Compare two species

Hell Hollow Slender Salamander vs. California Slender Salamander

Both are worm-like slender salamanders; their records meet in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento. A: 18 to 20, usually 19; the trunk a little less long and thin in the Hell Hollow Slender Salamander; 19 to 22, usually 20 or 21; an extremely long, worm-like body in the California Slender Salamander. B: Broader feet; shorter, wider toes joined at the base by some webbing (no open photo shows the feet clearly) in the Hell Hollow Slender Salamander; narrow feet; longer, slender toes, free of webbing in the California Slender Salamander. C: Plain light grey to slate, with sparse fine pale flecks, not mottled (no open photo shows it) in the Hell Hollow Slender Salamander; dark grey to black, densely salt-and-peppered with fine white spots in the California Slender Salamander. D: Dull bronze, tan or dark brown, the edges blurred or broken in the Hell Hollow Slender Salamander; usually bold and broad, brick-red, yellow-brown or reddish-tan with crisp edges in the California Slender Salamander. Counting grooves and checking the toes needs the animal in hand. Range decides most of the time: Sierra foothills from Amador to Mariposa counties (Hell Hollow) vs the Coast Ranges and northern Sierra foothills (California Slender).

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Hell Hollow Slender Salamander

Batrachoseps diabolicus

California Slender Salamander

Batrachoseps attenuatus

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

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