Fauna
Amphibian · GBIF taxon 2431643

Ensatina

Ensatina eschscholtzii

Also known as Ensatina Salamander

Ensatinas are lungless woodland salamanders with a noticeably constricted tail base and highly variable color across their range. They breathe through moist skin and shelter beneath logs, bark, and stones in forests and chaparral.

lungless salamanderwoodland amphibianring species complex
Ensatina reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • springtails
  • mites
  • small spiders
Predators
  • snakes
  • shrews
  • ground beetles
ThreatsForest drying, severe fire, logging, habitat fragmentation, disease, and prolonged drought
HabitatsConifer forest, oak woodland, chaparral, shaded ravines, and moist ground cover
Life spanLikely several years, with many individuals maturing slowly in cool habitats
Classification
  1. FamilyPlethodontidae
  2. SpeciesEnsatina eschscholtzii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Do not handle; skin oils and drying can injure this moisture-dependent salamander.
Responsible observation
  • Identify: Note the narrow waist where the tail joins the body.
  • Observe: Replace any lifted cover object gently in its original position.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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