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Home/Species/ Del Norte Salamander

Plethodon elongatus

Van Denburgh, 1916

Del Norte Salamander

G4Apparently Secure Found in 19 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104301
Element CodeAAAAD12050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
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
Plethodon stormi has been regarded as a subspecies of P. elongatus by some authors (Stebbins 2003). Genetic studies (DeGross 2004, Mahoney 2004) support the view that P. elongatus and P. stormi are distinct species. Mead et al. (2005) examined morphological and mtDNA variation in Plethodon populations near the California-Oregon border and concluded that P. stormi and P. elongatus are distinct species and that nearby populations in the vicinity of the Scott River in Siskiyou County, California, represent a distinct species, which was described as Plethodon asupak.
Conservation Status
Review Date2004-04-23
Change Date2004-04-23
Edition Date2011-05-04
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Small range in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California; fairly common in suitable habitat; now occurs largely in protected areas.
Range Extent Comments
Range extends from the vicinity of Port Orford, southwestern Oregon, south to central Humboldt County, northwestern California (Schmidt and Norman, 1997, Herpetol. Rev. 28:206). Elevational range extends from sea level to about 1,200 meters (Nussbaum et al. 1983).
Occurrences Comments
Jennings and Hayes (1994) mapped approximately 70 sites with extant populations in California. Brodie and Storm (1971) mapped 17 locations in Oregon.
Threat Impact Comments
Over the long term, the species likely has declined with loss of old-growth forest habitat, especially in drier inland locations.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Strongly associated with moist talus and rocky substrates, in redwood or Douglas-fir forests, including riparian zones. Usually found among moss-covered rocks, under bark and other forest litter, or in crevices in rotting logs. Usually not in seeps or other very wet areas. In northwestern California, associated with older forests with closed, multi-storied canopy (composed of both conifers and hardwoods), with a cool, moist microclimate, and rocky substrates dominated by cobble-sized pieces; these conditions may be optimal throughout most of the range (Welsh 1990, Welsh and Lind 1995). In coastal regions, may be common in recently harvested forest areas with no associated older forests (Diller and Wallace 1994). Lays eggs in concealed terrestrial sites.

Reproduction

Most females probably lay their eggs in the spring and brood them during the summer. Most hatching probably occurs in the fall (Nussbaum et al. 1983).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS3Yes
CaliforniaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource use——High (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (19)
California (16)
AreaForestAcres
Bell QuinbyShasta-Trinity National Forest11,556
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Cow CreekSix Rivers National Forest1,271
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PacksaddleSix Rivers National Forest3,862
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
Ship MountainSix Rivers National Forest11,936
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou ASix Rivers National Forest1,017
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
Slide CreekSix Rivers National Forest11,458
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
Shasta CostaSiskiyou National Forests14,420
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
References (24)
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Brodie, E.D., Jr. and Storm, R.M. 1971. Plethodon elongatus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 102:1-2.
  4. Clayton, D. R. et al. 1998. Survey protocol for the Siskiyou Mountains Salamander (<i>Plethodon stormi</i>). USFS, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 18 pp.
  5. 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]
  6. Diller, L. V., and R. L. Wallace. 1994. Distribution and habitat of PLETHODON ELONGATUS on managed, young growth forests in north coastal California. J. Herpetol. 28:310-318.
  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. Jennings, M. R., and M. P. Hayes. 1994. Amphibian and reptile species of special concern in California. Final Report submitted to the California Department of Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Division. Contract No. 8023. 255 pp.
  10. 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.
  11. Mahoney, M. J. 2004. Molecular systematics and phylogeography of the <i>Plethodon elongatus </i>species group: combining phylogenetic and population genetic methods to investigate species history. Molecular Ecology 13:149-166.
  12. Mead, L. S., D. R. Clayton, R. S. Nauman, D. H. Olson, and M. E. Pfrender. 2005. Newly discovered populations of salamanders from Siskiyou County California represent a species distinct from<i> Plethodon stormi</i>. Herpetologica 61:158-177.
  13. Nussbaum, R.A., E.D. Brodie, Jr., and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University Press of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. 332 pp.
  14. Ollivier, L.M. and Welsh, H.H. 1999. Survey protocols for Plethodon elongatus. Survey protocols for amphibians under the survey and manage provision of the Northwest Forest Plan. Version 3.0. Olson, D.H.,editor. 163-200. USDI BLM No. OR-2000-04.
  15. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  16. Stebbins, R. C. 1972. California Amphibians and Reptiles. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
  17. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  18. Thomas, J. W., Ward, J., Raphael, M.G., Anthony, R.G., Forsman, E.D., Gunderson, A.G., Holthausen, R.S., Marcot, B.G., Reeves, G.H., Sedell, J.R. and Solis, D.M. 1993. Viability assessments and management considerations for species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. The report of the Scientific Analysis Team. USDA Forest Service, Spotted Owl EIS Team. 530 pp. Portland, Oregon.
  19. Thomas, J. W., Ward, J., Raphael, M.G., Anthony, R.G., Forsman, E.D., Gunderson, A.G., Holthausen, R.S., Marcot, B.G., Reeves, G.H., Sedell, J.R. and Solis, D.M. 1993. Viability assessments and management considerations for species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. The report of the Scientific Analysis Team. USDA Forest Service, Spotted Owl EIS Team, Portland Oregon. 530 pp.
  20. U.S. Forest Service (USFS), et al. 1993. Draft supplemental environmental impact statement on management of habitat for late-successional and old-growth forest related species within the range of the northern spotted owl. Published separately is Appendix A: Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team. 1993. Forest ecosystem management: an ecological, economic, and social assessment (FEMAT Report).
  21. Welsh, H. H., and A. J. Lind. 1992. Population ecology of two relictual salamanders from the Klamath Mountains of Northwestern California. Pp. 419-437 in McCullough D. R. and Barrett, R. H. 1992, Wildlife 2001: Populations. Elsevier Applied Science, London.
  22. Welsh, H. H. and A. L. Lind. 1988. Old growth forests and the distribution of the terrestrial herptofauna. Pp. 439- in Szaro et al. 1988, Management of Amphibians, reptiles, and Small Mammals in North America, Proceedings of the Symposium in Flagstaff AZ. USFS GTR# RM-166.
  23. Welsh, H. H., Jr. 1990. Relictual amphibians and old-growth forests. Conservation Biology 4:309-19.
  24. Welsh, H. H., Jr., and A. J. Lind. 1995. Habitat correlates of the Del Norte salamander, <i>Plethodon elongatus</i>, in northwestern California. Journal of Herpetology 29:198-210.