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Desmognathus ocoee

Nicholls, 1949

Ocoee Salamander

G4Apparently Secure Found in 23 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). Photo by Scott Morris, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Scott Morris, CC BY 4.0
Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). Photo by Scott Morris, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Scott Morris, CC BY 4.0
Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). Photo by Scott Morris, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Scott Morris, CC BY 4.0
Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). Photo by evangrimes, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
evangrimes, CC BY 4.0
Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). Photo by Henry Seilheimer, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Henry Seilheimer, CC BY-NC 4.0
Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). Photo by Marina, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Marina, CC BY-NC 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102721
Element CodeAAAAD03140
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusDesmognathus
Other Common Names
Ocoee salamander (EN)
Concept Reference
Tilley, S. G., and M. J. Mahoney. 1996. Patterns of genetic differentiation in salamanders of the Desmognathus ochrophaeus complex (Amphibia: Plethodontidae). Herpetological Monographs 10:1-41.
Taxonomic Comments
Desmognathus ocoee formerly was included in D. ochrophaeus. Based on patterns of allozyme variation, Tilley and Mahoney (1996) split D. ochrophaeus into four species: D. ochrophaeus, D. carolinensis, D. ocoee, and D. orestes. With D. apalachicolae and D. imitator, these make up the D. ochrophaeus complex. Highton (2000) reviewed available allozyme data and concluded that D. ocoee may include multiple species. Beamer and Lamb (2020), in their discussion of Desmognathus mtDNA phylogenetics, found this species to not form a monophyletic group and composed of several lineages. Pyron et al. (2020) suggested on molecular grounds that this nominal species is a complex (Frost 2020). Pyron and Beamer (2022) conducted additional molecular and morphometric studies and recognized five species within the Desmognathus ocoee group: D. ocoee, D. apalachicolae, D. adatsihi, D. balsameus, and the resurrected D. perlapsus. This taxon refers to the lineages Desmognathus ocoee E-H and apalachicolae A2 (Kozak et al. 2005, Beamer and Lamb 2020, Pyron and Beamer 2022). Pyron and Beamer (2022) noted that their restricted definition of D. ocoee could potentially be further split into three species and warrants further taxonomic study.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-09-12
Change Date2024-09-12
Edition Date2024-09-11
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2004); rev. R. L. Gundy (2024)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species has a limited range in the southeastern United States. It is widespread and abundant within the range, most occurrences are protected, and no major threats are known at this time.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found in three disjunct population segments in the southeastern United States. One is restricted to a small portion of the Cumberland Plateau between Sewanee and Orme, Tennessee in Franklin and Marion Counties (Pyron and Beamer 2022). A second occurs broadly on the Cumberland Escarpment (Walden Ridge and Sand Mountain) of south-central Tennessee, extreme northwestern Georgia, and northeastern Alabama (Pyron and Beamer 2022). A third occurs in the Nantahala, Unicoi, and southern Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, southeastern Tennessee, and north-central Georgia (Pyron and Beamer 2022). Using iNaturalist (2024) records, range extent is estimated to be 16,320 km².
Occurrences Comments
Applying a 3 km separation distance to iNaturalist (2024) records, there are approximately 93 occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known at this time (Pyron and Beamer 2022). Logging activities in national forests have the potential to degrade habitat.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species is found near small streams, springs, seepage areas, and wet rock faces (Martof and Rose 1963, Petranka 1998). It may wander into adjacent wooded areas in wet weather. It is more terrestrial at higher elevations and is a characteristic inhabitant of the floor of spruce-fir forests. Individuals frequently climb plants on rainy nights (Petranka 1998). Eggs are laid in wet rock crevices or under rocks, logs, or moss in seepage areas or near small streams, usually at or slightly above the water surface (Martof and Rose 1963, Huheey and Brandon 1973, Petranka 1998).

Ecology

Population density on rock faces in western North Carolina 10-12 salamanders per square meter (Bernardo 1994) and 3-22 adults and 7-19 juveniles per square meter (Huheey and Brandon 1973). Rock-face densities generally exceed those of streamside habitats (Petranka 1998). Predators include birds, small snakes, and large salamanders (Hairston 1986, Formanowicz and Brodie 1993).

