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Eurycea tynerensis

Moore and Hughes, 1939

Oklahoma Salamander

G4Apparently Secure Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101901
Element CodeAAAAD05120
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusEurycea
Synonyms
Eurycea multiplicata griseogasterMoore and Hughes, 1941
Concept Reference
Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
DNA studies by Bonett and Chippindale (2004) indicate that Eurycea multiplicata griseogaster and E. tynerensis are conspecific. E. m. griseogaster is recognized as a junior synonym of E. tynerensis. Bonett et al. (2014 "2013") provided a molecular tree that suggests multiple lineages within this nominal species, and that this clade is the sister taxon of Eurycea spelaea (Frost 2020).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-19
Change Date2025-08-19
Edition Date2025-08-19
Edition AuthorsVaughn, C., and G. Hammerson (2003); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species has a restricted range in the Ozarks of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas where it is locally abundant. It is threatened by habitat loss and habitat degradation due to development, agriculture, damming streams, and gravel removal.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in the Ozark Plateau of southwestern Missouri, extreme southeastern Kansas, northern Arkansas, and northeastern Oklahoma, USA (Cline and Tumlison 2001, Bonett and Chippindale 2006). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records from 2000-2025, range extent is estimated to be 48,167 km² (RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
Found at 50 of 213 sites examined in three states (Cline and Tumlison 2001).
Threat Impact Comments
The primary threats to this species are habitat destruction and habitat degradation (Bury et al. 1980). Habitat destruction generally occurs in the damming and flooding of headwater streams (Cline and Tumlison 2001). Habitat degradation occurs due to conversion of nearby upland habitats to agriculture or urbanization, through stream channelization, and from gravel removal (Bury et al. 1980, Cline and Tumlison 2001). These disturbances result in silting or pollution of aquatic habitat (Bury et al. 1980).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Small, clear, spring-fed streams with temperatures normally <24ºC; at elevations below 305 m; substrate coarse sand, gravel, or bedrock; hides under or among rocks or in submerged vegetation (Bury et al. 1980). Closely associated with Ordovician-Silurian strata (Tumlison and Cline 2003). Typically in gravelly (primarily chert) substrates; inhabits interstices between stones and pebbles in coarse loose sand under cold swift shallow water; lives below substrate surface during drought (references cited by Tumlison et al. 1990). Surface populations most commonly found in shallow (<10 mm), slowly moving (usually <10 cm/sec) water with medium sized rocks (65-256 mm diameter), moderate degrees of embeddedness (about 50%), and with high densities of aquatic invertebrates (Tumlison et al. 1990). Generally prefers stream widths less than 7.5 m (Anreder 2025). May use karst system to move within or between stream systems (Tumlison et al. 1990). Eggs are laid on undersides of rocks.

Ecology

Generally avoids sculpins (Cottus sp.).

Reproduction

Reportedly breeds in fall or late spring. Some populations are paedomorphic while other undergo metamorphosis (Emel and Bonett 2011).
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLAND
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
MissouriS4Yes
KansasSHYes
OklahomaS3Yes
ArkansasS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureSmall (1-10%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall (1-10%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3 - Energy production & miningSmall (1-10%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
3.2 - Mining & quarryingSmall (1-10%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (7)
Arkansas (7)
AreaForestAcres
Devils CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,877
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Gee CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,957
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
PenhookOzark-St. Francis National Forest6,566
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
References (23)
  1. Anreder, S. 2025. Occupancy sampling to examine spatial distribution of Oklahoma salamanders (<i>Eurycea tynerensis</i>) among headwater streams in the Ozark Highlands. B.S. honors thesis. University of Arkansas, Fayettville. 28 pp.
  2. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  3. Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.
  4. Bonett, R. M., and P. T. Chippindale. 2004. Speciation, phylogeography and evolution of life history and morphology in plethodontid salamanders of the <i>Eurycea multiplicata</i> complex. Molecular Ecology 13: 1189-1203.
  5. Bonett, R. M., and P. T. Chippindale. 2006. Streambed microstructure predicts evolution of development and life history mode in the plethodontid salamander <i>Eurycea tynerensis</i>. BMC Biology2006, 4(6): 12 pp. doi:10.1186/1741-7007-4-6
  6. Bonett, R. M., M. A. Steffen, S. M. Lambert, J. J. Wiens, and P. T. Chippindale. 2014. Evolution of paedomorphosis in plethodontid salamanders: ecological correlated and re-evolution of metamorphosis. Evolution 68: 466-482.
  7. Bury, R. B., C. K. Dodd, Jr., and G. M. Fellers. 1980. Conservation of the Amphibia of the United States: a review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., Resource Publication 134. 34 pp.
  8. Cline, G. R., and R. Tumlison. 2001. Distribution and relative abundance of the Okalahoma salamander (<i>Eu</i><i>rycea tynerensis</i>). Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 81: 1-10.
  9. Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.
  10. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  11. Dundee, H.A. 1965. Eurycea tynerensis. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 22.1-22.2..
  12. Figg, D. E. 1991. Missouri Department of Conservation Annual Nongame and Endangered Species Report July 1990 - June 1991. ii + 35 pp.
  13. Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
  14. Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
  15. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  16. Johnson, T.R. 1977. The Amphibians of Missouri. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Public Education Series 6: ix + 134 pp.
  17. Johnson, T. R. 1987. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City. 368 pp.
  18. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  19. Tumlison, R., and G. R. Cline. 2003. Association between the Oklahoma salamander (<i>Eurycea tynerensis</i>) and Ordovician-Silurian strata. Southwestern Naturalist 48:93-95.
  20. Tumlison, R., and G. R. Cline. 2011. Miscellaneous notes on the natural history of the Oklahoma salamander (<i>Eurycea tynerensis</i>). Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 90: 105-110.
  21. Tumlison, R., G. R. Cline, and P. Zwank. 1990a. Prey selection in the Oklahoma salamander (EURYCEA TYNERENSIS). J. Herpetol. 24:222-225.
  22. Tumlison, R., G. R. Cline, and P. Zwank. 1990b. Morphological discrimination between the Oklahoma salamander (EURYCEA TYNERENSIS) and the graybelly salamander (EURYCEA MULTIPLICATA GRISEOGASTER). Copeia 1990:242-246.
  23. Tumlison, R., G. R. Cline, and P. Zwank. 1990c. Surface habitat associations of the Oklahoma salamander (EURYCEA TYNERENSIS). Herpetologica 46:169-175.