Scientific Name: Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum
Status: E, PCH
The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander is a relatively small (four to 12 inches), black salamander with yellow-orange blotches. It frequents coastal woodlands and chaparral near the ponds and freshwater marshes in which it breeds. This salamander spends a significant portion of its life underground in the burrows of small mammals such as mice, gophers, and moles.
The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander is currently known from three population clusters (metapopulations) in coastal areas of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
In Santa Cruz County, primary threats have been road construction and urbanization. In Monterey County, the main reasons for decline are extensive and intensive agricultural practices and urbanization.
