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Home/Species/ Junaluska Salamander

Eurycea junaluska

Sever, Dundee, and Sullivan, 1976

Junaluska Salamander

G2Imperiled (G2G3) Found in 5 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
High - mediumThreat Impact
Junaluska Salamander (Eurycea junaluska). Photo by Josiah Townsend, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Josiah Townsend, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Junaluska Salamander (Eurycea junaluska). Photo by sydthesciencekid15, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
sydthesciencekid15, CC BY-NC 4.0
Junaluska Salamander (Eurycea junaluska). Photo by sydthesciencekid15, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
sydthesciencekid15, CC BY-NC 4.0
Junaluska Salamander (Eurycea junaluska). Photo by José Garrido, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
José Garrido, CC BY 4.0
Junaluska Salamander (Eurycea junaluska). Photo by Max Ramey, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Max Ramey, CC BY-NC 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105673
Element CodeAAAAD05020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusEurycea
Other Common Names
Junaluska salamander (EN)
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
Jacobs (1987) found Eurycea junaluska to be genetically similar to E. aquatica and E. cirrigata and questioned the taxonomic status of Eurycea junaluska. Sever (1989) found E. junaluska to be morphologically unique and genetically distinct from all sympatric Eurycea. Bonett et al. (2014 "2013") suggested that this species is the sister taxon of Eurycea aquatica (Frost 2020).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2019-06-26
Change Date2019-06-26
Edition Date2019-06-26
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G., and M. K. Clausen (2007), rev. R. L. Gundy (2019)
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Small range in North Carolina and Tennessee; extant in 17 streams. No population declines have been documented. Narrow habitat requirements are threatened by anthropogenic activities.
Range Extent Comments
The known range encompasses a portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern North Carolina and southeastern Tennessee (Conant and Collins 1991, Redmond and Scott 1996, Ryan 1997, USFWS 1999, Ryan and Sever 2005).
Occurrences Comments
Available survey data indicate that this species is extant in 17 streams (USFWS 1999).
Threat Impact Comments
Potential threats include siltation due to logging, road construction for logging activities, urban development, and other activities that would negatively impact water quality (Braswell 1989; Harry LeGrand and Rusty Smith, pers. comm., 1998). Ranavirus has been found in wild populations of congeners (Gray et al. 2009, Rothermel et al. 2013, Sutton et al. 2015) and Bd chytrid fungus has shown negative effects in the lab (Chinnadurai et al. 2009, Vazquez et al. 2009). Reckless sampling and site disruption during spring may cause undue stress to brooding females and result in the abandonment of clutches (Bruce and Ryan 1995). Climate models from Milanovich et al. (2010) predict that salamander species in this region may disappear entirely by 2080. Due to a widely disjunct distribution, it is quite unlikely that migration will be sufficient for recolonization of populations that experience declines or local extinctions (Ryan 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

See Ryan (1997) for information on larval characteristics.

Diagnostic Characteristics

See Ryan (1997) for information on larval identification.

Habitat

Adults hide under objects in or along streams. Found on roads on rainy nights.

Reproduction

Bruce (1982) found that the larval period usually exceeds two years. Ryan (1998) found that young of the year appeared in late spring and metamorphosis occurred at an age of about 2 years, though some data indicated that 1 or 3 year larval periods were possible.
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaS1Yes
TennesseeS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsLarge - restrictedModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsLarge - restrictedModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useLarge - smallModerate - slightHigh - low
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animalsLarge - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingRestricted - smallUnknownModerate - low
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge - restrictedSerious - slightHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useLarge - restrictedSerious - slightHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseasesLarge - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionRestricted - smallUnknownHigh (continuing)
9.1 - Domestic & urban waste waterRestricted - smallUnknownHigh (continuing)
9.1.2 - Run-offRestricted - smallUnknownHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive - largeExtreme - seriousModerate - low

