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]
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 Caverns 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]
Descriptionedit
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).
Reproductionedit
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 habitatedit
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.
Referencesedit
^ abcIUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Plethodon wehrlei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T59362A56286906. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59362A56286906.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abFrost, Darrel R. (2019). "Plethodon wehrlei Fowler and Dunn, 1917". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 229. ISBN978-1-907807-42-8.
^ abCamp, Carlos D.; Pierson, Todd W.; Wooten, Jessica A.; Felix, Zachary I. (2019-05-24). "Re-evaluation of the Wehrle's salamander ( Plethodon wehrlei Fowler and Dunn) species group (Caudata: Plethodontidae) using genomic data, with the description of a new species". Zootaxa. 4609 (3): 429–448. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4609.3.2. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 31717092. S2CID 181533495.
^Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
wehrle, salamander, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, decembe. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wehrle s salamander news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 Wehrle s salamander Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Urodela Family Plethodontidae Subfamily Plethodontinae Genus Plethodon Species P wehrlei Binomial name Plethodon wehrleiFowler and Dunn 1917 Contents 1 Geographic range 2 Description 3 Reproduction 4 Behavior and habitat 5 ReferencesGeographic range editWehrle 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 Caverns 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 editIt 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 editMating 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 editThis 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 edit a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2014 Plethodon wehrlei IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014 e T59362A56286906 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 1 RLTS T59362A56286906 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b Frost Darrel R 2019 Plethodon wehrlei Fowler and Dunn 1917 Amphibian Species of the World an Online Reference Version 6 0 American Museum of Natural History Retrieved 23 April 2019 Beolens Bo Watkins Michael amp Grayson Michael 2013 The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians Pelagic Publishing p 229 ISBN 978 1 907807 42 8 a b Camp Carlos D Pierson Todd W Wooten Jessica A Felix Zachary I 2019 05 24 Re evaluation of the Wehrle s salamander Plethodon wehrlei Fowler and Dunn species group Caudata Plethodontidae using genomic data with the description of a new species Zootaxa 4609 3 429 448 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 4609 3 2 ISSN 1175 5334 PMID 31717092 S2CID 181533495 Conant Roger 1975 A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America Second Edition Boston Houghton Mifflin Fowler Henry W and Emmett Reid Dunn 1917 Notes on salamanders Proc Acad Nat Sci Philadelphia 69 7 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wehrle 27s salamander amp oldid 1212095166, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