Reproduction

Mating occurs in spring and late summer-fall, and individual adult females reproduce annually in most populations (Martof and Rose 1963, Huheey and Brandon 1973). Dissected females contained 8-29 eggs in a range-wide study (Martof and Rose 1963). Egg laying occurs in July and early August or as late as early September (Martof and Rose 1963). Females attend their clutches through hatching, and this may contribute significantly to nesting success (Forester 1979, Petranka 1998). Multiple females often nest close together (Martof and Rose 1963). The larval period lasts at least 9 months in rock face populations (Huheey and Brandon 1973). Most individuals do not live more than 7 years (Petranka 1998).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Palustrine Habitats
Bog/fenRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaS4Yes
AlabamaS2Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
TennesseeS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
No known threats———

—

Roadless Areas (23)
Georgia (11)
AreaForestAcres
Boggs CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,073
Cedar MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,083
Helton CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,348
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Miller CreekChattahoochee National Forest701
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Tate BranchChattahoochee National Forest1,069
Turner CreekChattahoochee National Forest1,495
North Carolina (9)
AreaForestAcres
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Boteler PeakNantahala National Forest4,205
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
References (26)
  1. Beamer, D. A., and T. Lamb. 2008. Dusky salamanders (Desmognathus, Plethodontidae) from the Coastal Plain: multiple independent lineages and their bearing on the molecular phylogeny of the genus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 47:143-153.
  2. Beamer, D. A., and T. Lamb. 2020. Towards rectifying limitations on species delineation in dusky salamanders (<i>Desmognathus</i>: Plethodontidae): An ecoregion-drainage sampling grid reveals additional cryptic clades. Zootaxa 4734: 1-61.
  3. Bernardo, J. 1994. Experimental analysis of allocation in two divergent, natural salamander populations. American Naturalist 143:14-38.
  4. 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.
  5. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 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. Forester, D. C. 1979. The adaptiveness of parental care in <i>Desmognathus</i><i> ochrophaeus</i> (Urodela: Plethodontidae). Copeia 1979: 332-341.
  8. Forester, D. C. 1981. Parental care in the salamander <i>Desmognathus ochrophaeus</i>: female activity pattern and trophic behavior. Journal of Herpetology 15:29-34.
  9. Forester, D. C. 1984. Brooding behavior by the mountain dusky salamander: can the female's presence reduce clutch desiccation? Herpetologica 40: 105-109.
  10. Formanowicz, D. R., Jr., and E. D. Brodie, Jr. 1993. Size-mediated predation pressure in a salamander community. Herpetologica 49:265-270.
  11. 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
  12. Hairston, N. G. 1986. Species packing in <i>Desmognathus </i>salamanders: experimental demonstration of predation and competition. American Naturalist 127: 266-291.
  13. Hairston, N. G., Sr., and R. H. Wiley. 1993. No decline in salamander (Amphibia: Caudata) populations: a twenty-year study in the southern Appalachians. Brimleyana 18:59-64.
  14. Highton, R. 2000. Detecting cryptic species using allozyme data. Pages 215-241 in R. C. Bruce, R. G. Jaeger, and L. D. Houck, editors. The biology of plethodontid salamanders. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York. xiii + 485 pp.
  15. Huheey, J. E., and R. A. Brandon. 1973. Rock-face populations of the mountain salamander, <i>Desmognathus ochrophaeus</i>, in North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 43: 59-77.
  16. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  17. Kozak, K. H., A. Larson, R. M. Bonett, and L. J. Harmon. 2005. Phylogenetic analysis of ecomorphological divergence community structure, and diversification rates in Dusky Salamanders (Plethodontidae: <i>Desmognathus</i>). Evolution 59:2000-2016.
  18. Maes, D., N. J. B. Isaac, C. A. Harrower, B. Collen, A. J. van Strien, and D. B. Roy. 2015. The use of opportunistic data for IUCN Red List assessments. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 115:690-706. https://doi.org/10.1111/bij.12530
  19. Martof, B. S. and F. L. Rose. 1963. Geographic variation in southern populations of <i>Desmognathus ochrophaeus</i>. The American Midland Naturalist 69: 376-425.
  20. NatureServe. Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. U.S.A. Online. Available: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/
  21. Peterman, W. E., J. A. Crawford, and R. D. Semlitsch. 2008. Productivity and significance of headwater streams: population structure and biomass of the black-bellied salamander (<i>Desmognathus quadramaculatus</i>). Freshwater Biology 53: 347–357.
  22. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  23. Petranka, J. W., M. E. Eldridge, and K. E. Haley. 1993. Effects of timber harvesting on southern Appalachian salamanders. Conservation Biology 7(2): 363-370.
  24. Pyron, R. A., and D. A. Beamer. 2022e. Systematics of the Ocoee Salamander (Plethodontidae: <i>Desmognathus ocoee</i>), with description of two new species from the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Zootaxa 5190: 207-240 (https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.3).
  25. Pyron, R. A., K. A. O'Connell, E. M. Lemmon, and A. R. Lemmon. 2020. Phylogenomic data reveal reticulation and incongruence among mitochondrial candidate species in Dusky Salamanders (<i>Desmognathus</i>). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 146(106751):1-13.
  26. Tilley, S. G., and M. J. Mahoney. 1996. Patterns of genetic differentiation in salamanders of the <i>Desmognathus ochrophaeus</i> complex (Amphibia: Plethodontidae). Herpetological Monographs 10:1-41.