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Roadless Areas (5)
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
References (31)
  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. 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.
  4. Braswell, A. L. 1989. Conservation status of North Carolina Amphibians and Reptiles. Prepared by the amphibian and Reptile Scientific Council and submitted to the Nongame Advisory Committe, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
  5. Bruce, R. C. 1982. Egg laying, larval periods, and metamorphosis of <i>Eurycea bislineata</i> and <i>E. junaluska</i> at Santeetlah Creek, North Carolina. Copeia 1982:755-762.
  6. Bruce, R. C. and T. J. Ryan. 1995. Distribution and population status of the salamander, <i>Eurycea junaluska</i>. Western Carolina University / Highlands Biological Station and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina Cost Share Agreement 11-287. 51 pp.
  7. Bruce, R. C. Herpetologist. Highlands Biological Station, Highlands, NC. Personal communication.
  8. Chinnadurai, S. K., D. Cooper, D. S. Dombrowski, M. F. Poore, and M. G. Levy. 2009. Experimental infection of native North Carolina salamanders with <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i>. 2009. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 45(3): 631-636.
  9. 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.
  10. 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]
  11. 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.
  12. 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
  13. Gray, M. J., D. L. Miller, and J. T. Hoverman. 2009. First report of <i>Ranavirus </i>Infecting Lungless Salamanders. Herpetological Review 40(3):316-319.
  14. 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.
  15. LeGrand, Harry E., Jr. Zoologist. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina
  16. 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.
  17. Milanovich, J. R., W. E. Peterman, N. P. Nibbelink, and J. C. Maerz. 2010. Projected loss of a salamander diversity hotspot as a consequence of projected global climate change. PLoS One 5, no. 8: e12189.
  18. 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.
  19. Rothermel, B. B., E. R. Travis, D. L. Miller, R. L. Hill, J. L. McGuire, and M. J. Yabsley. 2013. High occupancy of stream salamanders despite high <i>Ranavirus </i>prevalence in a Southern Appalachians watershed. EcoHealth 10(2): 184-189.
  20. Ryan, T. J. 1997. Larva of <i>Eurycea junaluska</i> (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae), with comments on distribution. Copeia 1997:210-215.
  21. Ryan, T. J. 1998. Larval life history and abundance of a rare salamander, <i>Eurycea junaluska</i>. Journal of Herpetology 32:10-17.
  22. Ryan, T. J., and D. M. Sever. 2005. <i>Eurycea junaluska</i> Sever, Dundee, and Sullivan, 1976. Junaluska salamander. Pages 745-746 in M. Lannoo, editor. Amphibian declines: the conservation status of United States species. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  23. Sever, D.M. 1983a. <i>Eurycea junaluska</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 321:1-2.
  24. Sever, D. M. 1983b. Observations on the distribution and reproduction of the salamander <i>Eurycea junaluska</i> in Tennessee. J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 58:48-50.
  25. Sever, D. M. 1989. Comments on the taxonomy and morphology of two-lined salamanders of the <i>Eurycea bislineata</i> complex. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 24:70-74.
  26. Sever, D. M., H. A. Dundee, and C. D. Sullivan. 1976. A new <i>Eurycea </i>(Amphibia: Plethodontidae) from southwestern North Carolina. Herpetologica 32:26-29.
  27. Smith, R. Biologist. TVA Regional Natural Heritage Resource Group, Division of Land Management, Tennessee Valley Authority, Norris, TN. Personal communication.
  28. Soehn, D. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, c/o Janet Roack/Keith Langdon, Twin Creeks Natural Resources Center, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
  29. Sutton, W. B., M. J. Gray, J. T. Hoverman, R. G. Secrist, P. E. Super, R. H. Hardman, J. L. Tucker, and D. L. Miller. 2015. Trends in <i>Ranavirus </i>prevalence among plethodontid salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 2015. EcoHealth 12(2): 320-329.
  30. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 29 July 1999. 12-month finding for a petition to list the Junaluska salamander as endangered with critical habitat. Federal Register 64(145):41060-41061.
  31. Vazquez, V. M., B. B. Rothermel, and A. P. Pessier. 2009. Experimental infection of North American plethodontid salamanders with <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i>. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 84: 1-7.