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Home/Species/ Ouachita Dusky Salamander

Desmognathus brimleyorum

Stejneger, 1895

Ouachita Dusky Salamander

G3Vulnerable Found in 5 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104852
Element CodeAAAAD03030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusDesmognathus
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
Means (1999) discussed taxonomic history.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-02
Change Date2025-06-25
Edition Date2025-06-25
Edition AuthorsClausen, M. K., and G. Hammerson (2003); 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 Reasons
Occurs in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas; stable to slightly declining; siltation from logging and urbanization are the primary potential threats.
Range Extent Comments
This species is endemic to the southern United States. It is found in the Ouachita Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma and west-central Arkansas (Means 1999). The elevational range is 120-790 m (Petranka 1998). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) and NatureServe (2025) occurrence records from 2005-2025, range extent is estimated to be 32,362 km² (RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
In Oklahoma, 19 sites were documented from 1993-1995 (M. Lomolino, pers. comm., 1997). Karlin et al. (1993) documented 49 collection sites from 1977-1984, including 11 locations in Oklahoma and 38 locations in Arkansas. Karlin (pers. comm., 1997) recently documented two additional locations near Little Rock, Arkansas, in the Arkansas River. Using GBIF (2025) and NatureServe (2025) occurrence records from 2005-2025, 71 occurrences are estimated (RARECAT 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
The greatest potential threat is stream siltation resulting from timbering activities (A. Karlin, pers. comm., 1997; S. Trauth, pers. comm., 1997; Petranka 1998). Clearcuts away from stream corridors may not cause immediate population declines, although clearcut sections are likely abandoned in favor of the forested corridors (Guzy et al. 2019, Halloran et al. 2021). In Oklahoma, a population declined in abundance after removal of riparian vegetation done in conjunction with "renovation" of a natural spring (Williams et al. 2002). Populations near Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas, may be threatened by future urban development (A. Karlin and S. Trauth, pers. comm., 1997).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Rocky, gravelly streams. Adults usually in water under rocks, juveniles and larvae usually under rocks in shallow water or in wet gravel or rock rubble of seepages. Egg clutches were found chambers in mud in seepage areas at depth of about 0.5 m near permanent water table (Trauth 1988).

Ecology

Often infested with trombiculid mites.

Reproduction

Oviposition peaks in July; adult females reproduce annually. Female attends eggs.
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
OklahomaS3Yes
ArkansasS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentNegligible (<1%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasNegligible (<1%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasNegligible (<1%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.3.2 - Soil erosion, sedimentationRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (5)
Arkansas (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainOuachita National Forest1,910
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Brush HeapOuachita National Forest4,205
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Oklahoma (1)
AreaForestAcres
Beech CreekOuachita National Forest8,303
References (22)
  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. Conant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xvii + 429 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. 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.
  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. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  8. Guzy, J., K. Halloran, J. Homyack, and J. D. Willson. 2019. Influence of riparian buffers and habitat characteristics on salamander assemblages in headwater streams within managed forests. Forest Ecology and Management (432)15: 868-883.
  9. Halloran, K. M., J. C. Guzy, J. A. Homyack, and J. D. Willson. 2021. Effects of timber harvest on survival and movement of stream salamanders in a managed forest landscape. Ecosphere 12(4): e03489.
  10. Karlin, A. A., S. I. Guttman, and D. B. Means. 1993. Population structure in the Ouachita Mountain dusky salamander, <i>Desmognathus brimleyorum</i> (Cuadata: Plethodontidae). Southwestern Naturalist 38(1):36-42.
  11. Karlin, A. Professor of Herpetology, Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas. Personal communication.
  12. Lomolino, M. Terrestrial Zoologist, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
  13. Means, D.B. 1999. Desmognathus brimleyorum. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 682:1-4.
  14. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  15. Peterjohn, B. G. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Migratory Bird Management, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. Pers. comm.
  16. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  17. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  18. Taylor, C. L., and R. F. Wilkinson, Jr. 1988. First record of SOREX LONGIROSTRIS (Soricidae) in Oklahoma. Southwest. Nat. 33:248.
  19. Taylor, C. L., R. F. Wilkinson, Jr., and C. L. Peterson. 1990. Reproductive patterns of five plethodontid salamanders from the Ouachita Mountains. Southwestern Naturalist 35:468-472.
  20. Trauth, S. E. 1988. Egg clutches of the Ouachita dusky salamander, DESMOGNATHUS BRIMLEYORUM (Caudata: Plethodontidae), collected in Arkansas during a summer drought. Southwest. Nat. 33:234-236.
  21. Trauth, S. Professor of Herpetology, Biology Department, Arkansas State University, State University, AR. Personal communication.
  22. Williams, L. R., D. L. Crosswhite, and M. G. Williams. 2002c. Short-term effects of riparian disturbance on <i>Desmognathus brimleyorum</i> (Plethodontidae) at a natural spring in Oklahoma. Southwestern Naturalist 47:611-613.