Red Hills salamanders are primarily insectivorous, and gut content analyses have revealed a preference for spiders, earthworms, millipedes, beetles, mites and fly larvae. In some instances, they have been seen foraging on snails and molted snake skins. Other foods include fungus and detritus.
Animal Foods: eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; mollusks; terrestrial worms
Other Foods: fungus; detritus
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats eggs, Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods, Molluscivore , Vermivore, Scavenger )
Primary predators of Red Hills salamanders are thought to include various species of bird, snakes, and mammals such as coyotes and badgers. When threatened by a potential predator, Red Hills salamanders bare their teeth and may attempt to strike. They are also known to "head-butt" burrow intruders. When head-butting, individuals thrust themselves from their burrows with their small limbs, driving their head into the intruder. The intruder is startled upon impact and is knocked out of the entrance and down the hill the burrow was created on. This technique is most effective on intruders that are smaller or of comparable size. If captured, an individual may gyrate in a circular pattern similar to that of a snake, attempting to loosen the attacker's grip. Its primary form of defense, however, is to remain inside its burrow as much as possible.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Male Red Hills salamanders range from 180 to 220 mm in length, whereas females range in length from 190 to 230 mm. Males can weigh up to 22 g, but most weigh between 7 and 15 g. Females are considerably lighter, weighing between 6 and 12 g, with a maximum of 14 g. Red Hills salamanders belong to the Plethodontinae family, and therefore are lungless and breath through their moist skin. The skin is dark brown in colour with an occasional light spot interspersed around its body, specifically around the facial region. Some larger males have have pale spots on either side of their body, at the base of their tail. Although Red Hills salamanders are significantly longer than their relatives, they have much smaller limbs. The anterior limbs are approximately 11 mm in length and have 4 toes, and the posterior limbs are approximately 14 mm in length and have 5 toes. They have between 20 and 22 costal grooves along the mid-section, which is significantly more than most salamanders. Red Hills salamanders, like other plethodons, have fixed lower jaws, and barely visible nasolabial grooves on their snouts that assist in chemo-reception. Late term pregnant females have eggs that are clearly visible through her skin along each side of her mid-section.
Range mass: 5 to 20 g.
Average mass: 11 g.
Range length: 160 to 250 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes shaped differently
Red Hills salamanders live for approximately 11 years in the wild, which is determined by counting growth rings on limb bones. They are exceptionally rare and there are no records indicating the average lifespan of captive individuals. However, one female specimen lived for over 6 years in captivity and was able to lay eggs prior to being released.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 6 years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 11 years.
Phaeognathus hubrichti prefers the soft-soiled hills of the Red Hills area and seeks out slopes on mesic ravines that are moist, soft and loamy. It also prefers burrow under full canopy of hardwood trees on relatively high and steep ridges sloping down into slow, shallow streams. Most P. hubrichti burrows are found in the center of such slopes, as this location is the least likely to be affected by erosion. It is often found in abandoned burrows of other ground-dwelling species, as it cannot dig effectively itself. If an abandoned burrow is too small, it adjust the size of the burrow by wiggling into the hole and rolling inside the hole until it is large enough for the salamander’s use. Phaeognathus hubrichti burrows are approximately 40 mm wide with a distinctive oval shape. This species is found at an average elevation of 170 m.
Average elevation: 170 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
The geographic range of Red Hills salamanders (Phaeognathus hubrichti) is restricted to the Red Hills region of south central Alabama, USA. They have been documented in only 6 counties in the state of Alabama (Covington, Crenshaw, Monroe, Butler, Barbour, Conecuh). The Alabama River demarcates the species' western-most boundary and the Conecuh River demarcates their eastern-most boundary. Although they appear to reside in adjacent areas to the north and south, their fossorial tendencies make their geographic range difficult to verify. The total area that is occupied by Red Hills salamanders is estimated to be approximately 25,500 hectares.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Phaeognathus hubrichti is an important prey item for a number of different vertebrate species, including various species of snakes, mammals, birds, other amphibians. In addition, this species is insectivorous and my help control a variety of insect pest species. There is no information available regarding potential parasites of this species.
Ecosystem Impact: soil aeration
There are no known positive effects of Phaeognathus hubrichti on humans.
Positive Impacts: research and education
There are no known adverse effects of Phaeognathus hubrichti on humans.
