Slender Salamanders are found exclusively in western United States, particularly in the state of California. Only one of the 19 recognized species, Batrachoseps wrighti, is found exclusively outside of California, in the northern state of Oregon. Slender salamanders vary in appearance and environmental preference, but all are characterized by obvious costal and caudal grooves, rather minute limbs, four digits on each foot, and elongate forms (to varying degrees). The more slender species are sometimes referred to as "worm salamanders", also applied to the genus Oedipina, a reflection of their long, slender appearance, accompanied by tiny limbs. A new genus or subgenus, Plethopsis, has been suggested to describe the more robust species, including B. wrighti, B. robustus, and B. campi. These species are conspicuous within this genus (subgenus) in that they are less elongate, with thicker, longer limbs, and shorter tails; characteristics presumed to reflect ancestral stock (Stebbins, 2003). Slender salamanders typically assume a coiled position when initially disturbed, and may flip over onto their backs if further provoked. The red, orange, or pale orange colored dorsal stripes on some are thought to aid in mimicking distasteful animals. Certain populations of B. attenuatus, for example, appear to mimic millipedes when in the typical, coiled defense position. Males of most species can be differentiated from females by their premaxillary teeth, which extend past the lip, and noticeably blunt snouts. Slender salamanders occupy a diverse range of habitats, including grasslands, forests, oak groves, chaparral, desert spring areas, and residential gardens.

	Batrachoseps attenuatus	California Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps campi	Inyo Mountain Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps diabolicus	Hell Hollow Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps gabrieli	San Gabriel Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps gavilanensis	Gabilan Mnt's Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps gregarius	Gregarious Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps incognitus	San Simeon Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps kawia	Sequoia Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps luciae	Santa Lucian Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps major	Garden Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps minor	Lesser Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps nigriventris	Blackbelly Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps pacificus	Channel Islands Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps regius	Kings River Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps relictus	Relictual Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps robustus	Kern Plateau Salamander
	Batrachoseps simatus	Kern Canyon Salamander
	Batrachoseps stebbinsi	Tehachapi Slender Salamander
	Batrachoseps wrighti (=wrightorum)	Oregon Slender Salamander