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No. 16] AMPHIBIANS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA 37
221; Stejneger & Bahbour, Check List N. Amer. Amph. Kept.
1923, p. 7; Pratt, Verteb. Animals of the U. S., 1923, p. 149;
Stoker, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., XXVII, 1925, p. 77.
Chondrotus tenebrosus Cope, Amer. Naturalist, 1887, p. 88; Cope,
Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 34, 1889, p. Ill, fig. 24, pis. XXII,
XXIII, XXIV, figs. 1-3.
Ambystoma ensatmn Grinnell & Camp, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool.,
XVII, No. 10, 1917, p. 139; Dunn, Proc. New England Zool.
Club, VII, 1920, p. 55.
Ambystoma tenebrosum Stejneger & Barbour, Check List N. Amer.
Amph. Rept., 1917, p. 11; Fowler & Dunn, Proc. Acad. Nat.
Sci. Phila., 1917, p. 11; Dunn, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., LXII,
No. 9, 1918, p. 458.
Description. — General form robust. Limbs strong and well
developed. Temporal regions in large specimens much swollen.
A prominent dorsal groove reaching from back of head to base
of tail. Tail cylindro-conical, compressed distally. Head broad,
depressed, snout rounded, not overhanging in profile. Eyes very
large and bulging, separated anteriorly by twice the length of
the orbital slit. Nostrils small, opening laterally near corners
of snout, separated by their distance from pupil. Line of lip
straight, with a sharp
turn downwards at the terminus. Vomerine
teeth in two undulate series posterior to the inner nares, touching
on the median line with the apex turned backwards. Maxillary
teeth prominent. Inner nares much closer than external. Tongue
large, ovate, attached along the median line, slightly free laterally.
Neck short, a little narrower than width of body. Costal grooves
normally twelve. Anterior limbs with four and posterior with
five digits. Digits short, depressed, with small terminal knobs.
Skin smooth, or in large adults slightly roughened on lateral surfaces,
pitted with the mouths of small glands.
Dorsal and lateral surfaces purplish-brown, mottled or reticulated
with very dark brown or black. Belly and under surface
of tail and digits a light brown or yellowish-white. Gular region
a slightly lighter shade of the dorsal coloring reticulated with
dark brown.
Distribution.— This large salamander ranges from British Columbia
south along the coast to Monterey Bay, California.
In British Columbia, it has been reported from Sumas Lake
and Chiloweyuck or Chilliwack Lake.
In Washington, it has been found on Puget Sound, and in King
(Lake Washington, Soenic), Mason (Lake Cushman), Pierce
(Mount Rainier), counties, and on Tye River.