Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Weller's Salamander

Plethodon welleri

Walker, 1931

Weller's Salamander

G3Vulnerable Found in 17 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104883
Element CodeAAAAD12230
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
Other Common Names
Weller's salamander (EN)
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.
Conservation Status
Review Date2007-04-20
Change Date2001-10-31
Edition Date2007-04-20
Edition AuthorsClausen, M. K., and G. Hammerson
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent250-5000 square km (about 100-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Small range in the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia; stable to declining in different areas; forest fragmentation, catastrophic fires, or forest die-off resulting from acid rain or spruce budworm could have significant adverse effects on the relatively small isolated populations.
Range Extent Comments
The range extends from Whitetop, Mount Rogers, and Pine Mountain, Virginia, southwestward to Yancy County, North Carolina, extreme eastern Tennessee, and eastward to Grandfather Mountain, Caldwell County, North Carolina (Pague 1991, Petranka 1998). This species also occurs farther north at Hayter's Gap in the Clinch Mountains (Washington/Russel County (Beamer, pers. comm., 2003). Populations apparently are isolated from each other (Pague 1991), but the existence of low elevation populations in some areas suggests a small possibility that there are some populations in the intervening areas (Beamer, pers. comm., 2003). Elevational range extends down to around 2500 feet (760 meters), but most occupied habitat is chiefly in spruce forests above 5000 feet (1500 meters) (Conant and Collins 1991).
Occurrences Comments
Four documented sites in North Carolina with the condition estimated to be 25% excellent, 50% good, and 25% fair (H. LeGrand, pers. comm., 1997). Estimated to occur at 5 or fewer localities in Virginia (S. Roble, pers. comm., 1997); Tobey (1985) mapped two locations in Virginia. Redmond and Scott (1996) mapped six collection locations in Tennessee. Very little historical data available.
Threat Impact Comments
This species appears to be sensitive to habitat change; the most robust populations are in spruce-fir forests at high elevations. At Whitetop Mountain, where there are anthropogenic disturbances adjacent to the spruce-fir forest, the species does not appear to be present in the disturbed areas (Beamer, pers. comm., 2003).

Development and logging are the major threats to survival (Braswell 1989). Forest fragmentation, catastrophic fires, or forest die-off resulting from acid rain or spruce budworm could have significant adverse effects on the relatively small isolated populations of this species (see Pague 1991).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Spruce-fir, birch-hemlock, and primarily deciduous forests at 700-1800 m. Also grassy spots and boulder fields. Usually under rocks, logs, or leaf litter during day. Tends to be associated with rocky substrates. Seemingly most abundant in forests with much cover of rocks and downed logs (Mitchell 1991). Eggs are laid in small cavities in rotting conifer logs or beneath moss mats.

Reproduction

Apparently mates in fall. Lays a cluster of 4-13 eggs in summer. Female stays with eggs until hatching in August or September. Larval stage is passed in egg.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaS2Yes
VirginiaS2Yes
TennesseeS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——High (continuing)
1.3 - Tourism & recreation areas——High (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridors——High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads——High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource use——High (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting——High (continuing)
7 - Natural system modifications——Moderate - low
7.1 - Fire & fire suppression——Moderate - low
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases——Moderate - low
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases——Moderate - low
9 - Pollution——High (continuing)
9.5 - Air-borne pollutants——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (17)
North Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Tennessee (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Big Laurel Branch AdditionCherokee National Forest5,577
London Bridge BranchCherokee National Forest3,387
Rogers RidgeCherokee National Forest4,738
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Virginia (7)
AreaForestAcres
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Little Wilson Creek Addition AJefferson National Forest78
Little Wilson Creek Addition BJefferson National Forest1,725
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Rogers RunJefferson National Forest181
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
References (22)
  1. Beamer, D. A., and M. J. Lannoo. 2005. Plethodon welleri Walker, 1931. Weller's salamander. Pages 854-856 in M. Lannoo, editor. Amphibian declines: the conservation status of United States species. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  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. Braswell, A. L. 1989. Scientific council report on the conservation status of North Carolina amphibians and reptiles. Submitted to : Nongame Advisory Committee, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
  5. 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.
  6. 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]
  7. 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.
  8. 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
  9. Highton, R. 2005. Declines of eastern North American woodland salamanders (<i>Plethodon</i>). Pages 34-46 in M. Lannoo, editor. Amphibian declines: the conservation status of United States species. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  10. LeGrand, Harry E., Jr. Zoologist. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina
  11. Mahoney, M. J. 2001. Molecular systematics of <i>Plethodon </i>and <i>Aneides </i>(Caudata: Plethodontini): phylogenetic analysis of an old and rapid radiation. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 18:174-188.
  12. Martof, B. S., W. M. Palmer, J. R. Bailey, and J. R. Harrison, III. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 264 pp.
  13. Mitchell, J. C. 1991. Amphibians and reptiles. Pages 411-76 in K. Terwilliger (coordinator). Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.
  14. Pague, C. A. 1991. Amphibians and reptiles. Pages 411-76 in K. Terwilliger (coordinator). Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.
  15. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  16. Redmond, W. H., and A. F. Scott. 1996. Atlas of Amphibians in Tennessee. Miscellaneous Publication No. 12. Center for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarkville, Tennessee. v + 94 pp.
  17. Redmond, W. H., and A. F. Scott. 1996. Atlas of amphibians in Tennessee. The Center for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, Miscellaneous Publication Number 12. v + 94 pp.
  18. Roble, S. 1996. Zoologist, Virginia Natural Heritage Program. Department of Conservation and Recreation, Richmond, VA. Personal communication.
  19. Thurow, G.R. 1964. Plethodon welleri. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 12:1-2.
  20. Tobey, F. J. 1985. Virginia's amphibians and reptiles: a distributional survey. Virginia Herpetological Survey. vi + 114 pp.
  21. Van Devender, W. Herpetologist, Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. Personal communication.
  22. Withers, D. Zoologist, Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville, TN. Personal communication.