1925] 
Storer: A Synopsis of the Amphibia of California 
117 
Aneides ferreus Cope. Rusty Salamander 
Anaides ferreus Cope (1869, pp. 109-110). Original description, type from 
Fort Umpqua, Douglas County, Oregon. 
Autodax ferreus, Van Denburgh (1916, p. 216). General range, including 
California. 
Aneides ferreus, Grinnell and Camp (1917, p. 135, fig. 2). Eange in Cali- 
fornia. 
Aneides ferreus, Stejneger and Barbour (1917, p. 21; 1923, p. 18). Gen- 
eral range. 
Diagnosis. — Size small, total length of adults up to 120 millimeters 
(4% inches); naso-labial groove present; inner digit on each foot 
rudimentary ; tail rather slender ; costal folds 12 ; coloration ‘ marbled, ’ 
less often spotted. 
Comparisons. — Distinguished from other California salamanders 
except Plethodontidae by presence of naso-labial groove ; from Batrach- 
oseps, Ensatina, and Plethodon by 12 costal folds; from Aneides 
luguhris ssp. and Aneides flavipunctatus by rudimentary inner digit 
on each foot, and ‘ marbled ’ pattern of coloration. 
Description (based upon adults in collection of California Academy 
of Sciences) .—Size moderate among Plethodontidae ; head large, body 
slender, digits proportionately large ; head trapezoidal in outline from 
above, muzzle square-ended ; muzzle slanting in profile, rounded at tip, 
completely overhanging lower jaw; external nares terminal; naso- 
labial groove minute, proceeding from lateral margin of naris ; canthus 
rostralis rounded ; orbit large, longer than canthus rostralis ; inter- 
orbital space flat, its width less than length of orbit ; temporal region 
swollen, rising above level of upper eyelid ; posterior portion of com- 
missure of jaw bent upward toward swollen temporal region ; greatest 
width of head behind angle of jaw, and more than distance from tip 
of snout to angle of mouth ; lower jaw acutely oval in outline ; gular 
fold distinct, at middle of neck region; fore limb moderate; exposed 
portion of upper arm equaling forearm ; hand slightly exceeding fore- 
arm in length; palm smooth; inner (first) digit rudimentary; third 
longest, second and fourth about equal ; all digits square-ended ; a fine 
mid-dorsal groove on back; costal folds 12; hind limb longer and 
slightly stouter than fore limb ; exposed portion of femur slightly 
longer than tibia; foot longer than tibia; sole smooth; toes in order 
of decreasing length 4, 3, 5, 2, 1, innermost rudimentary as on palm ; 
toes square-ended ; tail slender, circular in cross-section at base, 
compressed but not thin at tip. Surface of body everywhere very 
smooth. 
Tongue broad, practically filling floor of mouth, thin, broadly 
attached; internal nares relatively large, placed back from end of 
snout and well in from margin of jaw; vomerine teeth in broadly V- 
shaped arrangement between internal nares, 5 or 6 teeth on each side ; 
parasphenoid teeth in one patch, narrower anteriorly ; maxillary teeth 
few, well developed. 
Color (in alcohol) above dark reddish brown; ‘marbled’ pattern of 
light yellowish brown on dorso-lateral portions of body ; undersurface 
everywhere dusky yellow, with numerous fine (0.5 mm.) dots of clear 
yellow. 