Red Hills salamanders are classified as "endangered" on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species and has been protected by the United States Endangered Species Act as "threatened" since 1976. This species is found only in south central Alabama and is listed as a protected non-game species by the state of Alabama. Greater than 40% of potential habitat is owned or managed by pulp corporations, and although it does not occur in any officially protected habitat, a little more than 6 hectares have been set aside by private and public ownership to support the conservation and management of this species. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that Red Hills salamanders do not readily re-populate reforested areas, making their recovery significantly more difficult. In 2010, the United States Nature Conservancy purchased 723 hectares of the Red Hills Conservation Area in order to support the long-term protection of this species. The Nature Conservancy, the State of Alabama and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, continue to work together to protect areas of salamander habitat from potential degradation.
US Federal List: threatened
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: endangered
There is little information available regarding communication and perception in Phaeognathus hubrichti. This species likely does not communicate audibly; however, nasolabial grooves on the snout are thought to assist in chemoreception, and the interior groove is lined with glands. Although individuals are thought to aggressively defend burrows, there is no data to confirm this. Numerous male specimens are documented as having bite marks, suggesting aggressive interactions with conspecifics, possibly as a result of competition for mates or burrows.
Communication Channels: visual ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Red Hills salamanders sexually mature by 100 mm in length, which is approximately 5 to 6 years of age for females. Males mature by 80 mm in length, which take as little as one year for males. Once eggs hatch, young are similar in appearance to adults, with the exception of their bright red gills, which are laterally positioned between the head and forelimbs. Like their adult counterparts, young also have labial folds, but no eyelids. About 10 days after hatching, young undergo metamorphosis, during which they grow eyelids, lose their labial folds, and reabsorb their gills. Most individuals metamorphose at about 37 mm in length and may have some paleness along the ventral surface after metamorphosis.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
There is no information available regarding the mating system of Phaeognathus hubrichti.
Phaeognathus hubrichti males become reproductively mature in less than a year, whereas females take approximately 6 years to reach reproductive maturity. Phaeognathus hubrichti mates once per year. Once mated, females carry fertilized eggs in their oviducts for approximately 20 days. Eggs are then laid during June or July. After being laid, eggs incubate for another 60 days and then are attached to the walls of the burrow in a space that is moist, but not wet. It typically takes around 20 days for young to hatch and emerge. Females hatch an average of 7 offspring per breeding cycle. Little else is known of the reproductive behavior of this species.
Breeding interval: <<Phaeognathus hubrichti>> mates once per year.
Breeding season: Phaeognathus hubrichti lays its eggs in late June-July.
Average number of offspring: 7.
Average time to hatching: 20 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 6 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): <1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
Phaeognathus hubrichti mothers stay close to their eggs during development. If the eggs are disturbed, she may ingest them to prevent losing the energy invested in their development. When carrying fertilized eggs, females aggresively defend themselves by biting. Once the eggs are laid, however, she is relatively less aggressive. Paternal care is thought to be non-existent in this species. There is no further information on parental care in P. hubrichti.
Parental Investment: female parental care ; pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Female)
The Red Hills salamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti) is a fairly large, terrestrial salamander growing to about 255 millimetres (10.0 in). Its body color is gray to brownish without markings, and its limbs are relatively short. It is the official state amphibian of Alabama,[5] the state it is endemic to.[1][4] It is the only species in the genus Phaeognathus.[6]
The range of the Red Hills salamander is restricted to a narrow belt of two geological formations, approximately 60 miles (97 km) long (east to west) and between 10 and 25 miles (40 km) wide (north to south), in southern Alabama. These formations are included within the Red Hills physiographic province of the Coastal Plain. The range is limited on the east by the Conecuh River and on the west by the Alabama River (Jordan and Mount 1975). Currently, there are eight published locality records from Butler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, and Monroe Counties (Brandon 1965; Schwaner and Mount 1970).
This species inhabits burrows located on the slopes of moist, cool mesic ravines shaded by an overstory of predominately hardwood trees. These areas are underlain by a subsurface siltstone stratum containing many crevices, root tracings, and solution channels which are utilized by the Salamander. The topsoil in typical habitat is sandy loam.
Data for comparison of habitat changes are available from two studies; one by French (1976) and one by Dodd (1989). Ninety-one of the same sites were surveyed in both studies (each study also surveyed additional sites not visited by the other study). Of these 91 sites, 54 appeared similar to earlier descriptions, 19 had improved habitat conditions, and 18 were adversely affected by timber cutting since 1976. Of the 19 sites judged to have improved, 18 had been cleared of trees or had been selectively cut prior to French's survey but have since regrown a full tree canopy. (None of these improved sites had been mechanically prepared for replanting.) In addition to these 91 sites, 14 others examined in the latest survey were damaged by timber cutting; their status in 1976, however, was unknown.
