Plethodon wehrlei Fowler & Dunn 1917

Wehrle's salamander (Plethodon wehrlei ) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Eastern United States.^[1][2] It is named in honor of Richard White Wehrle (1852–1937), a jeweler, naturalist, and collector of the holotype.^[3]

Geographic range

Wehrle's salamander ranges from New York south to Virginia.^[1][2][4] Populations in southwestern Virginia and northwestern North Carolina were reclassified as a distinct species, the Blacksburg salamander (P. jacksoni), which has been reaffirmed by a study published in 2019. An isolated cave-dwelling population in Virginia was also reclassified as distinct species, the Dixie Cavern salamander (P. dixi), also reaffirmed by a study published in 2019. The population on the Cumberland Plateau, formerly considered a yellow-spotted color morph, is now considered a new species, the yellow-spotted woodland salamander (P. pauleyi), which was described during the 2019 study.^[4]

Description

It is bluish-black with big, scattered white spots on its back. Its sides are covered with white to yellow spots and blotches. Its belly and the ventral surface of the tail are solid gray, and the throat and upper chest usually have white or yellowish blotches.^[5] The species grows to a length of 10 to 17 centimeters (3.9 to 6.7 in).

Reproduction

Mating occurs from fall through spring. A large cluster of eggs is laid in early summer in damp logs, soils or moss, and in crevices in caves. Reproduction is biennial or irregular, with many mature females failing to breed each year.

Behavior and habitat

This species stays under cover during the day, and comes out to forage at night. This species is found on forested hillsides in the Appalachian Plateau, where it hides by day beneath stones or rocks. It is also found at the entrances of caves and deep rock crevices, as well as burrows under rocks and logs.

References

• Fowler, Henry W., and Emmett Reid Dunn. 1917. "Notes on salamanders". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 69: 7-28.

Plethodon wehrlei Plethodon generoko animalia da. Anfibioen barruko Plethodontidae familian sailkatuta dago, Caudata ordenan.

Erreferentziak

Ikus, gainera

• Plethodontidae

Plethodon wehrlei est une espèce d'urodèles de la famille des Plethodontidae^[1].

Répartition

Cette espèce est endémique de l'est de l'Amérique du Nord. Elle se rencontre au sud-ouest de l'État de New York, dans l'ouest de la Pennsylvanie, dans le sud-est de l'Ohio, en Virginie-Occidentale, dans l'Ouest de la Virginie, dans le nord-ouest de la Caroline du Nord, dans l'est du Kentucky et dans l'Est du Tennessee^[1].

Étymologie

Cette espèce est nommée en l'honneur de Richard White Wehrle^[2].

Publication originale

• Fowler & Dunn, 1917 : Notes on salamanders. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. 69, p. 7-28 (texte intégral).

Notes et références

Plethodon wehrlei — вид хвостатих амфібій родини Безлегеневі саламандри (Plethodontidae).

Поширення

Вид є ендеміком США. Поширений у горах Аппалачі на сході країни від штату Нью-Йорк до Теннессі та Північної Кароліни, де зустрічається у помірних лісах.

Опис

Тіло синьовато-чорного забарвлення з білими або жовтими плямами по всьому тілі, завдовжки 10-17 см.

Посилання

• Fowler, Henry W. and Emmett Reid Dunn. 1917.Notes on salamanders. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 69:7-28.