Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.844116
Element CodeAAAAD03200
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusDesmognathus
Concept ReferenceCrespi, E. J., R. A. Browne, and L. J. Rissler. 2010. Taxonomic revision of Desmognathus wrighti (Caudata: Plethodontidae). Herpetologica 66: 283-295.
Taxonomic CommentsThis species formerly was included in Desmognathus wrighti. It was determined to be a distinct species by Crespi et al. (2010). Beamer and Lamb (2020), in their discussion of Desmognathus mtDNA phylogenetics, confirmed the placement of this species as the sister taxon of Desmognathus wrighti (Frost 2020).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-30
Change Date2010-09-08
Edition Date2025-06-30
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2010); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank ReasonsThis species has a very limited range in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Populations appear stable compared to historical levels. However, this species is threatened by habitat degradation and loss due to various forms of canopy loss including clearcutting, pests that cause tree mortality, acid rain, and climate change.
Range Extent CommentsThis species has a limited range from north of the French Broad River valley in western North Carolina northward to Whitetop Mountain and Mt. Rogers in southwestern Virginia (Crespi et al. 2010, Busick et al. 2025). This species encompasses former D. wrighti populations that occur north and east of the French Broad River (Crespi et al. 2010). Range extent is estimated to be 5,606 km² (Crespi et al. 2010, GBIF 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences CommentsThis species is known from at least a few dozen sites within its small range (see map in Crespi et al. 2010). Applying a 3 km separation distance to occurrence records, 27 occurrences are estimated (Crespi et al. 2010, GBIF 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsThe most immediate threats to this species involve habitat degradation in the form of reduced canopy. Clearcuts and logging cause the groundlayer to become drier, reducing moist microhabitat for this species (Pague 1991, J. Organ, pers. comm., 1997). The same occurs from canopy loss caused by hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) (Pague 1991; J. Organ, pers. comm., 1997; Rossell Jr. et al. 2018). Red spruce-Fraser fir forests are declining in many high elevation sites of the southern Appalachians. Acid rain has also been implicated in the reduction of canopy cover (Rossell Jr. et al. 2018). Any loss of habitat would be a serious threat to populations in Virginia (Pague 1991). This species is projected to lose 94% of its climatic niche by 2050 due to climate change (Sutton et al. 2015). Overcollection is also a potential threat (Mitchell 1991, Rossell Jr. et al. 2018).