Kern Plateau salamander


The Kern Plateau salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae, endemic to California, in Tulare [County, California|Tulare] and Inyo, and Kern Counties in the western United States.

Distribution

This salamander is endemic to three locations in the southern Sierra Nevada: in the upper Kern River's Kern Plateau; the western margin of the Owens Valley; and the Scodie Mountains, at elevations from.
Its natural habitat is freshwater springs in the temperate [coniferous forests] and in higher Mojave Desert-Sierra forest ecotones.

Conservation

The Kern Plateau salamander is threatened by habitat loss, and it is an IUCN [Red List] Near threatened species.