Van Dyke's salamander (Plethodon vandykei) is a small woodland salamander in the family Plethodontidae, the lungless salamanders. These animals breathe through their skin and are largely terrestrial. Compared to other salamanders in Plethodon it is relatively stocky with long legs. Usually associated with streams, seepages, and rock outcrops, it is endemic to Washington where it is found in a limited number of small, isolated populations.
Van Dyke's salamander
Plethodon vandykei observed in Willapa Hills south of Pe Ell, Washington.
Van Dyke's salamander was first described by John Van Denburgh in 1906 from a specimen found in Mount Rainier National Park. The species was named in honor of its collector, Edwin Cooper Van Dyke. The Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) and the Larch Mountain salamander (Plethodon larselli) are its two closest relatives in the region. At one time, all three were thought to be members of the same species until genetic studies concluded that they were distinct species.[2][3]
Descriptionedit
Van Dyke's salamander has a relatively stocky body and grows up to 10 cm long. There are parotoid glands behind the eyes, and the feet are broad and slightly webbed. Different color phases are described based on body color, which can be black, yellow, or pink. The "dark phase" has a black ground color and yellow or red dorsal stripe. The stripe appears to have drops of color extending down the sides. The "light phase" is tan, yellow or rose with an indistinct stripe.[2] Dark phase individuals have white speckling on the sides and a yellow throat. Multiple color phases can occur within the same population.
They are completely terrestrial but require high soil moisture and cool temperatures. They are most active in the spring after snow-melt and in the fall after the onset of the rainy season. They avoid the summer heat and the freezing temperatures of winter, seeking shelter beneath stones or within rotting logs. Courtship and egg laying occurs in the spring. Clutch size ranges from 7-14 eggs which measure about 4–5 mm in diameter. Females attend the eggs until hatching in the fall. There is no larval stage; hatchlings emerge as juvenile salamanders.[4]
Distribution and habitatedit
Van Dyke's salamander is endemic to the western portion of Washington. It occurs in three disjunct areas: on the Olympic Peninsula, in the Willapa Hills, and in the southern Cascade Range. They generally occur in small isolated populations that are usually associated with streams, seepages, and rock outcrops. Van Dyke's Salamander is absent from the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range and Olympic Range, suggesting this salamander's association with high rainfall regions. In coastal areas, it is mostly found in old forest stands that have moderate to high levels of woody debris and fractured rock present. Large decaying conifer logs along streams appear to be important habitat for nesting.[4]
Conservationedit
Threats to the Van Dyke's salamander are not well studied, but patchy distribution and low population densities would indicate that this species should receive conservation attention. Populations are at risk from logging, road construction, and other activities that could impact or degrade their specific habitat requirements. Surveys suggest that this species has limited ability to survive in disturbed habitat.[5] It occurs in two protected areas, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Olympic National Park.[2][4]
Notesedit
^IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Plethodon vandykei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T59357A56293043. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59357A56293043.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
"Plethodon vandykei". AmphibiaWeb. University of California.
"Plethodon vandykei". Taxonomy Browser. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Plethodon vandykei Van Denburgh, 1906". Amphibian Species of the World 6.0. The American Museum of Natural History.
Olson, Deanna H.; Crisafulli, Charles M. (2014). "Conservation Assessment for the Van Dyke's Salamander (Plethodon vandykei)" (PDF). Interagency Special Status / Sensitive Species Program (ISSSSP). U.S.D.A. Forest Service Region 6 and U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management.
Rockney, Heidi; Wu, Karen (2015). "Van Dyke's Salamander". Burke Museum. University of Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (2015). "Van Dyke's Salamander (Plethodon vandykei)" (PDF). State Wildlife Action Plan Update. Appendix A-3 Species of Greatest Conservation Need: A3 16–18.
