Eurycea wilderae
Dunn, 1920
Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Todd W. Pierson, CC BY-NC 4.0
Henry Seilheimer, CC BY-NC 4.0
Henry Seilheimer, CC BY-NC 4.0
Henry Seilheimer, CC BY-NC 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106042
Element CodeAAAAD05150
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusEurycea
Synonyms
Eurycea bislineata wilderae
Other Common Names
Blue Ridge two-lined salamander (EN)
Concept Reference
Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Jacobs (1987) examined allozyme variation and concluded that Eurycea bislineata subspecies bislineata, cirrigera, and wilderae should be regarded as distinct species, but Petranka (1998) retained these taxa as subspecies of Eurycea bislineata pending study of genetic interactions in contact zones. Camp et al. (2000) examined allozyme and morphological variation in Eurycea at a contact zone between E. cirrigera and E. wilderae in Georgia and concluded that the two are distinct species. Kozak and Montanucci (2001) examined genetic variation across a wilderae-cirrigera contact zone in South Carolina and concluded that the two are distinct species. Bonett et al. (2014 "2013") suggested that there are at least 2 lineages, one most closely related to Eurycea wilderae and another most closely related to Eurycea bislineata. Integrative taxonomic revisions of the E. bislineata complex, particularly E. cirrigera and E. wilderae are needed to estimate species diversity and distributions of these salamanders more accurately (Stuart et al. 2020).
Conservation Status
Review Date2002-03-25
Change Date2001-10-18
Edition Date2011-05-04
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Secure in small range in the southern Appalachians.
Range Extent Comments
Southern Appalachian Mountains (mainly the southern Blue Ridge Mountains physiographic province), from western Virginia southward through eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina to western South Carolina and northern Georgia, possibly also northern Alabama (but apparently records there represent E. cirrigera) and north-central South Carolina; ranges elevationally from base-level streams to the tops of the highest peaks (about 1900 m) (Sever 1999).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations). Dodd (2004) mapped well over 100 locations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Threat Impact Comments
Basically unthreatened, but clearcutting strongly depletes local populations (Petranka et al. 1993).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Rocky brooks, springs, seepages; may disperse into terrestrial habitats in wet warm weather. Adults hide under objects in or near water. Eggs are laid in water on underside of rock, log, etc.
Ecology
Based on removal sampling in 30 x 30 m plots in North Carolina, Petranka and Starnes (2001) estimated minimum density at 1,490 individuals per hectare.
Reproduction
In southwestern North Carolina, eggs are laid in late winter and early spring. Clutch size 28-56 (yolked oocytes). Female stays with eggs until hatching. Eggs hatch late June-early July. Larvae metamorphose in 1-2 years (in 1 year in warmer first-order streams, in 1-2 years in cooler higher-order streams; Voss, Copeia 1993:736-742). Age at first reproduction is 3-4 years, usually the latter (Bruce 1985).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | S5 | Yes |
| Tennessee | S5 | Yes |
| Virginia | S2 | Yes |
| Georgia | S5 | Yes |
| South Carolina | S3 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 - Biological resource use | — | — | High (continuing) |
| 5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting | — | — | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (49)
Georgia (7)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Boggs Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 2,073 |
| Helton Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 2,348 |
| Joe Gap | Chattahoochee National Forest | 5,321 |
| Lance Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 9,025 |
| Pink Knob | Chattahoochee National Forest | 12,127 |
| Rocky Mountain | Chattahoochee National Forest | 4,269 |
| Wilson Cove | Chattahoochee National Forest | 545 |
North Carolina (23)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 11,085 |
| Balsam Cone | Pisgah National Forest | 10,591 |
| Barkers Creek (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 975 |
| Bearwallow | Pisgah National Forest | 4,113 |
| Big Indian (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 1,155 |
| Cheoah Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 7,795 |
| Chunky Gal (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 3,336 |
