Slender salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slender salamanders |
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| Batrachoseps attenuatus | |
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Batrachoseps
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Slender salamanders are a group of small, worm-like salamanders. They are part of a special family called lungless salamanders. This means they do not have lungs to breathe. Instead, they breathe through their skin and the lining of their mouths. Slender salamanders are unique because they have only four toes on each foot. Most salamanders have five toes. These interesting creatures live in Oregon, California, and Baja California in Mexico.
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About Slender Salamanders
Slender salamanders are known for their long, thin bodies. They look a bit like worms or snakes. Their small size helps them hide in tight spaces. They are usually found under rocks, logs, or in leaf litter. This helps them stay moist and safe from predators.
Where Slender Salamanders Live
These salamanders are mostly found along the Pacific coast of North America. They live in different habitats, from forests to grasslands. They need places that stay cool and damp. This is important because they breathe through their skin. If their skin dries out, they cannot breathe properly.
How They Breathe Without Lungs
It might seem strange for an animal not to have lungs. Slender salamanders breathe using a process called "cutaneous respiration." This means oxygen passes directly through their moist skin and into their blood. They also use the lining of their mouths and throats to absorb oxygen. This special way of breathing helps them live in damp, cool places.
What Makes Them Special
One of the most noticeable features of slender salamanders is their feet. They have only four toes on each foot. Most other salamanders have five toes on their back feet. Their small, short limbs and long bodies help them move through narrow cracks and tunnels. This is useful for finding food and hiding.
Different Kinds of Slender Salamanders
Scientists have found 19 different kinds, or species, of slender salamanders. Each species has its own unique features and preferred habitat. They are all part of the Batrachoseps genus. Here are some of the recognized species:
| Batrachoseps attenuatus Eschscholtz, 1833 |
California slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps campi Marlow, Brode & Wake, 1979 |
Inyo Mountains slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps diabolicus Jockusch, Wake & Yanev, 1998 |
Hell Hollow slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps gabrieli Wake, 1996 |
San Gabriel slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps gavilanensis Jockusch, Yanev & Wake, 2001 |
Gabilan Mountains slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps gregarius Jockusch, Wake & Yanev, 1998 |
Gregarious slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps incognitus Jockusch, Yanev & Wake, 2001 |
San Simeon slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps kawia Jockusch, Wake & Yanev, 1998 |
Sequoia slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps luciae Jockusch, Yanev & Wake, 2001 |
San Lucia Mountains slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps major Camp, 1915 |
Garden slender salamander |
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| Batrachoseps minor Jockusch, Yanev & Wake, 1998 |
Lesser slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps nigriventris Cope, 1869 |
Black-bellied slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps pacificus (Cope, 1865) |
Pacific slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps regius Jockusch, Wake & Yanev, 1998 |
King's River slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps relictus Brame & Murray, 1968 |
Relictual slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps robustus Wake, Yanev & Hansen, 2002 |
Kern Plateau slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps simatus Brame & Murray, 1968 |
Kern Canyon slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps stebbinsi Brame & Murray, 1968 |
Tehachapi slender salamander | |
| Batrachoseps wrighti (Bishop, 1937) |
Oregon slender salamander |
Images for kids
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Batrachoseps gavilanensis – Gabilan Mountains slender salamander
See also
In Spanish: Batrachoseps para niños