P. hubrichti is considered a threatened species. Primary threats to this species include its restricted range, loss of habitat, a low reproductive rate, and a limited capability of dispersal. Of the approximately 63,000 acres (250 km²) of remaining habitat, about 60 percent is currently owned or leased by paper companies which primarily use a clear-cut system of forest management. This technique, coupled with mechanical site preparation for replanting, appears to completely destroy the habitat for the Red Hills salamander. However, as noted above, the Red Hills salamander prefers hardwood sites which are not managed using a clear-cut system. The clear-cut system is used primarily in pine management. Pine sites are not conducive as Red Hills salamander habitat. NatureServe considers the species Imperiled.[7]
In 2010, The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,786 acres (7.23 km2) of land in southwest Alabama in an effort to provide sufficient habitat to support the survival of the species. The land will eventually be transferred for recreational use to the state of Alabama.[8] Following acquisitions in 2020, the amount of protected habitat in the Red Hills physiographic province within Alabama reached over 11,000 acres (45 km2).[9]
The Red Hills salamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti) is a fairly large, terrestrial salamander growing to about 255 millimetres (10.0 in). Its body color is gray to brownish without markings, and its limbs are relatively short. It is the official state amphibian of Alabama, the state it is endemic to. It is the only species in the genus Phaeognathus.
Phaeognathus hubrichti Phaeognathus generoko animalia da. Anfibioen barruko Plethodontidae familian sailkatuta dago, Caudata ordenan.
Phaeognathus hubrichti Phaeognathus generoko animalia da. Anfibioen barruko Plethodontidae familian sailkatuta dago, Caudata ordenan.
Phaeognathus hubrichti, unique représentant du genre Phaeognathus, est une espèce d'urodèles de la famille des Plethodontidae[1].
Cette espèce est endémique d'Alabama aux États-Unis[1].
Cette espèce est nommée en l'honneur de Leslie Raymond Hubricht[2].
Phaeognathus hubrichti, unique représentant du genre Phaeognathus, est une espèce d'urodèles de la famille des Plethodontidae.
De hazelwormsalamander[2] (Phaeognathus hubrichti) is een salamander uit de familie longloze salamanders of Plethodontidae.[3]
De soort werd voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door Richard Highton in 1961. Het is de enige soort uit het monotypische geslacht Phaeognathus. De soortaanduiding hubrichti is een eerbetoon aan Leslie Raymond Hubricht.
De soort moet niet verward worden met Plethodon hubrichti, die dezelfde soortaanduiding draagt en verwant is.
De hazelwormsalamander komt voor in Noord-Amerika en is endemisch in de Verenigde Staten. De salamander komt alleen voor in de staat Alabama. De salamander leeft ondergronds, waar zich vrijwel het gehele leven afspeelt. Er is daardoor weinig over de levenswijze bekend.
De salamander doet er betrekkelijk lang over om de volwassenheid te bereiken, zo'n vier tot zes jaar. Uit een ander onderzoek bleek dat het dier tot 11 jaar oud kan worden.[4]
De hazelwormsalamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti) is een salamander uit de familie longloze salamanders of Plethodontidae.
Phaeognathus hubrichti é um anfíbio caudado pertencente à família Plethodontidae. [E a única espécie do gênero Phaeognathus. É endêmica dos Estados Unidos da América, onde pode ser encontrada apenas no estado do Alabama.
Phaeognathus hubrichti é um anfíbio caudado pertencente à família Plethodontidae. [E a única espécie do gênero Phaeognathus. É endêmica dos Estados Unidos da América, onde pode ser encontrada apenas no estado do Alabama.
Phaeognathus hubrichti[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] är en groddjursart som beskrevs av Richard Highton 1961. Phaeognathus hubrichti är ensam i släktet Phaeognathus som ingår i familjen lunglösa salamandrar.[11][12] IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som starkt hotad.[1] Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.[11]
Denna salamander är bara känd från delstaten Alabama i USA.[3]
Wikimedia Commons har media som rör Phaeognathus hubrichti.
Wikispecies har information om Phaeognathus hubrichti.
Denna groddjurs-relaterade artikel saknar väsentlig information. Du kan hjälpa till genom att tillföra sådan.
Phaeognathus hubrichti är en groddjursart som beskrevs av Richard Highton 1961. Phaeognathus hubrichti är ensam i släktet Phaeognathus som ingår i familjen lunglösa salamandrar. IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som starkt hotad. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.
