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Home/Species/ Southern Zigzag Salamander

Plethodon ventralis

Highton, 1997

Southern Zigzag Salamander

G4Apparently Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106417
Element CodeAAAAD12370
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
Other Common Names
southern zigzag salamander (EN)
Concept Reference
Highton, R. 1997. Geographic protein variation and speciation in the Plethodon dorsalis complex. Herpetologica 53:345-356.
Taxonomic Comments
Recognized as a species distinct from P. dorsalis and P. angusticlavius by Highton (1997).
Conservation Status
Review Date2004-05-11
Change Date2001-10-30
Edition Date2004-05-11
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
Southeastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia as far east as Hayters Gap in Washington County, eastern Tennessee (including Cumberland Mountains; Cobb 2002), the French Broad River valley of western North Carolina, extreme northwestern Georgia, northern Alabama, and extreme northeastern Mississippi (Highton 1997).
Occurrences Comments
Number of occurrences has not been determined. Highton (1997) mapped 16 locations, based on samples identified electrophoretically, but these do not represent the whole range.
Threat Impact Comments
Urbanization and conversion of forest into cropland have eliminated many populations, but the species remains common in suitable habitat (Petranka 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Vicinity of moist rocky crevices in ravines, canyons, rubble, seepages, caves, and wooded slopes. Under rocks, logs, or leaves during day.

Reproduction

Terrestrial breeder.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
MississippiS2Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
GeorgiaS4Yes
TennesseeS4Yes
VirginiaS1Yes
North CarolinaS2Yes
AlabamaS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——High (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areas——High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture——High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (1)
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
References (12)
  1. 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.
  2. Cobb, V. A. 2002. Geographic distribution: <i>Plethodon ventralis</i>. Herpetological Review 33:218.
  3. 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.
  4. 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]
  5. Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2004. The amphibians of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville. xvii + 283 pp.
  6. 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
  7. Highton, R. 1997. Geographic protein variation and speciation in the <i>Plethodon dorsalis</i> complex. Herpetologica 53:345-356.
  8. 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.
  9. Mount, R. H. 1975. The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. vii + 347 pp.
  10. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  11. 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.
  12. Thurow, G.R. 1966. <i>Plethodon dorsalis</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 29.11-29.3.