Cali Herping -- March 2015

[AdvythAF]

In some forest habitat, I found lots of slender salamanders, as well as a baby ensatina.
I found a cool slender salamander that was golden in color. Photos are attached below.

It was a little surprising to find these salamanders because the ground was really dry, but nonetheless they were out and about on the surface. The temps were in the high 50's. (F). The weather was sunny, but the forest was really cool and shaded. The forest looked like redwood & Douglas fir. There was a creek too but I couldn't find any Dicamptodon larvae.

Can someone ID the Ensatina? It looks like an Oregon Ensatina, but the colors are a bit different.

 

[otolith]

Its hard to say what sub species the Ensatina is since its still a juvenile. It is easiest to go by range since they are so regionally specific. If you were north of SF its almost certainly oregenonesis, if you're in the east bay or SF area its xanthoptica and if you were in the Santa Cruz area its probably Eschscholtzii or an intergrade of xanthoptica and E. e. e.

 

[matamander]

Awesome pictures! The ensatinas have to be one of my favorite salamander species. This summer when I was looking for salamanders in Cali I found a couple of ensatinas when it was super dry out. Some of the literature mentions ensatinas being pretty dry tolerant if they can find a slightly moist area. I think one person found one under a piece of tin with two alligator lizards once (either on here or a field herp group facebook).

 

[AdvythAF]

I agree, Ensatinas are the coolest

I think that Ensatinas can survive in many dry environments as long as hides with some moisture is available. Although, I tend to see MUCH more Ensatinas after rains.