External linksedit
Photos
Distribution Map
December 15, 2023
dyke, salamander, plethodon, vandykei, small, woodland, salamander, family, plethodontidae, lungless, salamanders, these, animals, breathe, through, their, skin, largely, terrestrial, compared, other, salamanders, plethodon, relatively, stocky, with, long, leg. Van Dyke s salamander Plethodon vandykei is a small woodland salamander in the family Plethodontidae the lungless salamanders These animals breathe through their skin and are largely terrestrial Compared to other salamanders in Plethodon it is relatively stocky with long legs Usually associated with streams seepages and rock outcrops it is endemic to Washington where it is found in a limited number of small isolated populations Van Dyke s salamanderPlethodon vandykei observed in Willapa Hills south of Pe Ell Washington Conservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder UrodelaFamily PlethodontidaeSubfamily PlethodontinaeGenus PlethodonSpecies P vandykeiBinomial namePlethodon vandykeiVan Denburgh 1906 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Conservation 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy editVan Dyke s salamander was first described by John Van Denburgh in 1906 from a specimen found in Mount Rainier National Park The species was named in honor of its collector Edwin Cooper Van Dyke The Coeur d Alene salamander Plethodon idahoensis and the Larch Mountain salamander Plethodon larselli are its two closest relatives in the region At one time all three were thought to be members of the same species until genetic studies concluded that they were distinct species 2 3 Description editVan Dyke s salamander has a relatively stocky body and grows up to 10 cm long There are parotoid glands behind the eyes and the feet are broad and slightly webbed Different color phases are described based on body color which can be black yellow or pink The dark phase has a black ground color and yellow or red dorsal stripe The stripe appears to have drops of color extending down the sides The light phase is tan yellow or rose with an indistinct stripe 2 Dark phase individuals have white speckling on the sides and a yellow throat Multiple color phases can occur within the same population They are completely terrestrial but require high soil moisture and cool temperatures They are most active in the spring after snow melt and in the fall after the onset of the rainy season They avoid the summer heat and the freezing temperatures of winter seeking shelter beneath stones or within rotting logs Courtship and egg laying occurs in the spring Clutch size ranges from 7 14 eggs which measure about 4 5 mm in diameter Females attend the eggs until hatching in the fall There is no larval stage hatchlings emerge as juvenile salamanders 4 Distribution and habitat editVan Dyke s salamander is endemic to the western portion of Washington It occurs in three disjunct areas on the Olympic Peninsula in the Willapa Hills and in the southern Cascade Range They generally occur in small isolated populations that are usually associated with streams seepages and rock outcrops Van Dyke s Salamander is absent from the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range and Olympic Range suggesting this salamander s association with high rainfall regions In coastal areas it is mostly found in old forest stands that have moderate to high levels of woody debris and fractured rock present Large decaying conifer logs along streams appear to be important habitat for nesting 4 Conservation editThreats to the Van Dyke s salamander are not well studied but patchy distribution and low population densities would indicate that this species should receive conservation attention Populations are at risk from logging road construction and other activities that could impact or degrade their specific habitat requirements Surveys suggest that this species has limited ability to survive in disturbed habitat 5 It occurs in two protected areas Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument and Olympic National Park 2 4 Notes edit IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2014 Plethodon vandykei IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014 e T59357A56293043 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 1 RLTS T59357A56293043 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b c Olson 2014 Frost 2016 a b c Washington 2015 AmphibiaWebReferences edit Plethodon vandykei AmphibiaWeb University of California Plethodon vandykei Taxonomy Browser National Center for Biotechnology Information Frost Darrel R 2016 Plethodon vandykei Van Denburgh 1906 Amphibian Species of the World 6 0 The American Museum of Natural History Olson Deanna H Crisafulli Charles M 2014 Conservation Assessment for the Van Dyke s Salamander Plethodon vandykei PDF Interagency Special Status Sensitive Species Program ISSSSP U S D A Forest Service Region 6 and U S D I Bureau of Land Management Rockney Heidi Wu Karen 2015 Van Dyke s Salamander Burke Museum University of Washington Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2015 Van Dyke s Salamander Plethodon vandykei PDF State Wildlife Action Plan Update Appendix A 3 Species of Greatest Conservation Need A3 16 18 External links editPhotos Distribution Map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Van Dyke 27s salamander amp oldid 1164008393, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
