![]() ![]() The timing of this cycle is highly dependent on weather, and varies greatly between wet and dry years. It is not known if adults tend their young, and the adults and the young animals migrate to the surface during the early rains in the fall and winter. Hatchlings emerge during winter and early spring. The number of eggs per set ranged from 13 to 20. Egg sets have been found from December 8 to January 18. Eggs are laid while the female is below ground during late fall and winter. Because of this they must descend from the surface to moist areas underground before the late spring. The Channel Islands slender salamander do not have the ability to dig their own burrows, but use excavations of other animals and cracks in the soil, in addition to man made tunnels and crevices. The Channel Islands slender salamander probably eats a similar array of prey items. attenuatus) capture prey using a projectile tongue and feed on small invertebrates, which consist of on earthworms, small slugs, a variety of terrestrial arthropods including sowbugs and millipedes, and insects including collembolans, aphids, caterpillars, small beetles, beetle larvae, and ants. Studies describe that a similar species, the California slender salamander (B. However, the moderating influence of cool, marine air, combined with daily fog, extends activity throughout the summer.įeeding probably occurs both above and below ground. Periods of surface activity correspond generally to the rainy season, especially in drier inland valleys (e.g., Santa Cruz Island). Dense populations have been found in open areas near the ocean in February at the west end of Santa Cruz Island, salamanders were abundant under driftwood on sand within 200 feet of the ocean. They have been found under rocks and logs, especially near streams. In general, when only one species is found at a more open site, it is usually Channel Islands slender salamanders.Ĭhannel Islands slender salamanders occur in grassland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, riparian, oak woodlands, and pine forest communities. However, only Channel Islands slender salamanders were found under driftwood on a sandy substrate near the ocean. In one February survey, researchers recorded 155 Channel Islands slender salamanders and 152 black-bellied slender salamanders in similar habitat. Interestingly, Channel Islands slender salamanders share their habitat on Santa Cruz Island with another similar species, the black-bellied slender salamanders without interbreeding. The Channel Islands slender salamander is an endemic species found only on the Channel Islands, although not on Santa Barbara Island. The throat and underside of the tail are pale and the abdomen area is whitish or slate, with light and dark speckling. Its coloration is brown to pinkish above with a wide dorsal stripe with indefinite borders, and may be made up of many light speckles. Fairly robust for a slender salamander, with relatively long legs. There are four toes on the front and hind feet, which is also typical of slender salamanders. It has short limbs, a narrow head, long slender body, very long tail, and with its conspicuous costal and end of torso grooves, this species has the worm-like appearance typical of most slender salamanders. The Channel Islands slender salamander is a small slim salamander with 18-20 costal grooves, which denote its rib connections. The cool marine climate of the Channel Islands, including summer fog, provides enough moisture for this species to be active all year.The tail is easily broken off, but it can be regenerated.It might also uncoil quickly and spring away, repeatedly bouncing over the ground, or drop its tail to distract a predator.Typical of most slender salamanders, when disturbed, this salamander may coil up and remain still, relying on cryptic coloring to avoid detection.Lungless salamanders breathe through their skin, requiring them to live in damp environments on land, not in water, and to move about on the ground only during times of high humidity.The Channel Islands slender salamander is a member of family Plethodontidae, the lungless salamanders.This secretive creature is found under rocks and logs (mainly near streams) and also in the soil litter, or duff, during the winter and spring rainy season. ![]() The Channel Island slender salamander is found on Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Anacapa islands and is the only endemic amphibian found on any of the California islands. ![]()
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