Desmognathus apalachicolae
Means and Karlin, 1989
Apalachicola Dusky Salamander
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103933
Element CodeAAAAD03120
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusDesmognathus
Other Common NamesApalachicola dusky salamander (EN)
Concept ReferenceMeans, D. B., and A. A. Karlin. 1989. A new species of Desmognathus from the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain. Herpetologica 45:37-46.
Taxonomic CommentsThis species formerly was included in D. fuscus, from which this species is distinguished by electrophoretic and morphologic characters (Means and Karlin 1989). Morphological, electrophoretic, and behavioral data indicate probable derivation from an ochrophaeus-like ancestor (Verrell 1990).
Beamer and Lamb (2008) examined mtDNA variation among Desmognathus populations in the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains (and some nearby localities outside the Coastal Plain). Based on these genetic results, in conjunction with morphological observations, they concluded that the taxonomic and geographic scopes of several Desmognathus species should be modified from their traditional concepts. They found that range of D. apalachicolae may be larger than previously defined. Populations from the upper Apalachicola River drainage (presumed to be Desmognathus ocoee) and Piedmont form a strongly supported clade with D. apalachicolae. However, the authors concluded that taxonomic reassignments of the Apalachicola headwaters populations are premature until comparisons with topotypic material of D. ocoee have been completed. Northern Georgia populations previously designated apalachicolae A2 were concluded to represent D. ocoee (Beamer and Lamb 2008, Pyron and Beamer 2022, Pyron et al. 2022).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-12-16
Change Date2011-05-03
Edition Date2025-12-16
Edition AuthorsPalis, J. G., and G. Hammerson (2011); rev. D. R. Jackson (2014); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank ReasonsThis species has a limited range in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. There are many occurrences, approximately one-third of which are presently protected. Habitat disturbance is a potential threat.
Range Extent CommentsThis species is endemic to the lower southeastern United States in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. It is known from the watersheds of the upper Choctawhatchee River in Alabama; the upper Apalachicola, upper Ochlockonee, and lower Chipola rivers in Florida; and the Chattahoochee River and lower Flint River in southwestern Georgia (Means and Karlin 1989, Means 1993). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records from 1995-2025, range extent is estimated to be 25,305 km² (RARECAT 2025).
A disjunct population (designated apalachicolae A2) in the upper Chattahooche River watershed of northern Georgia was concluded to be a population of D. ocoee (Beamer and Lamb 2008, Pyron and Beamer 2022, Pyron et al. 2022).
Occurrences CommentsPopulations probably occur in most/all suitable microhabitats within range. Applying a 3 km separation distance to GBIF (2025) records from 1995-2025, 66 occurrences are estimated (RARECAT 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsPotential threats include: impoundment and/or pollution of streams; possible siltation from logging uplands/ravines; disturbance by hogs. Tolerates some degradation of habitat.
Ecology & Habitat
Description
See Means (1993).
Diagnostic Characteristics
See Means (1993).
Habitat
Within and adjacent to seepage streams within steep-sided ravines in slope forests; sometimes also in mucky floodplain and bottomland forests. Undisturbed, pristine ravines and seepage streams are ideal. Uses logs, rocks, leaf litter, and leaf packs for cover, also takes refuge in friable streambanks (Means and Karlin 1989). Eggs are attached in cluster to undersurface of twig or small log or rock, and are immersed in trickling water; larvae found in very shallow water trickling through decomposing litter on saturated sites adjacent to larger brooks, on sandy or organic substrates (Means and Karlin 1989).
Reproduction
Egg clutches with attending females observed from 3rd week of May through mid-November; larvae begin hatching in mid-summer; all have metamorphosed by spring of following year (Means and Karlin 1989).
Palustrine HabitatsFORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Alabama | S3 | Yes |
| Florida | S2 | Yes |
| Georgia | S3 | Yes |
Roadless Areas (1)
Florida (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|
| Clear Lake | Apalachicola National Forest | 5,592 |
References (15)
- 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.
- 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.
- Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
- 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]
- 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
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
- Karlin, A. A., and S. I. Guttman. 1986. Systematics and geographic isozyme variation in the plethodontid salamander <i>Desmognathus fuscus</i> (Rafinesque). Herpetologica 42: 282-301.
- Means, D.B. 1993. Desmognathus apalachicolae. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 556:1-2.
- Means, D. B., and A. A. Karlin. 1989. A new species of <i>Desmognathus </i> from the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain. Herpetologica 45:37-46.
- Means, D. Bruce (Dr.). Coastal Plains Institute and Land Conservancy, Tallahassee, FL
- Moler, P. E., editor. 1992. Rare and endangered biota of Florida. Volume III. Amphibians and reptiles. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. xviii + 291 pp.
- <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
- 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).
- Pyron, R. A., K. A. O'Connell, E. M. Lemmon, A. R. Lemmon, and D. A. Beamer. 2022d. Candidate-species delimitation in <i>Desmognathus </i>salamanders reveals gene flow across lineage boundaries, confounding phylogenetic estimation and clarifying hybrid zones. Ecology and Evolution 12:e8574.
- Verrell, P. A. 1990. Sexual compatibility among plethodontid salamanders: tests between DESMOGNATHUS APALACHICOLAE, and D. OCHROPHAEUS and D. FUSCUS. Herpetologica 46:415-422.