1925] Storer: A Synopsis of the Amphibia of California 
45 
Comparisons. — Distinguished from all other California salaman- 
ders by absence of vomerine teeth immediately behind internal nares 
on roof of mouth ; from Plethodontidae by absence of naso-labial 
groove and parasphenoid teeth ; terrestrial individuals distinguished 
from all other salamanders by very rough skin, aquatic individuals 
by irregular development of costal folds. 
Description (based on adult individuals listed in tables of meas- 
urements). — Form stout, limbs well developed; head pentagonal in 
outline from above, tip of muzzle truncate ; head thin in profile, end 
of snout rounded; lower jaw overhung by muzzle; external nares close 
together, terminal, close to margin of upper lip ; canthus rostralis 
moderately developed, its length slightly greater than that of orbit ; 
orbit small, directed latero-anteriorly ; interorbital region flat, its 
width about equal to length of orbit; neck constriction moderate; 
gular fold imperfectly developed; lower jaw rounded in outline; free 
portion of upper arm about equaling forearm ; palm short ; two incon- 
spicuous metacarpal tubercles at sides of palm ; digits short, tapered, 
depressed, in order of decreasing length 3, 2, 4, 1 ; body stout, swollen 
at midlength, its cross-section depressed oval in terrestrial individuals, 
subquadrate in aquatic males; costal folds not in evidence save in 
aquatic males, then often irregular ; hind limbs somewhat stouter than 
fore limbs, segments short ; outer metatarsal tubercle small ; toes de- 
pressed, tapered, in order of decreasing length 3, 4, 2, 5, 1 ; cloaca! 
region and tail varying in size according to sex and season; cloacal 
region but slightly enlarged in terrestrial individuals, greatly swollen 
in aquatic form, especially males; tail oval in section at base, com- 
pressed at tip, with enlarged dorsal and ventral fins in aquatic males 
during breeding season. 
Tongue small, oval in outline, about half width of mouth at angle 
of jaws, attached along midline to floor of mouth; internal nares 
small, oval, well in from side of jaw; maxillary teeth small; palatine 
teeth small, in two slender longitudinal rows, convergent anteriorly, 
parallel along most of length, divergent posteriorly. 
Surfaces varying according to sex and season. Terrestrial indi- 
viduals rough surfaced on upper and lateral surfaces of head; body 
and tail, finely areolate, with a raised pointed papilla in each areola; 
exposed surfaces of limbs similar to body but with smaller papillae ; 
ventral surface of head and body and concealed surfaces of limbs 
finely areolar, each areola with a minute low papilla ; extreme margin 
of upper lip smooth; plantar surfaces of feet and digits roughened 
with blunt papillae. Aquatic males smooth surfaced everywhere, with 
little or no indication of papillae. 
