California - Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander - Ambystoma Macrodactylum Croceum

	Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander - Ambystoma Macrodactylum Croceum
STATUS: Endangered without critical habitat. DESCRIPTION: has a dark gray or balck body that is sprinkled with small, irregualr, orange-to-tan specks along the midline of its back and tail. Fine, white flecks dust the salamander's sides, and its belly is sooty gray. It has elongated tooes which taper delicately. Measures abou 11.5-13.5 cm overall. HABITAT: In summer live in moist, cool retreats among dense reiparioan vegetation, willow thickets, desnse coastal scurb or coast live oak wodland. Often take up residence in small mammal burrow and decayed logs. In winter migrate to temporary pools or semipermanent ponds to breed. Migrate at night during rains. Drainages with lush vegetative cover form ideal migration corridors to the ponds. DISTRIBUTION: Present: Survives today in a few scattered locations, al in Santa Cruz and norhtern Monterey counties. Historic: Not Known. THREATS AND/OR REASONS FOR DECLINE: development of highway through natural habitat; drainage of habitatsaltwater intrusiona nd agricultural runoff has contaminminated at one breeding site; pesticides. OTHER INFORMATION: Diet is made up of isopods, spiders, and insects. They breed in winter at temporary pools or simepermanent ponds. Females attach eggs singly to aquatic vegetation. After eggs hatch the larvae must stay underwater until the pond begins to dry up which triggers the metamophosis for most larvae. REFERENCES: Life on the Edge. Biosystems Books 1994. Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander - Ambystoma Macrodactylum Croceum

STATUS: Endangered without critical habitat.

DESCRIPTION: has a dark gray or balck body that is sprinkled with small, irregualr, orange-to-tan specks along the midline of its back and tail. Fine, white flecks dust the salamander's sides, and its belly is sooty gray. It has elongated tooes which taper delicately. Measures abou 11.5-13.5 cm overall.

HABITAT: In summer live in moist, cool retreats among dense reiparioan vegetation, willow thickets, desnse coastal scurb or coast live oak wodland. Often take up residence in small mammal burrow and decayed logs. In winter migrate to temporary pools or semipermanent ponds to breed. Migrate at night during rains. Drainages with lush vegetative cover form ideal migration corridors to the ponds.

DISTRIBUTION:

Present: Survives today in a few scattered locations, al in Santa Cruz and norhtern Monterey counties.
Historic: Not Known.

THREATS AND/OR REASONS FOR DECLINE: development of highway through natural habitat; drainage of habitatsaltwater intrusiona nd agricultural runoff has contaminminated at one breeding site; pesticides.

OTHER INFORMATION: Diet is made up of isopods, spiders, and insects. They breed in winter at temporary pools or simepermanent ponds. Females attach eggs singly to aquatic vegetation. After eggs hatch the larvae must stay underwater until the pond begins to dry up which triggers the metamophosis for most larvae.

REFERENCES:
Life on the Edge. Biosystems Books 1994. Santa Cruz, California