Загальна довжина становить 25—26 см. Голова витягнута, завширшки не перевершує тулуб. Очі великі, витрішкуваті. Тулуб кремезний, майже стрункий з 11—13 реберними борозенками. Хвіст трохи стиснутий з боків, на кінці звужується. Кінцівки сильні, особливо задні, з 4 не зовсім розвиненими пальцями. Забарвлення коливається від сірого до буруватого, іноді з чорним або червонуватим відтінком.
Селиться в норах, які розташовані на сирих схилах, прохолодних ущелинах. Ця саламандра веде рийний спосіб життя. Інколи визирає на поверхню уночі або в дощ. Живиться равликами, багатоніжками, комахами та їх личинками, павуками, кліщами.
Статева зрілість настає у 4—6 років. Парування та розмноження відбувається від ранньої весни до вересня. Самиці відкладають яйця у своїй норі. Личинкова стадія розвитку відсутня. У кладці близько 15 яєць діаметром 7 мм.
Поширена у південно—центральній частині штату Алабама (США) — між річками Алабама і Коніка. Є офіційним символом цього штату.
Phaeognathus là một chi động vật lưỡng cư trong họ Plethodontidae, thuộc bộ Caudata. Chi này có 1 loài và 100% bị đe dọa hoặc tuyệt chủng.[1]
Phương tiện liên quan tới Phaeognathus hubrichti tại Wikimedia Commons
Bài viết Bộ Có đuôi này vẫn còn sơ khai. Bạn có thể giúp Wikipedia bằng cách mở rộng nội dung để bài được hoàn chỉnh hơn. Phaeognathus là một chi động vật lưỡng cư trong họ Plethodontidae, thuộc bộ Caudata. Chi này có 1 loài và 100% bị đe dọa hoặc tuyệt chủng.
Phaeognathus hubrichti Highton, 1961
Охранный статус
Норная саламандра[1] (лат. Phaeognathus hubrichti) — вид хвостатых амфибий семейства Безлёгочные саламандры (Plethodontidae). Единственный представитель рода Phaeognathus. Видовое латинское название дано в честь американского биолога Leslie Raymond Hubricht (1908—2005)[2].
Общая длина составляет 25—26 см. Голова вытянута, шириной не превосходит туловище. Глаза большие, навыкате. Туловище крепкое, почти стройное с 11—13 реберными бороздками. Хвост немного сжат с боков, на конце сужается. Конечности сильные, особенно задние, с 4 не совсем развитыми пальцами. Окраска варьирует от серого до бурого, иногда с чёрным или красным оттенком.
Селится в норах, которые расположены на склонах сырых, холодных ущелий. Эта саламандра ведёт роющий образ жизни. Иногда выглядывает на поверхность ночью или в дождь. Питается улитками, многоножками, насекомыми и их личинками, пауками, клещами.
Половая зрелость наступает в 4—6 лет. Спаривание и размножение происходит с ранней весны до сентября. Самки откладывают яйца в своей норе. Личиночная стадия развития отсутствует. В кладке около 15 яиц диаметром 7 мм.
Распространена в юго-центральной части штата Алабама (США) — между реками Алабама и Конека. Является официальным символом этого штата[3].
Норная саламандра (лат. Phaeognathus hubrichti) — вид хвостатых амфибий семейства Безлёгочные саламандры (Plethodontidae). Единственный представитель рода Phaeognathus. Видовое латинское название дано в честь американского биолога Leslie Raymond Hubricht (1908—2005).
Общая длина составляет 25—26 см. Голова вытянута, шириной не превосходит туловище. Глаза большие, навыкате. Туловище крепкое, почти стройное с 11—13 реберными бороздками. Хвост немного сжат с боков, на конце сужается. Конечности сильные, особенно задние, с 4 не совсем развитыми пальцами. Окраска варьирует от серого до бурого, иногда с чёрным или красным оттенком.
Селится в норах, которые расположены на склонах сырых, холодных ущелий. Эта саламандра ведёт роющий образ жизни. Иногда выглядывает на поверхность ночью или в дождь. Питается улитками, многоножками, насекомыми и их личинками, пауками, клещами.
Половая зрелость наступает в 4—6 лет. Спаривание и размножение происходит с ранней весны до сентября. Самки откладывают яйца в своей норе. Личиночная стадия развития отсутствует. В кладке около 15 яиц диаметром 7 мм.
Распространена в юго-центральной части штата Алабама (США) — между реками Алабама и Конека. Является официальным символом этого штата.
