Plate III.
Hemidactylium pacificum Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1865, p. 195.
Batrachoseps pacificus Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1869, pp. 97, 98; Yarrow, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 24, 1882, p. 153 [part?]; Boulenger, Cat. Batrach. Grad. 1882, p. 59; Cope, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 34, 1889, p. 129 [part?].
Batrachoseps pacificus was described by Professor Cope, in 1865, from a specimen said to have been collected at Santa Barbara, California. Two specimens from San Francisco were afterward referred to this species. All of the specimens I have examined from both these localities are of the common form known as B. attenuatus. I was, therefore, inclined to doubt the existence of B. pacificus as a distinct species until I examined eight specimens collected by Dr. Eisen on Santa Rosa Island in 1897. In March, 1903, Mr. R. H. Beck secured on San Miguel a large series of a Batrachoseps which seems to differ in no respect from that found on Santa Rosa Island, but which is very distinct from the species of the mainland.
These island salamanders agree in all important points with the original description of B. pacificus, but since the published descriptions of this species are not very complete, I sent a specimen from San Miguel Island to my friend Dr. Stejneger with a request that he compare it directly with the type. This he has very kindly done, and his conclusion is as follows:
"I have carefully compared it with the type of Batrachoseps pacificus and find them to agree completely. I have no doubt they represent the same species. As for the origin of our specimen I can only say that our record book shows the following entry: '6733. Batrichoseps pacificus (Type) Santa Barbara Cal. Dr. Hayes. 1881 Oct. 28. 1.' This entry is evidently made many years after the numbering of the specimen which took place in 1866, probably at the time tin-tags were substituted for the old labels most of which were destroyed as in this case. The entry is in an unknown boyish hand and is probably made from the destroyed label. The double error, i in Batrachoseps and e in Hays, shows that it was made by an ignoramus. I can find no other record of specimens received from the same source, but in the S. I. reports from 1864-67 I find noted that a Dr. W. W. Hays sent birds and fishes to the museum from 'Southern California'. The Santa Barbara locality is therefore not above suspicion. The other two specimens credited in Cope's Man. Batr. p. 130 to B. pacificus, viz. No. 4006 San Francisco, Cal. R. D. Cutts, have not been seen here since I took charge of the collection in 1889. In the record book there is entered in the remark column 'Destroyed (C)' (C) standing for Cope. The specific name Batrachoseps pacificus is in Cope's handwriting, while the locality San Francisco and the name of the collector are in Prof. Baird's hand."
In the light of all this it appears that the type of Batrachoseps pacificus may perhaps have been secured on some fishing trip from Santa Barbara to Santa Rosa or San Miguel, and that the specimens from San Francisco most probably were misidentified by Cope.
Batrachoseps pacificus is a larger species than Batrachoseps attenuatus. Its general appearance, owing to the greater broadness of head and body, is very suggestive of the various species of Plethodon. This resemblance is carried further in one specimen by the presence of five digits on one hind foot. Structurally, however, the species is a true Batrachoseps; that is to say, the tongue is adherent anteriorly, the digits are normally 4-4, the premaxillary is single, and there is a large parietal fontanelle.
Diagnosis.—Costal grooves usually seventeen (rarely sixteen or eighteen); head much broader than body; color yellowish brown above, white or yellow below.
Description.—General form elongate, slender; body cylindric or somewhat flattened; tail conical, a little longer than head and body; head depressed, rather broad, nearly circular in outline from above; snout rounded or truncate from above, truncate and high in profile; eyes large and rather prominent, separated anteriorly by about the length of the orbital slit; nostrils small, near corners of snout, separated by a little more than their distance from orbits; a very indistinct subnasal groove, not extending to margin of lip; upper jaw overhanging lower; line of lip nearly straight to below eye, then deflected downward; palatine teeth in 2 nearly straight very oblique series which nearly meet on the median line posteriorly and anteriorly do not extend to the internal nares; parasphenoid teeth separated by a narrow space posteriorly but confluent anteriorly, extending nearly to the palatine series; internal nares rather small, in front of the anterior ends of the series of palatine teeth; tongue large, oval, not emarginate, attached along the median line, free laterally and posteriorly; neck not distinct from body, with several vertical and 2 or 3 longitudinal grooves; gular fold well marked, continued forward on side of neck to eye; 1 or 2 indistinct grooves anterior to gular fold; costal grooves between limbs usually 17, occasionally 16 or 18,[2] continued nearly to midline on back and belly; limbs short, weak, each with 4 digits; digits with rounded knob-like ends, inner digit short, rudimental, others well-developed, second and fourth nearly equal, third longest, web small or absent; tail more slender than body, with well-marked lateral grooves; a more or less indistinct dorsal longitudinal groove, most distinct on neck and pelvic region; skin smooth with minute pits; adpressed limbs widely separated.
The color above in alcoholic specimens is yellowish brown (cinnamon to mummy brown) paler on the head and limbs and often becoming fawn-color on the tail. The upper lip and all the lower surfaces are white or dull yellow. Young specimens are much darker than adults, and the lower surfaces often are minutely dotted with brown.
Length to anus 25 36 49 52 52 56 Length of tail 20 31 64 56 63 59 Width of head 3½ 5 7 6½ 7 8 Snout to orbit 2 2 3 3 3 3 Snout to gular fold 6 7½ 10 10 10 10½ Snout to fore limb 7 10 13 13 14 14 Between limbs 15 22 31 36 33 38 Fore limb 5 7 9 9 8½ 9 Hind limb 5½ 7½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 10
| Length to anus | 25 | 36 | 49 | 52 | 52 | 56 |
| Length of tail | 20 | 31 | 64 | 56 | 63 | 59 |
| Width of head | 3½ | 5 | 7 | 6½ | 7 | 8 |
| Snout to orbit | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Snout to gular fold | 6 | 7½ | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10½ |
| Snout to fore limb | 7 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Between limbs | 15 | 22 | 31 | 36 | 33 | 38 |
| Fore limb | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8½ | 9 |
| Hind limb | 5½ | 7½ | 9½ | 9½ | 9½ | 10 |