamander. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Portland, Oregon. August 1982. 34 pp.

The primary objective of the Desert Slender Salamander Recovery
Plan is to protect and perpetuate the species by stabilizing,
protecting, and monitoring its existing habitat and maintaining
viable, self-sustaining population. Reclassification to threatened
status may be considered when a second population which is viable and
self-sustaining is found. Delisting is very remote because the
population is low (less than 600) and its distribution is so
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

restricted (less than 0.5 ha); thus, no delisting criteria have
been made.
The recovery activities necessary to achieve the primary
objective are:
1. Protect and manage the Hidden Palm Ecological Preserve by a)
stabilizing water component of its habitat, b) protecting its
watershed, c) preventing catastrophic habitat loss, d) determining
population and reproduction parameters, and e) analyzing predation
and other mortality factors, f) monitoring the population, and g)
monitoring its habitat;
2. Develop and implement management plans for other
populations;
3. Assess feasibility of transplanting into selected sites
(determine historical range, study habitat parameters of candidate
sites, and develop rearing methodology);
4. Determine number and sizes of populations necessary for
declassifying to threatened and delisting;
5. Minimize unauthorized disturbances to the population
and its habitat by enforcing State and Federal laws and regulations,
relocating the road pullout to more distant location, and preventing
modifications to drainage; and
6. Implement public information and education program with
displays at selected locations.

Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species SALAMANDER, SLENDER, DESERT
Species Id ESIS201002
Date 14 MAR 96

References

***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****

01 Brame, A.H., Jr. 1970. A new species of Batrachoceps
(slender salamander) from the desert of southern California.
Los Angeles Co. Mus., Contrib. in Sci. No. 200, Nov. 13,
1973. 11 pp.
02 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Desert Slender
Salamander Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv.,
Portland, OR. 34 pp.
03 Yanev, K. P. 1980. Biogeography and distribution of three
parapatric salamander species in coastal and borderland
California. Reprint from the California Islands: Proceedings
of a Multidisciplinary Symposium. Dennis M. Power (ed.).
Santa Barbara Mus. of Nat. Hist., Santa Barbara, CA. pp.
531-550.
04 Boynton, K. L. 1971. The singular salamander. October 1971.
Desert Mag. pp. 18-21.
05 Hendrickson, J.R. 1954. Ecology and systematics of
salamanders of the genus Batrachoseps. Univ. Calif. Publ.
Zool. 54:1-46.
06 Maiorana, V. C. 1978. Difference in diet as an
epiphoenomenon: space regulates salamanders. Canadian J.
Zool. 56:1017-1025.
07 California Department of Fish and Game. 1975. Fish and
wildlife management plan for the Hidden Palm Ecological
Reserve, Riverside County, California. March 1975. State of
California, Resources Agency, Dept. of Fish and Game. 15 pp.
08 Brame, A. H., M. C. Long, and A. A. Chiri. 1973. Defensive
display of the desert slender salamander, Batrachoseps
aridus. Herpeton 8:(1) Dec 20, 1973.

***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****

References - 1