Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum
-
- A. m. croceum Santa Cruz Co, CA – photo by Gary Nafis
-
- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Ambystoma m. croceum occurs only in California in southern Santa Cruz County and northern Monterey County.
LEGAL STATUS: Ambystoma m. croceum is listed as Endangered by both the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum (Russell and Anderson, 1956)
Genus: Ambystoma, Greek – amby = round, like the rounded top of a cup + stoma = mouth — poss. ref. large rounded mouth
Species: macrodactylum, Greek – makros = long + daktylos = toe — ref. relatively long toes
Subspecies: croceum: Latin – croceum = saffron colored (adj.) — ref. dull orange dorsal stripe
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962