From: itannman@boris.ucdavis.edu (Ann Mansker)
Subject: Critter of the Week: Hydromantes platycephalus 
Date: 20 Nov 1998
Newsgroups: ucd.life 

                                                               
The Mt. Lyell Salamander lives under granite boulders along streams and at
the base of talus slopes in the eastern Sierra Nevada at altitudes above
4000 feet. Though named for a peak in Yosemite National Park, the
salamander also ranges farther north, and is resident in the Tahoe
National Forest northeast of Truckee.

This small salamander has the longest tongue of any salamander, about 5cm.
The tongue is structurally similar to a chameleon's and used in exactly
the same way to capture prey.  There is an interesting animated gif of H.
platycephalus catching a termite at:
http://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/wake/sal_feeding_movies/hydromovielarge.html

The salamander has an interesting technique for escaping predation.  Its
habitat is steep and precarious; sudden moves can result in loss of
footing.  When touched, H. platycephalus coils itself into a tight ball
and rolls down the slope.  This is a purely passive mechanism -- the
salamander does not direct its path in any way.  Once the coiled amphibian
comes to rest, it uncoils and stays perfectly still for a few seconds
before slipping under the nearest rock.  This behavior is documented in a
research note published by M. Garcia-Paris in the Journal of Herpetology
29(1):149-151.