The black-bellied slender salamander (Batrachoseps nigriventris) is a small species of salamander that is endemic to California.
| Black-bellied slender salamander | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Batrachoseps |
| Species: | B. nigriventris
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| Binomial name | |
| Batrachoseps nigriventris Cope, 1869
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Distribution edit
This salamander prefers California chaparral and woodlands habitats of Coast live oak - Quercus agrifolia and California sycamore - Platanus racemosa.
Description edit
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.
Reproduction edit
These salamanders reproduce by laying eggs, which are usually buried underground and thus rarely seen.[2]
Food web edit
The diet of the black-bellied salamander is poorly documented but is probably similar to the diet of the garden slender salamander, which includes worms, larva, small terrestrial arthropods and mollusks.[3] Potential predators include gray foxes, skunks, raccoons, skinks, and ringtails.[3]
References edit
- ^ Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). "Batrachoseps nigriventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T59130A11887356. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59130A11887356.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Batrachoseps nigriventris: Black-bellied Slender Salamander". AmphibiaWeb (amphibiaweb.org). University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b Harvey, T. (2005). "Black-Bellied Salamander - California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System". nrm.dfg.ca.gov.
- Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). "Batrachoseps nigriventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T59130A11887356. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59130A11887356.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
- This article is based on a description from "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California", Robert N. Fisher and Ted J. Case, USGS, http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/index.htm.