| Craggy Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 2,657 |
| Dobson Knob | Pisgah National Forest | 6,111 |
| Graveyard Ridge (addition) | Pisgah National Forest | 1,958 |
| Harper Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,325 |
| Jarrett Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,485 |
| Laurel Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 5,683 |
| Linville Gorge Addition | Pisgah National Forest | 2,809 |
| Lost Cove | Pisgah National Forest | 5,944 |
| Middle Prong Addition | Pisgah National Forest | 1,852 |
| Sam Knob (addition) | Pisgah National Forest | 2,576 |
| Snowbird | Nantahala National Forest | 8,489 |
| South Mills River | Pisgah National Forest | 8,588 |
| Tusquitee Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 13,670 |
| Wilson Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 4,863 |
| Woods Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 9,602 |
| Yellowhammer Branch (add.) | Nantahala National Forest | 1,255 |
South Carolina (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Cove | Sumter National Forest | 3,025 |
| Big Mountain | Sumter National Forest | 2,337 |
| Ellicott Rock 2 | Sumter National Forest | 517 |
Tennessee (11)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | Cherokee National Forest | 11,743 |
| Beaver Dam Creek | Cherokee National Forest | 5,070 |
| Brushy Ridge | Cherokee National Forest | 7,469 |
| Devil's Backbone | Cherokee National Forest | 4,287 |
| Flint Mill Gap | Cherokee National Forest | 9,494 |
| Rogers Ridge | Cherokee National Forest | 4,738 |
| Sampson Mountain Addition | Cherokee National Forest | 3,064 |
| Slide Hollow | Cherokee National Forest | 4,057 |
| Stone Mountain | Cherokee National Forest | 5,367 |
| Sycamore Creek | Cherokee National Forest | 6,984 |
| Upper Bald River | Cherokee National Forest | 9,202 |
Virginia (5)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam Creek | Jefferson National Forest | 1,135 |
| Little Wilson Creek Addition B | Jefferson National Forest | 1,725 |
| New London Bridge Branch | Jefferson National Forest | 844 |
| Raccoon Branch | Jefferson National Forest | 4,388 |
| Seng Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 6,428 |
References (18)
- 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.
- Bonett, R. M., M. A. Steffen, S. M. Lambert, J. J. Wiens, and P. T. Chippindale. 2014. Evolution of paedomorphosis in plethodontid salamanders: ecological correlated and re-evolution of metamorphosis. Evolution 68: 466-482.
- Bruce, R. C. 1985. Larval period and metamorphosis in the salamander EURYCEA BISLINEATA. Herpetologica 41:19-28.
- Camp, C. D., J. L. Marshall, K. R. Landau, R. M. Austin, Jr., and S. G. Tilley. 2000. Sympatric occurrence of two species of the two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata) complex. Copeia 2000:572-578.
- Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 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]
- Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2004. The amphibians of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville. xvii + 283 pp.
- 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
- Jacobs, J. F. 1987. A preliminary investigation of geographic genetic variation and systematics of the two-lined salamander, <i>Eurycea bislineata</i> (Green). Herpetologica 43:423-446.
- Kozak, K. H., and R. B. Montanucci. 2001. Genetic variation across a contact zone between montane and lowland forms of the two-lined salamander (EURYCEA BISLINEATA) species complex: a test of species limits. Copeia 2001:25-34.
- Kozak, K. H., R. A. Blaine, and A. Larson. 2006. Gene lineages and eastern North American palaeodrainage basins: phylogeography and speciation in salamanders of the <i>Eurycea bislineata</i> species complex. Molecular Ecology 15:191-207.
- Mittleman, M.B. 1966. <i>Eurycea bislineata</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 45.1-45.4.
- 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.
- Petranka, J. W., and S. S. Murray. 2001. Effectiveness of removal sampling for determining salamander density and biomass: a case study in an Appalachian streamside community. Journal of Herpetology 35:36-44.
- Petranka, J. W., M. E. Eldridge, and K. E. Haley. 1993. Effects of timber harvesting on southern Appalachian salamanders. Conservation Biology 7(2): 363-370.
- Sever, D.M. 1999c. <i>Eurycea wilderae</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 685:1-4.
- Stuart, B. L., D. A. Beamer, D. A. Farrington, J. C. Beane, A. A. Chek, L. T. Pusser, H. E. Som, D. Stephan, D. M. Sever, and A. L. Braswell. 2020. A new Two-lined Salamander (<i>Eurycea bislineata</i> Complex) from the Sandhills of North Carolina. Herpetologica 76:423-444.