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Plethodon aureolus

Highton, 1983

Tellico Salamander

G2Imperiled (G2G3) Found in 5 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Data deficientIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105298
Element CodeAAAAD12250
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNData deficient
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
Other Common Names
Tellico 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
This species is distinguishable from certain other Plethodon species primarily on the basis of protein differences detectable by electrophoresis; it is a member of the glutinosus group (Highton 1986, Highton et al. 1989). No known gene loci completely distinguish P. aureolus from sympatric P. oconaluftee, but local microsympatric populations of these two species sometimes exhibit fixed differences in allozymes (Petranka 1998). Some allopatric populations of P. glutinosus are indistinguishable from those of P. aureolus (Petranka 1998). P. aureolus hybridizes with P. shermani over a wide zone on Sassafras Ridge in the Unicoi Mountains. Plethodon aureolus and P. teyahalee are sympatric throughout the range of aureolus, but there is no evidence of hybridization (Highton and Peabody 2000). Fisher-Reid and Wiens (2011) presented topological evidence that nominal P. aureolus is neither one species nor a monophyletic group, with one lineage more closely related to one population of P. glutinosus, and yet another closer to another population of P. glutinosus. Highton et al. (2012) noted that P. aureolus is dissimilar from P. glutinosus in allozymes, but very similar in terms of 12s mtDNA (Frost 2020).
Conservation Status
Review Date2011-07-12
Change Date2001-11-01
Edition Date2011-07-13
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Small range in forests in Tennessee and adjacent North Carolina; status as a distinct species is questionable but generally accepted; abundance and trend are poorly known; no major threats are known..
Range Extent Comments
This salamander occurs between the Little Tennessee and Hiwassee rivers on the western slopes of the Unicoi Mountains and nearby lowlands in northeastern Polk and eastern Monroe counties, Tennessee, and in northwestern Graham and northwestern Cherokee counties, North Carolina (Highton 1986, Beamer and Lannoo 2005). It occurs primarily at low elevations but has been found as high as 1,622 meters in Graham County, North Carolina (Highton 1984).

The Gap Data Tool for North Carolina (http://www.basic.ncsu.edu/ncgap/sppreport/aaaad12250.html) predicted that the species may occupy around 253 square kilometers in North Carolina. This species occupies a much larger range in Tennessee.
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a fairly large number of occurrences (subpopulations). Highton (1986) mapped 26 collection sites, though all of these do not necessarily represent distinct occurrences (subopopulations), nor do they represent all occurrences. Based on Highton (1983), Redmond and Scott (1996) mapped 15 sites in Tennessee.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

The back and sides are are dark gray to black, with many large, brassy spots; the underside is dark gray to black, and the chin is typically lighter in color than the chest and belly (Redmond and Scott 1996). Adults are 10.0 to 15.1 cm in total length; maximum snout-vent length is 7.2 cm (Redmond and Scott 1996, Petranka 1998).

Diagnostic Characteristics

Plethodon aureolus is very similar in its morphology to P. glutinosus and P. teyahalee and can be reliably distinguished from those two species only on the basis of biochemical characteristics (Highton 1983). Sympatric P. oconaluftee have white spots on the back ad may reach 9.0 cm in snout-vent length (Petranka 1998).

Petranka (1998) included a key to adult salamanders of the United States and Canada.

Habitat

This salamander occurs in mountainous and lowland habitats (Highton 1983), including second-growth forests (Beamer and Lannoo 2005). Typical habitat probably includes both upland and stream valley woodlands (Redmond and Scott 1996). High densities have been found in the vicinity of bottomlands with an abundance of leaf litter, rotting logs and an organic soil layer (Wilson 1995). Individuals likely shift between underground sites when condition are cold or dry to surface sites when conditions are mild and damp/wet (Beamer and Lannoo 2005). Juveniles have been found in August under superficial cover such as twigs (Beamer and Lannoo 2005). Egg deposition occurs in sheltered sites (e.g., underground cavities) on land.

Ecology

Sticky skin secretions produced by Tellico salamanders may protect them from certain predators, but nothing specific is known about this.

Chemical cues appear to be important in species recognition among P. aureolus and sympatric Plethodon oconaluftee (Dawley 1986).

Reproduction

This species is a terrestrial breeder; there is no aquatic larval stage. Females likely stay with their eggs until hatching. Individuals mature at 50-72 mm in snout-vent length (Highton 1986) (perhaps 2-3 years old). Typical longevity is unknown, but many individuals live at least 2-3 years and some undoubtedly live several years.beyond this.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - Mixed
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaS2Yes
TennesseeS2Yes
Roadless Areas (5)
North Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
Tennessee (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bald River Gorge AdditionCherokee National Forest1,728
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
References (20)
  1. Beamer, D. A., and M. J. Lannoo. 2005. Plethodon aureolus Highton, 1984. Tellico salamander. Pages 791-792 in M. J. Lannoo, editor. Amphibians declines: the conservation status of United States species. University of california Press, Berkeley.
  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. Carr, D. E. 1996. Morphological variation among species and populations of salamanders in the <i>Plethodon glutinosus</i> complex. Herpetologica 52:56-65.
  4. 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.
  5. Collins, J. T., and T. W. Taggart. 2009. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians. Sixth edition. The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrance, Kansas. iv + 44 pp.
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  7. 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]
  8. Dawley, E. M. 1986. Behavioral isolating mechanisms in sympatric terrestrial salamanders. Herpetologica 42:156-164.
  9. Fisher-Reid, M. C., and J. J. Wiens. 2011. What are the consequences of combining nuclear and mitochondrial data for phylogenetic analysis? Lessons from <i>Plethodon </i>salamanders and 13 other vertebrate clades. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11(300):1-20.
  10. 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
  11. Highton, R. 1983 [1984]. A new species of woodland salamanders of the <i>Plethodon glutinosus</i> group from the southern Appalachian Mountains. Brimleyana 9:1-20.
  12. Highton, R. 1986. Plethodon aureolus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 381:1.
  13. Highton, R. 2005. Declines of eastern North American woodland salamanders (<i>Plethodon</i>). Pages 34-46 in M. Lannoo, editor. Amphibian declines: the conservation status of United States species. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  14. Highton, R., and R. B. Peabody. 2000. Geographic protein variation and speciation in salamanders of the <i>Plethodon jordani </i>and <i>Plethodon glutinosus</i> complexes in the southern Appalachian Mountains with the description of four new species. Pages 31-93 in R. C. Bruce, R. G. Jaeger, and L. D. Houck, editors. The biology of plethodontid salamanders. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York. xiii + 485 pp.
  15. Highton, R., A. P. Hatings, C. Palmer, R. Watts, C. A. Hass, M. Culver, and S. J. Arnold. 2012. Concurrent speciation in the eastern woodland salamanders (genus <i>Plethodon</i>): DNA sequences of the complete albumin nuclear and partial mitochondrial 12s genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 63:278–290.
  16. Highton, R., G.C. Maha, and L.R. Maxson. 1989. Biochemical evolution in the slimy salamanders of the <i>Plethodon glutinosus</I> complex in the eastern United States. Illinois Biological Monographs 57:1-153.
  17. 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.
  18. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  19. 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.
  20. Wilson, L. A. 1995. Land manager's guide to the amphibians and reptiles of the South. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Reg. Off. Chapel Hill, N. C. 324 p. plus apps., index, and assoc. digital data table.