Description: Adults are 2 3/8 to 3 inches long from snout to vent, and 4 1/3 to 6 inches in total length. Aslender, elongated salamander with short limbs, nasolabial grooves, and usually 18 costal grooves with 5 to 6 intercostal folds between adpressed limbs. Toes are short and slightly webbed. Color is solid dark brown or black with an even-edged reddish brown dorsal stripe extending from the head to the tail tip. Often, especially with older animals, this stripe is missing and the body is solid brown or black. The belly is dark gray with light gray flecks. Juveniles resemble adults, but have more conspicuous dorsal stripes.
Habitat: Terrestrial, strongly associated with moist talus in humid shaded and closed-canopy coastal forests of mixed hardwoods and conifers, but also found in rock rubble of old riverbeds, and under bark and logs on forest floor, usually in rocky areas. Especially attracted to older forests.
Range: Found along the coast in far northwest California from near Orick, Humboldt County, east to near the Seiad Valley, Sisiyou county and Salyer, Trinity County, and north into southwestern Oregon where they have been found inland along West Cow Creek in Douglas County
Diet: Eats small invertebrates, including termites, mites, beetles, and springtails. Del Norte Salamanders are sit-and-wait predators, quickly jumping from a hiding spot to grab their prey.
Reproduction: Not much is known about the breeding behavior of this species. Reproduction is terrestrial. Mating probably occurs in fall and spring. Females lay eggs most likely in underground nests, probably under rocky talus, in spring or early summer and it is presumed that they brood them until they hatch in the fall. Eggs have been found at the base of a redwood fence post. There were 10 eggs in a grape-like cluster. Two adult females were found with 10 to 11 eggs. Young develop completely in the egg and hatch fully formed, probably in fall, and most likely remain underground until the following spring.
Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its relatively wide distribution, presumed large population, and remaining suitable habitat across its range.
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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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