Southern California Slender Salamander

While Batrachoseps major is a small salamander, it is larger than most other Batrachoseps slender salamanders. Adults are 3.2–5.9 centimetres (1.3–2.3 in) in length and have 17-21 costal grooves. Like other Batrachoseps, B. major has only four toes on its hind feet. Color is variable, but individuals are usually some form of gray. A key identification feature is the color of the underside, which is pale for B. major. This is the simplest method to distinguish B. major from the similar B. nigriventris where the two co-occur, although the latter is typically also much smaller and less robust.

Batrachoseps major is endemic to a relatively small portion of southern California and northwestern Baja California within the California Floristic Province, ranging from the San Fernando Valley in the north south to Ensenada, with records as far south as El Rosario and the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. It also occurs on Santa Catalina Island, the Coronado islands, and the Todos Santos islands, though it was probably introduced there. Despite its small geographic range, it is generally abundant within that range. This species primarily, but not exclusively, occurs in lowland habitats. In the northern part of its range in Los Angeles County, B. major is restricted to low elevation valleys and basins. It is not found any significant distance into the Transverse Ranges in the county, including the San Gabriel Mountains and Santa Monica Mountains where B. nigriventris is instead present. Further south, in the parts of the Peninsular Ranges where B. nigriventris does not occur, B. major occupies a wider range of elevations and is found throughout the peninsular ranges of San Diego County and northwest Baja California. Native habitat for B. major includes coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, conifer forests, and, rarely, north-facing slopes of desert mountains in the Peninsular ranges. …

Batrachoseps major feeds on worms, insects, and other invertebrates, using its long tongue to grab prey. Swallowing prey can often take longer than 30 minutes after it has been captured by the salamander.