Plethodon grobmani
Allen and Neill, 1949
Southeastern Slimy Salamander
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.732500
Element CodeAAAAD12530
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
Other Common Namessoutheastern slimy salamander (EN)
Concept ReferenceHighton, R., G.C. Maha, and L.R. Maxson. 1989. Biochemical evolution in the slimy salamanders of the Plethodon glutinosus complex in the eastern United States. Illinois Biological Monographs 57:1-153.
Taxonomic CommentsThis taxon was formerly included in P. glutinosus and recognized as a distinct species by Highton et al. (1989). Joyce et al. (2019) used one mitochondrial and one nuclear gene to estimate phylogeographic lineage diversity of the P. glutinosus complex in Alabama and recommended synonymizing P. grobmani and P. mississippi with P. glutinosus. They further suggested recognizing only a single, widespread P. glutinosus, which would synonymize many species recognized by Highton et al. (1989). We are following Nicholson (2025) in retaining these taxa pending additional data.
Conservation Status
Review Date2004-04-07
Change Date2004-04-07
Range Extent CommentsSouthern Alabama and southern Georgia south to central Florida (Highton et al. 1989, Conant and Collins 1991).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Wooded areas; generally under or in rotting logs, stumps, or leaf litter, or under rocks, during the day. Goes underground during dry or freezing weather. Eggs are laid in rotting logs, underground, or in rock crevices.
Terrestrial HabitatsForest - HardwoodForest - Mixed
Palustrine HabitatsRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Alabama | SNR | Yes |
| Georgia | SNR | Yes |
| Florida | S3 | Yes |
References (15)
- Ashton, R. E., Jr., and P. S. Ashton. 1988. Handbook of reptiles and amphibians of Florida. Part Three. The amphibians. Windward Publ. Co., Miami.
- Collins, J. T., and T. W. Taggart. 2002. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, & crocodilians. Fifth edition. Publication of The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrence, Kansas. iv + 44 pp.
- 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.
- 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]
- Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Queiroz, D. R. Frost, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., T. W. Taggart, S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2000 [2001]. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular No. 29. 82 pp.
- Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Quieroz, D. Frost, D. M. Green, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, R. W. McDiarmid, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2003. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico: update. Herpetological Review 34:198-203.
- Dubois, A., A. Ohler, and R. A. Pyron. 2021. New concepts and methods for phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature in zoology, exemplified by a new ranked cladonomy of recent amphibians (Lissamphibia). Megataxa 5:1-738.
- 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
- Frost, D.R. 2021. Amphibian Species of the World (ASW): an Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
- Guyer, C., S, Goetz, B. Folt, K. L. Joyce, and M. M. Hayes. 2019. Variation in head shape and color at the range boundary of Gulf Coast Slimy Salamanders (<i>Plethodon glutinosus</i> complex), USA. Copeia 107:694-700.
- Highton, R., G.C. Maha, and L.R. Maxson. 1989. Biochemical evolution in the slimy salamanders of the <i>Plethodon glutinosus</I> complex in the eastern United States. Illinois Biological Monographs 57:1-153.
- Joyce, K. L., M. M. Hayes, J. Potter, and C. Guyer. 2019. Phylogeography of the Slimy Salamander complex (<i>Plethodon</i>: Plethodontidae) in Alabama. Copeia 107:701-707.
- Mount, R. H. 1975. The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. vii + 347 pp.
- Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx
- Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.