Native to California: The Slender Salamander

California is a wonderful place to live, with its varying climate from the south to the north, beaches, mountains, deserts and movie stars. But there's also a native Californian that most people have probably never even heard of; the California slender salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus). These tiny two to three inch creatures range throughout most of the Californian region from the coastal areas of Southern California to the foothills of the Sierra Mountain Range. They have also been found in Oregon and way down south into Baja. There are up to twenty different species of slender salamander within California as well.

The California slender salamander is not protected, but several groups have tried to get its habitat protected. In Oregon, for instance, the Department of Fish and Wildlife declared that all non game species must be protected from harm. This includes the California slender salamander. Also in Oregon, the Natural Heritage Advisory Council made the California slender salamander a part of Oregon's Winchuck Slope area's natural heritage, thereby protecting it through conservation.

Slender salamanders are interesting little vertebrates because they don't travel very far and usually won't go further than a few yards from their home. They are generally found under logs in moist conditions. They lay large eggs in jelly like masses of up to 20. The female doesn't really care for the eggs and goes about her business as usual once the eggs are laid. They will hatch in a couple of months. Slender salamanders move around mostly at night, staying within moist leaf litter or under logs, rocks or wooden boards during the day to stop from drying out. When it rains, they are especially active. However, during dry or very cold to freezing weather, they will make their way under the ground

Slender salamanders are dark, almost black with a stripe down the center. The different species vary a bit in color, but they are all still very dark. Their body is very slim, as is their head. Because their body is long and thin, they look like small worms. They also wriggle around like a worm, although much faster than most worms would wriggle. They have four short, stubby legs with four toes on each foot. The slender salamander technically does not have lungs, but respires, or breathes, through its skin.

They eat very small bugs, snails, slugs or spiders. Because they are small and slender, they can get into earthworm or termite burrows to look for food. If you're lucky enough to live in California and find one of these beautiful little salamanders in your garden, make sure you don't hurt it because they are a part of the native environment.