About Batrachoseps gavilanensis Jockusch, Yanev & Wake, 2001
The Gabilan Mountains slender salamander, scientifically named Batrachoseps gavilanensis, is a species of salamander belonging to the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to California, United States, and is distributed along the state's Central Coast region, ranging from Santa Cruz to northern Kern County. This salamander inhabits redwood forests, evergreen forests, chaparral, and California oak woodland, and it burrows in soil and forest litter. The species reaches a maximum total length of 16.5 centimeters, which includes its long tail. Its base color is gray, with brown and black overlying coloration, white speckling along its sides, and most individuals have a brownish dorsal stripe bordered by black dots. In 2001, this species and several other native California salamanders were formally described as new separate species after the Batrachoseps pacificus species complex was split based on results from phylogenetic analysis.
