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Home/Species/ Dixie Cavern Salamander

Plethodon dixi

Pope and Fowler, 1949

Dixie Cavern Salamander

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Data deficientIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1076787
Element CodeAAAAD12570
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNData deficient
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
Other Common Names
Roanoke Salamander (EN)
Concept Reference
Kuchta, S. R., A. D. Brown, and R. Highton. 2018. Disintegrating over space and time: paraphyly and species delimitation in the Wehrle's Salamander complex. Zoologica Scripta 47(3): 285-299.
Taxonomic Comments
This species was previously described as Plethodon dixi (Pope and Fowler 1949), but was sunk into P. wehrlei by Highton (1962) because phenotypic differences were considered too limited. Given the phenotypic and genetic distinctiveness of the dixi populations, Kuchta et al. (2018) propose that the original taxonomy of Pope and Fowler (1949) be followed and P. dixi be recognized as a distinct species. See also discussion by Felix et al. (2019).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-01-11
Change Date2022-01-11
Edition Date2022-01-11
Edition AuthorsSears, N. (2022)
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
This endemic species has a restricted distribution but can be common where found. One population, if still extant, is threatened by the clearcutting of Fort Lewis Mountain ridgeline for construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Range Extent Comments
This species is endemic to Virginia, USA, and was originally described from within Dixie Caverns and New Dixie Caverns, Roanoke County (Kuchta et al. 2018). It has also been reported on the southwestern ridgeline of Fort Lewis Mountain, near the Montgomery-Roanoke County line, Virginia (Button 2019).
Occurrences Comments
This species is known from three localities in Virginia, two caves (Dixie Caverns and New Dixie Caverns), and a third at Fort Lewis Mountain. It is unknown if the population still exists at Fort Lewis Mountain, as this area has since been clearcut to allow for the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (Button 2019).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to this species are unknown, however, it is possible that the 2018 clearcutting of Fort Lewis Mountain ridgeline will substantially impact populations locally or even range-wide (e.g., if gene flow is reduced) (Button 2019).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Upland forests and woodlands (e.g., red spruce-yellow birch, mixed deciduous). Found in rock crevices, under rocks, logs, and leaves, and in twilight zone of caves (at lower elevations). Eggs are laid in damp logs, moss, cave crevices, and other protected sites.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
VirginiaS1Yes
Roadless Areas (1)
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
References (10)
  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. Button, S. 2019. Plethodon dixi (Dixie Cavern Salamander). Habitat. Herpetological Review 50(4):756.
  3. Felix, Z. I., J. A. Wooten, T. W. Pierson, and C. D. Camp. 2019. Re-evaluation of the Wehrle’s salamander (<i>Plethodon wehrlei</i> Fowler and Dunn) species group (Caudata: Plethodontidae) using genomic data, with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 4609(3):429-448.
  4. 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
  5. Green, N. B., and T. K. Pauley. 1987. Amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. xi + 241 pp.
  6. Highton, R. 1987. Plethodon wehrlei. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 402:1-3.
  7. Kuchta, S. R., A. D. Brown, and R. Highton. 2018. Disintegrating over space and time: paraphyly and species delimitation in the Wehrle's Salamander complex. Zoologica Scripta 47(3): 285-299.
  8. Martof, B. S., W. M. Palmer, J. R. Bailey, and J. R. Harrison, III. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 264 pp.
  9. Pope, C.H. and J.A. Fowler. 1949. A new species of salamander (<i>Plethodon</i>) from southwestern Virginia. Natural History Miscellanea Chicago Academy of Sciences 47:1–4.
  10. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (Virginia DWR). 2021. Wildlife Information. Dixie Caverns Salamander. Online at https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/dixie-caverns-salamander/. Last updated: February 22, 2021