Looking at Salamanders at the Species Level

Kindom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Amphibia Subclass: Lissamphibia Order: Caudata Families: Cryptobranchidae, Proteidae, Salamandridae, Ambystomatidae & Plethodontidae

Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis Family: Cryptobranchidae “Hidden Gills” Eastern Hellbender Largest salamander Big skin folds

Necturus m. maculosus Family: Proteidae “Swimming” Common Mudpuppy Bushy gills 4 – 4 (1 of 2 WV salamanders w/ this toe characteristic)

Notophthalmus v. viridescens Family: Salamandridae “Eyes on back” Red-spotted Newt / Eft Black bordered red spots on back & side Longitudinal crests on head

Family: Ambystomatidae “Cup-shaped mouth” The Mole Salamanders Costal grooves Ambystoma jeffersonianum Ambystoma maculatum Ambystoma opacum Ambystoma barbouri Ambystoma texanum

Ambystoma jeffersonianum Jefferson Salamander EXTREMELY long toes Small bluish flecks on body Light belly 14 costal grooves

Ambystoma maculatum Spotted Salamander 2 irregular rows of yellow spots on the dorsum that extend from the head to the tail Dark belly 12 costal grooves

Ambystoma opacum Marbled Salamander Alternating light & dark crossbands on the dorsal side that form an hourglass shape Dark belly 12 costal grooves

Ambystoma texanum Ambystoma barbouri Smallmouth Salamander & Streamside Salamander Sibling species (look at distribution map) Numerous bluish/ grey or silvery/gray markings along the sides of the body Small head & mouth 14 costal grooves

A. texanum/barbouri Distribution Map

Family: Plethodontidae “Lots of teeth” Largest & most diverse group of salamanders Lungless, respire through skin Nasolabial groove is present WV has 7 genera & 25 species

Genus: Desmognathus “Band on jaws” (lower jaw held in place via ligaments connected to the upper backbone) = VERY strong jaws Robust Larger hind legs 5 species in WV

5 Desmognathus species D. ochrophaeus D. fuscus D. monticola D. quadramaculatus D. welteri Note: These are in increasing order of water affinity so it will be helpful to look at the keel of the tail in each species

Cross Sections of Desmognathus Tails

Desmognathus ochrophaeus Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander Chevron markings 14 costal grooves Most terrestrial so there is NO KEEL IN THE TAIL

Desmognathus fuscus Northern Dusky Salamander Dorsally, there is usually a reddish stripe (may be broken up) w/ wavy borders Mottled belly DORSAL KEEL

Desmognathus m. monticola Appalachian Seal Salamander Dorsally, there are worm-like markings scattered all over Immaculate belly 14 costal grooves Stronger keel

Desmognathus quadramaculatus Black-bellied Salamander Dark in color a row of brownish/gold specks along each side of the body Head is usually brownish Dark belly and body (except for the chocolate head) 14 costal grooves STRONGLY KEELED TAIL

Desmognathus welteri Black Mountain Dusky Salamander Most terrestrial Biggest keeled tail

Genus: Gyrinophilus The Spring Salamanders “Tadpole loving” Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus Gyrinophilus p. duryi Gyrinophilus subterraneous Sibling species (Look at the map)

Genus: Gyrinophilus Robust Pink/Red/Brown Free tongue Keeled tail Canthas rostralis

Genus: Gyrinophilus Distribution Map

Genus: Pseudotriton The Red Salamanders “False newt” Richly colored with black dots Robust Keeled tail Pseudotriton montanus diastictus Pseudotriton r. ruber

Pseudotriton montanus diastictus Midland Mud Salamander Red w/ few black spots 17 costal grooves

Pseudotriton r. ruber Northern Red Salamander Red w/ numerous small black dots scattered over body 16-17 costal grooves

Aneides aeneus The climbing salamanders “Shapeless” Green Salamander Flattened body Squared-off toe pads (for climbing) Dark w/ bright green patches over body 14 – 15 costal grooves

Genus: Eurycea The Brook Salamanders “Wide” The Brook Salamanders Free tongue Eurycea lucifuga Eurycea l. longicauda * Eurycea cirrigera * Eurycea b. bislineata * Denotes sibling species

Eurycea lucifuga Cave Salamander Tail > half of the body Orange – Red w/ numerous black dots over body Flattened head w/ well developed eyes 14 – 15 costal grooves

Eurycea l. longicauda Long-tailed Salamander Tail > half the body Slender Herringbone style on tail Black speckles over body 13 – 14 costal grooves

Eurycea bislineata Eurycea cirrigera Northern Two-lined Salamander & Southern Two-lined Salamander Light, median dorsal stripe bordered on each side by dark lines which originate at the eyes and extend the length of the body 15 – 16 costal grooves Sibling species (know your distribution map)

Eurycea bislineata Eurycea cirrigera Distribution Map

Hemidactylium scutatum “Half finger” Four-toed Salamander 4 – 4 Brown back Salt & pepper belly Constriction at base of tail

Genus: Plethodon Family: Plethodontidae Woodland salamanders are divided into small & large size classes Completely terrestrial & nocturnal Entire larval stage is spent in the egg 4 Complexes (DISTRIBUTION MAPS)

small Woodland Salamanders Plethodon cinereus Plethodon richmondi Plethodon electromorphus Plethodon hoffmani Plethodon virginia Plethodon nettingi

LARGE Woodland Salamanders Plethodon punctatus Plethodon wehrlei Plethodon kentucki Plethodon cylindraceus Plethodon glutinosus

Plethedon cinereus (small) Eastern Red-backed Salamander Straight-edged stripe down the back that usually extends to the tail (color varies due to different phases) Belly sprinkled w/ black & white 18 – 19 costal grooves

Plethodon richmondi & Plethodon electromorphus (small) Southern Ravine Salamander & Northern Ravine Salamander Sibling species (refer to map) Long & slender Dark back w/ lots of gold/silver flecks & sometimes white specks on side In NRS, the belly and throat are more white Costal groove numbers overlap

Plethodon richmondi & Plethodon electromorphus Distribution Map

Plethodon hoffmani & Plethodon virginia (small) Valley & Ridge Salamander & Shenandoah Mountain Salamander Sibling species (map) Morphologically similar to the ravine salamanders

Plethodon nettingi (small) Cheat Mountain Salamander Federally protected species endemic to WV (Pendleton, Grant, Tucker, Randolph & Pocahontas Counties) Dark back w/ metallic-like speckles Dark belly and throat 17 – 19 costal grooves

Plethodon glutinosus & Plethodon cylindraceus & Plethodon kentucki (LARGE) Northern Slimy Salamander & White-spotted Slimy Salamander & Cumberland Plateau Salamander Sibling Species (map) Grey belly Dorsally black & covered w/ many white speckles 16 costal grooves

Plethodon glutinosus & Plethodon cylindraceus & Plethodon kentucki Distribution Map

Plethodon wehrlei & Plethodon punctatus (LARGE) Wehrle’s Salamander & Cow Knob Salamander Sibling Species More charcoal than black In PW, back feet are partially webbed & red flecks are present usually on sides In CK, dark back w/ yellow spots all over

Plethodon wehrlei & Plethodon punctatus Distribution Map

Any Questions??????